The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-30

morning reports that about December
25, in latitude 42. so, longitude 5a O5,
she passed and signalled the Umbria.
She exchanged signalswith the Galltleo.
but did not show any signals for assist
anco.
LONDON, Dec. 2o.-The anxiety for
the safety of the Cunard line steamer
Umbsia increases day by day. audthose
who have relatives or friends on board
Of her personally visit the otticesof the
company or else ask by telegraph for
information regarding her. OF course
the company have no information to
give beyond that contained in the news.
papers, but the officials give reassuring
replies, having perfect confidence in
the sea worthiness of the steamer, and
the seamanship of Capt Mckay, her
commander, but the long delay in the
arrival Of the Umbria causes apppre.
hension that cannot be allayed by
coniectural statements. a disarrange-
ment Of the machinery, q broken shaft
or lost propeller would be sufficient.
reason for the delay. The sail area OF
the Umbria is very small and progress
under canvass would necessarily be
slow. Itwould be much slower II
dragging screw had to be hauled
through the water. With her long free
board, the vessel would be bound to
make more or less leeway, and with the
northwest winds prevailing ut this time
Of, the year, her drift would be TO the
;southward and out Of the line routes
Of transatlantic travel. That the steam
er could be handled under canvass is
not questioned but the fears for her
safety! are based on other reasons.
There are several derelicts atloat in the
north Atlantic routes, and one or two
have been reported by incoming ves.
sells as being dangerous distractions to
navigation. By seatarlnng men who
know the dangers presented by this
class Of wreck, almost the first thought
is, when steamer is long overdue, that
she has struck derelict just wash.
To collide with such an obstacle Is Ike
striking a rock and the consequences OF
such q, mishap are moro than likely to
prove serious to the vessel that runs
into them.
Tbe.underwriter at Lloyds look upon
the Umbria as an extra hazardous risk.
Yesterday reinsurance was effected
upon her at the rate of twelve euineas
premium, which is rathera high rate,
but this morning, twenty guiheas were
demanded. Some reinsurance was Of
fected at this latter rate and this in it
selfis good indication Of the anxiety
feltin business circles. AS the day adj
yanced and no intelligence Of the Um-
'bria was received, the underwriters ad-
yanced their rate to twenty-five gull
meas.
London manager OF the 1nman line, de-
clared that he did not feel the least
anxiety for the safety of the Umbria.
adding that he would not feel worried
il he had half a dozen friends aboard OF
her, and she was out q week longer He
said there was no doubt that her en-
gines had broken down, and that some
other steamer had her in tow. The
chances OF her being spoken had been
lessened by the withdrawal OF steamers
Of the Inman, Guion and North German
Lloyd lines from the transatlantic
route.
The manager Of the Cunard line ex-
pressed views similar 30 those Of Mr..
Patton and said he feltno tears what
ever for the vessel.
The last pilot chart by the North At
lantic, issued by the photographic
office shows few derelicts in the regu-
lar route Of the Umbria. Westward Of
the point at which the steamer was
spoken by the Morayia, three such OBJ
lstdcles are plotted on the chart, With
the preVailingwinds and currents these
derelicts would drift TO the northward.
By far the greater number Of derelicts
are known to be between Bermuda and
the Azores.