Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29
ALL WERE GIVEN UP FOR LOST.
The Noordland's Passengers Face
to Face with Death.

Great Danger Threatened by the Break
ing of the Steamers Shaft 400 Miles
from uueenstown--Towed Into Port by
tho Ohio.
LoSDoN, Dec. 27.-The steamer
Noordland of the International Line,
with broken shaft, was towed into
Queenstown to-day by the Ohio OF the
same line. The voyage Of the Noord-
land was tempestuous almost from the
hour of leaving Sandy Hook. The
wind blew almost hurricane and the
ship had much difficulty in making
Roadway through the waves. Some of
the passengers were so apprehensive of
danger that they could not be induced
to retire at night, and sat about the
saloon Gozing at intervals and ready,
with their clothes on, to take to the
boats in the event of an accident, al
though boats could have lived only by
miracle in the terrible seas The
waves washed over the decks contin.
uously and the lower rigging soon be-
came covered with cOngcaling frost
and the deck itself was alike Il skating
pond. The only comfort or security
was In the cabins, and the passengers
remained under cover almost through
out the voyage
A TREMENDOUS CRASH HEARD.
The Noordland labored along success
fully until Thursday evening. 1t was
bitter cold night, and the passengers
were congratulating themselves on
gradually nearing the end of their
stormy voyage. The steamer was in
latitude 1852 north and longitude 50.15,
when at 20 minutes past in the even
ing, u tremendous crash was heard anu
the vessel quivered from end to end.
The passengers, who were sitting up,
were tossed about like nine pins, several
of them being thrown to the floor.
Three terrific blows resounded one after
the other MS if the vessel was being
struck by gigantic hammer, which, in
deed, was the fact
THE FRIGHT OF THE PEOPLE.
The fright of some of the people was
pitiful to behold. They rushed hither
and thither, delaying the officers in
their efforts to get at the cause and ex-
tent of the disaster. Captain Nickels
knew well enough what the sound
meant, and, with reassuring word to
the passengers, he hastened to investi-
gate personally.
The engines raced furiously, while
the broken shaft-for that proved to be
the danger-seemed about to crush the
ship at every conclusion. Water rushed
into the tube, menacing the stock hold
and the engine rooms, and the panic
stricken passengers thought for while
that the vessel was about to sink.
Several minutes elapsed before word
was given for the engines to stop.
The Noordland lay helpless, tossed
by the seas, and as the water rushed in
there seemed imminent danger Of sink
ing.
The pumps were put to work, every
man of the crew being summoned to
duty. For "a hours continuously the
pumps were kept at work, and the
water was prevented from sinking the
vessel. The excited passengers, finding
that they were not in instant peril of
being swallowed up by the waves, re-
gained courage and patiently waited for
a steamer to tow them into port. AT the
time of the accident the Noordland was
400 miles west Of Queenstown.
THE STEAMER cHIo APPEARS.
The crippled steamer was sighted by
the steamship Ohio, which left Philadei-
phia on the same day that the Noord-
land Left New York, and assistance was
at once extended. The voyage to
Queenstown III tow was attended by
much difficulty, and the continuous
stormy weather made it necessary to
navigate with caution, but the NoOrdland
arrived without further accident. An
examination showed that the fracture
of the shaft was q feet inside the stern.