The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-08
We Beat the World, and


with heartburn, foul breath ? Try
these. Do it at once. Eisner &
MendelsOn Co., Sole Agents, N. Y.
took even chances of going to the bottom Of
the ocean.
There was a heavy sea on at the time, and
the wind howled through the rigging with
force that threatened to wrench it from
its fasteninRs. The log showed that the
ship was just Sll miles off Fastnet when she
received the shock that came very near
ending her career. When it was learned
that the shaft had parted an examination
showed that the trouble was in the stern
tube, which is probably the most dangerous
point on the whole length Of tho great shaft,
as at this particular spot the packing is
used to prevent the water working into the
tunnel.
Here was an emergency that Capt Fem
ton was quick to appreciate. 1t was shown
that the ship was making over 200 tons Of
water per hour, and that the safety Of the
vessel and perhaps the lives of those on
board depended on checking this flow. 1t
was perilous undertaking to go into the
tunnel, as the water rushed IN with the force
OF Niagara
who will volunteer to follow meW said
the captain to his men.
All of the officers stepped forward and
one brave seaman. While the captain
could have ordered any member of his crew
into the tunnel, yet he felt he would not
call upon them to go where he was not
willing to lead the way.
Down into the black depths of the ship de
scended the men until the tunnel was
reached. A hasty survey showed that it
was half filled with water. Cropping their
way along in murky darkness the stern box
was finally reached. Here the water was
nearly up to the armpits Of the daring Off
GERS and of icy GOODNESS. The danger of the
undertaking was enhanced by the fact
that any accident to the pumping en-
gines and the tunnel would have become
filled with water, rendering escape impossi-
BILE. But the machinery worked all right
for the time, and kept the flow partly under
control while the repairing was going ON.
The officers had taken with them ropes,
blankets, and any other material that could
be used TO advantage in diminishing the
rush of the waters. An attempt was made
to cnain or chuck up the broken end of the
shaft, bus in this only partial success was
attained. The men remained at their labors
for over four hours, and when they emerged
it was with difficulty that their limbs were
made to relax their rigidity.
The next morning it was observed that
the water was gaining in the tunnel, and
again the captain called for volunteers to
repeat the hazardous experience of the day
before, and again the officers came forward
There was a renewal of the first expert
ments, and after being in tile water for over
three hours the men again came out. They
were utterly exhausted, but under the care
full treatment of the ships doctor they ulti-
mately regained their lost energy.
The Kansas is fitted with a half dozen
powerful pumps OF the very latest pattern
and by their continual use the water was
RdFA NhSAr ma rEi oil f-rl ha ind
this time began to subside, O most fortunate
circumstance. but the sea continued to run
very high. One precaution was the opening
of the tunnel so as to allow the water to
pour into the engine room and stoke halls,
and thus in a measure relieve the tunnel.
After this the captain turned his atten-
ton to doing what he could to make port.
First of all the sails were set, then the can
vas on the small boats were hoisted Their
canvas we're also put up to the breeze, every
spare sail was brought up and rugged so as
to catch the puffs of wind; the cargo, booms
and derricks were also utilized, and this
decorated, the Kansas presented one Of the
most novel marine pictures which ever
decorated the Atlantic.
Under the influence of the moderate
| breeze the steamer took up sort Of drift
ing course, or, as the sailors call it, she had
leeway of six points. and crept the water
at the rate Of q knots per hour. Practically
she went dead to leeward. The prospects
of reaching shore were not very assuring
but all that human ingenuity could devise
had been done.
On and on she drifted until it was be-
lieved she would ultimately reach the
French cast. In the meantime the pumps
began to cause trouble, as under constant
use they became choked and worn. which
necessitated stopping them from time to
time to make repairs. During these times
the water frequently rose to hight of seven
feet in the ship. The ship rolled heavily,
and great part OF the cargo became broken
and the contents of barrels and boxes were
a confused mass in the hold.
On the sixth day after the accident the
British steamer Vondrsm sighted the
Kansas and sent boat of to see what as
| distance she could render. 1t was decided
that the Vondram should tow the crippled
ship into Liverpool, and arrangements TO
that end were immediately carried out
The Kansas was practically helpless, and
the great strain that came upon the hawsers
was more than they could stand. After the
two ships had kept company about forty
five miles the ropes parted. and
all subsequent attempts to renew
the attachment of the two vessels
failed, aud the Vondram finally
steamed away out of sight On the follow
ing day the steamer Iran bore down upon
Jle hdUSbb hll1 hLL6luDb6u W 10 WubL Gn6
Vondram had failed in. But the task was
too great, and she, too, was compelled to
abandon It, The thought of leaving his
ship never entered the mind of Capt. Fenton
or his officers. They had resolved to stand
by her, sink or swim.
The vessel continued on her drift
ing course for ten days, and vas
nearing the Bay OF Biscay when
the wind suddenly shifted to south
west, which changed the course east-north>
east. About this time the disabled screw
began to thump and crash in the stern OF
the ship, and there was imminent danger
that it would tear out the whole stern. But
alarm from this source suddenly ceased, as
one of the blades became wedged fast into
the race of the vessel, as was shown when
the repairs were being made in dry dock.
The Kansas held TO her new course for an
additional ten days. and gradually drew to-
ward the coast OF Ireland. On the morning
of the twentieth day after the accident Capt.
Feuton located his ship about sixteen miles
Off Queenstown, and concluded TO commu-
uicate with the land IL he could find crew
of volunteers who would undertake the
task in a lifeboat. The men we're readily
secured, and, under charge of the second
officer, they put off for the shore. They
had their orders 70 land, however, and, like
good soldiers, they carried them out.
Before assistance arrived the ship had
drifted within nine miles OF Old Head Kim
sale. aud ultimately brought up four miles
off the coast, where the waves tossed her