Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-12-05
IN EXTREME PERIL.
a Terrible Ocean Disaster Mar.
rowly Averted.
CLOSE CALL OF THEsTEAMER SPREE


Seven Hundred Souls Who Almost Looked
Eternity in the Face-Her Shaft Breaks
and Knocks Hole in Her, and She
Reaches Port Nearly Foundered-The
story Told by Passengers, Among Them
Dwight L. MoOdy-EOurs of Terror
Ended by the Welcome Cry of ''Sa;I = o.
LONDON, Dec 5.-The steamship Spree
with 134 cabin, 221 second cabin, and 80
steerage passengers, and crew of "a men
all told arrived at Queenstown Saturday
afioat, and that was ALL She was overdue
at New York for several days, but no par
ticular apprehensions were felt regarding
her, though it was supposed that she had
met with some accident to her machinery
There was need of apprehension, however,
for it is piece of good luck that there is
not terrible ocean tragedy to record in
stead of time of terror to the human
freight of the great steamer.
Deep Down in the Water.
She was towed into port by the steamer
Lake Huron and presented forlorn ap-
pearance on entering Queenstown harbor
The stern was so deep in the water that
the steamer could be boarded from a row.
boat. The passengers were overjoyed at
their deliverance and loudly cheered the
Lake Huron for having rescued them. As
soon as the Spree reached anchorage a cor
respondent of the International Telegram
company had an interview with General o.
o. Howard, of New York; General Rufus
King, of Albany, and Evangelist Moody.
They told an interesting story of their ex-
periences. They left Southampton on their
way to New York on Nov 43 at , o'clock
p. m. For two days the steaming was fair.
The Main Shaft Goes to Smash.
At o'clock on the morning of Nov. 26,
while the vessel was making high speed
| through heavy sea, the main shaft broke
and there was terrible crash. The steamer
trembled from stem to stern. The engines
stopped instantly, and the passengers hast
ened to ascertain the nature of the disaster.
| There was nothing like a panic Perfect
| discipline was maintained. The officers
| assured the passe. gers that there was no
| danger, and The passengers had entire con-
| fidence in the officers Al tue boats, how
ever, were made ready for instant use in
case of necessity and supplied with "A good
store Of provisions. An examination showed
that the shaft had been broken ten feet
| from the end.
The Water Floods the stern.
The weight of the screw caused Il strain,
and suddenly water Hooded the stern and
drove all the second cabin passengers and
| the stewards from their cabins and the
| dining saloon. The second cabin passen-
gers were obliged to leave their clothes and
| baggage in the flooded cabins in order to
escape. The flood continued and the Off
| GERS, fearing the worst, ordered all movable
| articles to be removed and the bulkheads
| closed and shored with heavy beams The
second cabin passengers took refuge with
| the first and were received with all the
| hospitality possible under the circum-
| stances.
| Was Time of Awful Terror.
| The weather grew more threatening and
| the steamer without sail 10 steady or to
| guide tossed helpless in the trough of the
| sea. The water in the stern roared and
| thundered with every roll of the vessel,
| sounding like knell of judgment to the
| more terrified among the passengers. The
| pumps were worked laboriously to keep
the water down. The passengers in alarm
| huddledin the saloon, and anXiously waited
for the verdict of their fate from the lips
| of the officers. At o'clock in the afternoon
| Captain Willigerod entered the saloon
Il am able to tell you, he said calmly,
THAT our work is rewarded. We have the
water about under control There is now
no danger" This utterance conveyed a
deep sense of relief to all who heard it.
| Signaling for Help.
All day Saturday and all day Sunday the
sea rolled and the water in the stern COM
| partment thundered at the bulkhead
| Sunday night the storm moderated. but
| 1, Il. 81, L.. II.
tense excitement the passengers could get
no sleep. Oil bags were hung overheard
and softened the fury of the waves. and a
great fire Of tar was kept burning as a sig
nal of distress. The ship was drifting out
of the path of vessels, and or Sunday
morning everybody was almost in despair.
| Evangelist Moody, who from the first had
displayed cool courage and a spirit of con-
| fidence that helped TO sustain others, held
an eloquent service of prayer in the saloon,
which was attended by everybody on
board, including two saloon passengers
who had been noted for their levity during
the first two days from Southampton
The Glad Cry sail Hoi-
The grave danger was that the bulkhead
would give way, and Sunday night was a
long one, with the pumps going full power
and just able to keep the water down. AT
half past O'Clock a cry of "Sail hor
thrilled every breast in the vessel, and was
greeted with shouts and cheers and con.
vulsive sobs of joy. The ship proved to be
the steamship Lake Huron, from Montreal
Nov. 10, for Liverpool, commanded by Cap
tain Carey. The Lake Huron answered the
signals of distress, and promptly ran uI
alongside the Spree. When the dawn Of
morning made it possible to begin the worI
of assistance six-inch hawsers were with
great difficulty passed from one steamer t.
the other and firmly fastened, and then th,
task began of towing the Spree to port o
safety. There were over 800 miles TO 90
and the distance was safely accomplished
Saturday as stated in the foregoing.
STORIES TWO WOMEN TELL.
| The EriChtfuI Scer.. IXl,c., ~. I,G.z;I III.