Connecticut western news., 1890-04-09
RESCUE D FROM THE DEEP
A Close Call for the City of
 Paris.
AN OCEAN GREYHOUNDs PERIL.

AN OCEAN GREYHOUNDS PERIL. Hole Stove in the Great Liners Hull
 When She Was Over Two Hundred
 Boats Made Ready.
 QUEENSTOWN, March 3l.-The thousand greyhound City of Paris after an advent ure that might easily have terminated their lives, are safe ashore again, thanking Provi- dence for their narrow escape from an un- marked grave on "Old oceans gray and melancholy waste.n The magnificent steam CT has hundreds of tons of water in her hold and her machinery is disabled, the result of an accident which in some manner knocked . hole in her hull and would have sent her to the bottom but for her numerous water. tight compartments. The accident to the steamer occurred when the vessel was 2l6 miles off Fastnet. The passengers say they heard loud crash, followed by an explo- sion. The ship quivered, and the humping of broken machinery in the engine room shook the steamer from stem to stern.
 She Began Leaking Badly.
 She began leaking badly from the hole which had been broken in the bottom. The pumps were quickly manned and the boats were ordered to be cleared. The passen- gers were much excited, but the officers re- mained calm, and their presence of mind and enforcement of regular discipline soon had the effect to restore the confidence of all on board. When it was found that the vessel was rapidly taking in water, with . possibility of laundering, panic arose on board. The excitement was heightened by the fact that the firemen and some of the engineers rushed up on deck immediately after the crash occurred, and displayed great alarm The engine room had been flooded through the injection tubes, which, it is alleged, the engineers in their excite ment neglected to close
 ~ A Hero He Was.
 1. The second engineer remained at his post steam In this he finally succeeded, and thus saved the machinery from total wreck. When the shock came there was . rush aft, and then every one halted in pallid sus- pense. All was now still in the starboard engine room save the hissing of steam, but the port engine was still working. There was not a word spoken for sixty seconds By this time Capt. Watkins had come down from the bridge. A moment later came word that both engine rooms were rapidly filling, but that there was no immediate danger.
 What Had Happened?
 No one knew exactly what had happened It was believed that the crank shaft of the starboard engine broke, beating in the biggest of the three cylinders and thrashing about with its connections, breaking in the bulkhead between the two engine rooms and that dividing them from the compart- ment next aft, and either breaking the an- choring pipe, eighteen inches in diameter, leading to the sea outside, or actually smashing hole through her side and bot tom The passengers donned life preservers and extra clothing and gathered about the boats in readiness to leave at a moments notice; but fortunately there was no neces- sity for taking to the sea. Four of the big watertight compartments filled with water, but the remaining compartments held firm and kept the steamer afoat.
 The Adriatic Sighted.
 r The steamer was drifting about for sixty hours before aid came to her. Fortunately the weather was fine, and there was hardly . breath of wind Signals of distress were constantly shown, rockets and flare lights being used at night Finally, on Friday morning, the Adriatic was sighted. She offered to take of the passengers and con- vey them to New York, which was all that she could be expected to do under the cir cumstances. Some of the epassengers3thought that the big White Star steamer ought to have turned around and lowed the City ot D., ;vn%<> h,,tf ho off3r of ho of Paris said this would have been against all precedent, and entirely unnecessary in view of the fact that the disabled steamer was not in distress and was in reach of other help.
 The Aldersgate to the Rescue.
 After the steamer had drifted about for long time without sighting another vessel, the chief officer and six men started in a lifeboat to get into the track of the liners, hoping to intercept some one of them and procure assistance. They encountered the Aldersgate, which willingly came to the aid of the disabled steamer.
 Three tugs soon joined the Aldersgate and helped in towing the City of Paris to Queens town. On arrival at that port the passen gers assembled in the saloon, and after a re ligious service in recognition of the proyi dential escape had been held, resolution: were adopted dcomplimenting the captain anG crew upon their able and unwearied effort. for the safety and comfort of the passengers A purse of $3, 900 was raised, which will b' donated to the New York and Liverpoo Mariners institute.
 Was It a Record Breaking Accident? The passengers speak very highly of tn conduct of the crew of the steamer, both il the matter of managing the disabled shi] ;,,< <hot oti thor hoy ful and comfortab ble as possible. At the sam time there is general feeling that the giv ing way of the machinery was the result o the tremendous strain put upon it in the dc sire to beat the record. The officers of tn vessel were very reticent as to the exac nature of the accident, and the passenger have very hazy views on the subject
 There is a general impression that the al fair was much more serious than was give out, or that the officers cared to admit. it turns out that the break down was cause by excessive pressure incident to ''recor breaking" the effect of the accident may b to somewhat discourage that pastime. Man of the passengers confess that they no entertain less admiration for great spec than they did a few days ago. Others, how ever. say they would take the fastest steamt afloat next trip just as readily as before an run their chances
 Censure for the ,Aldersgate.
 The little freight steamer Aldersga' comes in for a good many hard words fro
 the passengers, notwithstanding the delig'
 with which they hailed her first appearanc
 She is a very slow craft, and made on
 about five knots an hour with the big lin
 in tow. The passengers, who were great
 fretted by their long detention, were i
 clined to think the Aldersgate could ha'
 done bette if pushed, and they allege th
 her captain made a hard job it deliberat
 ly, with the idea of getting more saliva.
 out of the company for his servi>,s