Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-31
ACCIDENT AT SEA.
The Engines of the Steamer City OF
Paris Disabled-A Narrow Escape.
For Sixty Hours the Steamer Drifts, Con-
stantly Sending Up Signals of Distress
and is Finally Picked Up.
Panic on shipboard.


| Special to the Gazette.
QUEENSTOWN, March 30.-The Inman
line steamer City of Paris, towed by the
! steamer Aldersgate, arrived at Queens
town at o 'clook this morning. An ao-
oident by which the City of Paris was
disabled occurred On Tuesday, and was
caused by the breaking of the
low pressure cylinder OF the
port engine, flying pieces Of
metal forcing the bulkhead and disa-
bling the starboard. The passengers were
panic stricken when they found that the
ship was making water and that there
was possibility of the vessel laundering.
The water which flooded the engine COM
partment was forced through the injeo-
tion tube, which it Is alleged the engineers
during the excitement had neglected to
shut. The starboard engine was shatter-
ed almost to pieces. The port
engine room was filled with up
wards of 1000 tons of water and
the port engine was entirely useless.
All went well until the evening of the
25th when at $50 p. M, while the
steamer was going at full speed, the
starboard engine suddenly collapsed and
the low pressure cylinder broke, smash
ing the injection water pipe connections,
and bursting the iron bulkhead.
The metal few around in all di-
rections. A portion of the machinery
smashed through the steamers double
bottom. The water rushed through the
hole into the engine room, compelling
the engineers and fremen to rush to the
deck for safety. Doubtful consequences
would have ensued but for the bravery
xNF& &c l.
veloped as he was in the Kissing steam,
he managed to shut off the steam, thus
saving the machinery from total demo-
ltion, which would have happened
had the engines continued working. He
then escaped unhurt. The passengers
were much excited, but the captain and
officers succeeded in assuring them that
there was no danger. The lifeboats were
cleared in readiness for use, and the
pumps were kept working. The steamer
drifted helplessly until the Goth inst.
when the captain sent the chief officer,
passengers and siy men in q lifeboat to
get into the trace of other line
steamers in hope of being able TO
intercept the City of Chester or Adriatio.
The boat met the Adriatio which de-
clined to take the City C Paris in tow.
The Aldersgate now hove in sight and
offered to tow the City of Paris. The
offer was accepted. The AIdersgate is
small vessel unable to tow over four or
five knots hourly. and the progress was
slow until Saturday when the Ohio was
sighted. She stood by until p. m.
when Fastuet was sighted. Two tugs
were sent later. The water kept increas-
ing in spite of the work of
the pumps. An examination is be-
ing made by divers. The accident
occurred 2160 miles west of Fastnet. The
statements made by passengers which are
similar to other accounts are to the effect
that there was q loud crash, followed by
an explosion. The ship quivered and the
engine thumped. The vessel leaked rap
idly from the hole in her bottom. The
officers Gained the excited passengers.
The condition of the crew was admirable.
The weather was fine and there was no
wind. During the sixty hours that the
steamer drifted she kept showing
distress signals, sending up rockets and
burning flares. On Friday morning the
Adriatio was sighted. She offered. to
convey the passengers to New York, but
the offer was declined. The Adriatic
then proceeded and sent the Aldersgate
to aid the City of Paris. Three tugs
joined the disabled vessel, accompanying
her to Queenstown. The passengers held a
meeting at which they returned thanks to
Providence for their delivery. They also
expressed their appreciation of the ex-
emplary conduct of the captain, and a
fund was raised amounting to f600 for a
Liverpool and New York orphans instl-
tute.