St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-24
MOMENTS OF PERIL.
A Vessel Plunges into an Icebe,

"A Vessel Plunges into an Iceberg.
Montreal Special to New York Sun.
The royal mail steamship Vancouver,
Capt. Lyndall, of the Dominion Line.
which arrived in port to-day, had ter
rible experience while ON the way
across. The Vancouver sailed from
Liverpool at midnight, Thursday, Aug.
81, with nearly GOO passengers on board.
Very soon after leaving Neville, on Fri
day evening, she encountered strong
head wind and heavy sea, which con-
tinued with increasing force until Mon
day morning, when the wind blew a
furious gale and the sea ran mountains
high, tossing the monster vessel about
in a terrible manner. The tables in the
saloon were set for breakfast with the
greatest difficulty, and after they were
ready lurch of the ship knocked the
glass, china and provisions off ON the
floor.
A similar scene was witnessed in the
second cabin. Confusion prevailed
everywhere. Many persons were thrown
from their berths; decanters, bottles,
glasses. ETC., were upset and dashed
about the state rooms. Tons of water
dashed over the main deck fore and aft,
many passengers were drenched, and
few were thrown off their feet against
the bulWarkS.
This state of things lasted till late on
Tuesday night, when the wind and sea
moderated, followed by heavy rains all
day Wednesday and some fog. Thurs
day opened fair, but in the afternoon
rain again began to fall, and dense
fog set in shortly afterward. An immense
iceberg had been seen in the distance,
seven of these monsters being visi-
bic at once. Capt. Lyndall 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 pro-
caeded slowly. Land was sighted at
the south about O'Clock and icebergs
were passed.
Exciting and terrible had been the
voyage thus far, but it was on Friday
morning, at 10 o'clock, that the most
dangerous and thrilling event hap
pened. Fog had once more set in and
the speed had been reduced to dead
slow. A sharp lookout was kept from
the boat, as well as by two officers, one
icing the captain on the bridge. All at
once what was thought to be dense
fog bank was observed about three
lengths of the vesSal ahead. but in
moment more it was discovered to be
huge iceberg extending to a great dis
lance OH either side of the course of the
ship, and a collision was inevitable.
The order was instantly telegraphed
but too late to diminish the speed any
very noticeable extent, though the de-
mand was promptly executed.
By this time the passengers on deck
saw the situation, and the CONSERVATION
was Indescribabe. Women screamed
and tainted, and the widest confusion
prevailed during the few terribly anX-
iOuS moments before the crash came.
Chief Engineer Murphy was conversing
with Chief Officer Walsh on the main
deck aft when the alarm sounded. He
turned quickly, looked over the railing,
and, seeing the threatening calamity, |
rushed into the engine room and Or !
dered the doors of the water-tighJ COM |
ship. so that before the ship struck the !
ice this wise arrangement was accom- |
plished, to the horror of one coal |
HEAVIER, who was imprisoned in one |
compartment, time being considered /,
too precious to allow him OH oppor |
tuDity too escape.
: Not more than two minutes elapsed |
from the moment the order was given |
to reverse the engines before the Van |
cOuver struck the huge iceberg with
crash that sent thrill of horror to the |
brayest heart. Notwithstanding the re- |
duced 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 quarter like rabbits out of a |
warren. the officers stood to their |
posts and gave their commands with a |
prOmptness and firmneSS that did them !
Infinite credit, and the bow was under |
examination almost as soon as the yes
sci left the Indentation made in the
side of the iceberg.
When the word went forth that no
serious injury had been done to the
ship the excitement abated, and those
whose lives were so terribly Imperfect
few moments before again breathed
freely. Capt. Lyndall says this was one
of the largest icebergs he had ever met
from a mile to mile and half. 1t
lowered high above the main deck of
the vessel. AS it lay directly across the
course of the ship, it was impossible to
turn her in the space intervening so as
to weaken the force of the collision.
Great quantities of ice fell from the
berg from the force of the crash, dash
ing the spray in every direction. Had
the speed of the vessel been even ten
miles an hour she must certainly have
been broken up, and would possibly
have sunk in few minutes. The Of
Ulcers say they have never seen
rougher voyage than the Vancouver had
on this passage.
'How good of you to come. doctor. l
didn't expect you this morning"
j mo, but L was called to your oppo-
site neighbor, poor Mrs. Brown, and