The Portland daily press., 1890-09-04
THOUGHT IT WAS THEIR LAST MOMENT
"o'rh'ed Passengers See the VAN
couVer Crash into an Iceberg.
Precautlon and Prompt Work save
tho Bic Dominion Liner.
The Thrilling Incident OF a Very Tam
pestuous Passage.

MONTREAL, September 3.-The royal mall
steamship Vancouver, Captain Lyndall, Of
the Dominion line, had a terrible experience
while on the way across. The Vancouver
sailed from Liverpool at midnight Thursday,
August 21. with nearly 600 passengers on
board. Very soon after leaving MoVllle, on
Friday evening, she encountered a strong
head wind and heavy sea, which continued
with increasing force till Monday morning.
when the wind blew furious gale, and the
sea rolled mountains high. tossing the mon
ster vessel about In terrible manner.
Confusion prevailed everywhere. Many
persons were thrown from their berths; de-
canters. bottles, glasses, &C.. were upset and
dashed about the staterooms. Tons Of water
dashed over the main deck fore and aft,many
passengers were drenched. and few were
thrown of their feet against the bulwarks
This state OF things lasted till late on
Tuesday night, when the wind and sea mod
nesday and some fog. Thursday opened
fair, but In the afternoon rain again began
to fall. and dense fog set in shortly after
ward. An Immense Iceberg had been seen
In the distance, seven OF these monsters be-
Ing visible at once. Captain Lyndal decided
to lay to till The fog lifted. The vessel was
now approaching the entrance to the Strait
of Belle Isle. Toward morning the vessel
was again started and proceeded slowly.
Land was sighted at the south about
O'Clock, and icebergs were passed.
Exciting and terrible had been the voyage
thus far, but II was on Friday morning at 10
O'Clock that the most dangerous and thrill
ing event ha pened. Fog had once more set
In, aud the speed had been reduced to a dead
slow. A sharp lookout was kept from the
bow as we'll as by two officers, one being the
captain on the bridge. All at once, what
was thought TO be dense fog bank was OBJ
served about three lengths Of the vessel
ahead, but In a moment more It was discoV-
cred to be huge iceberg extending to a
| great distance on either side OF the course OF
the ship and collision was inevitable.
The order was instantly telegraphed TO the
engineers to reverse the engines, but too late
TO diminish the speed 20 any very noticeable
extent, though the command was promptly
executed.
By this time the passengers on deck saw
the situation, and the CONSERVATION was In
describable. Women screamed and tainted,
and the widest confusion prevailed during
the few terribly anxious moments before the
crash came. Chief Engineer Murphy was
conversing with Chief Officer Walsh on the
main deck aft when the alarm sounded. He
ing. and seeing the threatening ca
lamity rushed into the engine room
and ordered the doors Of the watertlght COM
partments to be closed all through the ship,
81 tldL UtlOT6 inc SUP SLFucK Luc Ice LnlS
wise arrangement was accomplished, to the
horror of one coal HEAVIER who was impris-
Oned In one compartment, time being consid-
cred too precious to allow him an opportUni-
ty to escape.
Not more than two minutes elapsed from
the moment the order was given to reverse
the engines before the Vancouver struck the
huge iceberg with a crash that sent a thrill
OF horror to the bravest heart. Notwith-
standing the reduced speed Of the vessel the
collision was so emphatic as to cause those
in the body OF the ship to think that she had
struck on rock, and passengers, stewards,
sailors, etc, rushed on deck from every quar-
ter like rabbits from warren. The officers
stood to their posts and gave their commands
with promptness and frmness that did
them infnlte credit, and the bow was under
examination almost as soon as the vessel left
the indentation made In the side Of the Ice
berg.
When the word went forth that no serious
Injury had been done to the ship the excite
ment abated and these whose lives were so
terribly imperilled a few moments before
again byeathed freely. Capt. Lyndall saws
ever met with. Estimates OF It's length vary
from mile to mile and half. 1t lowered
nigh above the main deck Of the vessel. As
II lay directly across the course of the ship,
IL was impossible TO turn in the spaee intoF-
vening so as to wUakUu tiI1 rOrce OF the col
lisi0D. Great quantities Of Ice fell from the
berg from the force Of the crash. dashing the
the vessel been even 10 miles an hour, she
must certainly have been broken up, and
would possibly have sunk In a few minutes.
The officers say they have never seen
rougher voyage than the Vancouver had on
this passage.