Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-28
The Steamer Noordland Breaks .
Shaft 400 Miles Out.
PANIC AMONG THE PASSENGERS
Who Thought the Vessel Would
Surely Go to the Bottom-The
Steamship Ohio Happened
Along at Just the Proper Time
to Give Assistance and the
Noordland Was Towed to Port.

QUEENSTOWN, December es.-The steam.
ship Noordland was towed into Queens
town harbor by the steamship Ohio at
O'Clock this evening All the passengers
were on deck waving hats and handker-
chiefs and cheering. Anchor was dropped
and the passengers were removed 10 shore
by a tender. All showed signs or the anx-
iety which they had suffered.
The voyage OF theNordland was tempcs-
tuous almost from the hour OF leaving
Sandy Hook. The wind blew almost
hurricane, and the ship bad much dini-
Guilty in making Roadway through tho
waves Some OF the passengers were so
apprehenslve Of danger that theTr1 f'7ee
be induced 10 retire at mia
the saloon doing at intervals and feauy
with their clothes on 10 take TO the boats In
the event OF an accident although
boats could have lived only by a ,sracle
in the terrible seas. The wavei ossod
their icy foam on the decks until thu lower
rigging was covered with congeaied
frosting and the deck itself was like
skating pond. The only comfort or secur-
ity was in the cabins, and they remained
under cover throughout nearly all the voy-
age. But Captain Nickels, his officers and
crew spared no pains u secure the safety
OF the ship. and tho hardy sailors never
shirked an order, howeves perilous and
painful. The Noordland labored
along successfully until Thursday
evening, IL was bitter cold
night, and the passengers were copgratu-
lating themselves on gradually nearing the
end OF their stormy voyage. Tho steamer
was In latitude 1882 west and longitude
5O.l5 when at twenty minutes past nino In
the evening tremendous crash was heard
and the vessel Quivered from end 70 end.
The passengers who were sitting up were
tossed about like nine pins, several or them
being thrown To the floor. Three terrific
blows resounded one after the othor as IL
the vessel was being struck by y
gigantic hammer, which indeed was
the fact The fright OF some
OF the people were pitiful to beholc Tbs
rushed hither and thither, DELE
officers in their efforts 10 get ai
and extent OF the disaster. Ca
els knew well enough VIII
meant, aud ". tn "A reassurii
passengers he fastened 70
sonally. The engines RI
while the broken shaft, 10
be the danger. seemec al
ship az every concussio
into the tube, mena
hold asd the engine
penic stricken passengers tnoukns 4. y
while the vessel was about 20 sink. Ses-
eral minutes elhpstu Ocioto INott W.s
given for the engines 10 stop. Tho Nord-
land lay helpless, tossed by tho gale, and
as the water rushed In there seemed immi-
nent danger OF sinking. The pumps were
manned and put 10 work, every man OF tho
crew being summoned 10 duty. For twen-
ty.four hours continuously the pumps wero
kept at work. and the water prevented
from gaining on tho vessel Tho excited
passengers finding that they were not la
instant peril, regained courage and pa
tiently waited for steamer 10
tow them into port. At the
time OF tho accident the
Noordland was 400 miles west OF Queens
town. The crippled steamer was sighted
by the steamship Ohio. which left Phila-
delphia on the same day that tho Noord-
land left New York, and needed assistance
was at once extended. The voyage "a
Queenstown IN tow was attended by much
difficulty, and the continuous stormy
weather made IL necessary 70 navigate
with caution. but the Noordland arrived
without further accident. An examination
showed that thu fracture OF tho shaft was
six feet inside the stem.