The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-28

QUEESsTowN, Dec. 97.-The steamship
Eoordland was towed into Queenstown
harbor by the steamship Ohio at a
o'clock this evening. All the passen-
gers were on deck waving hats and
handkerchieia and cheering Anchor
was dropped and the passengers were
removed to shore by tender All
showed signs OF the anxiety which they
had suffered.
The voyage of the steamship Noord-
land was tempestuous almost from the
hour Of leaving Sandy Hook. The wind.
blew almost a hurricane, and the ship.
had much difficulty in making headway
through the waves. Some Of the pas.
sengers were SO apprehensive of danger
that they could not be induced to retire
at night and sat about the saloon doing
at intervals and ready with their clothes
on to take the boats in the event OF an.
accident, although. boats could have
lived only by a miracle in the terrible
seas. The waves tossed their icy foam
on the decks until the lower rigging
was covered with CONCEALED frosting
and the deck itself was like o skating
pond. The only comfort or, security
was in the cabins, and they remained
under cover throughout nearly all the
voyage. But Captain Nickels, his officers
and crew spared no pains 70 secure the
safety of the ship, and the hardy sailors
never shirked an order, however peril
Gus and painful.
The Noordland labored along success.
fully until Thursday evening. 1t.was q
bitter cold night, and the passengers
were congratulating Themselves on
gradually nearing the end Of their
stormy voyage. The steamer was in
lat. 1852 west and long 50,15, when at
twenty minutes past nine in the even
ing a tremendous crash was heard, and
the vessel quivered from end to end.
The passengers who were sitting up.
were tossed about like nine pins, sew
eral Of them being thrown toithe floor.
Three terrific blows resounded one
after tho other, as If the vessel was be-
ing struck by a gigantic hammer, which.
indeed was the fact. The fright Of some
of the people was pitiful to behold.
They rushed hither and thitheF, delay
ing the officers in their efforts to get at
the cause and extent OF the disaster
Captain Nickels knew we'll enough
what the sound meant, and with a re-
assuring word to the passengers he
hastened TO investigate 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 stoke hold
and the engine rooms aud panic
stricken passengers thought for awhile
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
gale, and as the water rushed in there
seemed imminent danger OF sinking,
The pumps were manned and put to
work, every man Of the crew being sum.
moned to duty. For twenty.four hours
continuously the pumps were kept at
work and the water prevented from
gaining on the vesgel. The excited
passengers finding that they were not
in Instant tiperil, regatned courage and
patiently waited for steamer TO tow
them into port.
At the time OF tho accident the
Noordland was 400 milel west Of
Queenstown. Tho crippled steamer
was sighted by the steamship Ohio.
which left. Philadelphia on the same
day that the Noordland left New York,
and needed assistance was at once ex-i
tended. Tho voyage to Queenstown IN
tow was attended by much difficulty
and the continuous stormy weather
made it necessary to navigate with cau-
tion, but the Noordland arrived without
further accident. An examination
showed that the fracture of the shaft
was six feet inside the stern.