The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-04
DRIFTING AT SEA.
WHAT TAKES PLACE ON A STEAMER
WHEN THE SHAFT BREAKS.
A Story Of a Mishap at Sea That Some
times Calls for Heroic Work-How the
Steamship Kansas Reached Port After
Twenty Days of Slow Drifting.

GoOdLl ny NOuI UOdCo.
This command was shouted from tn
bridge of the steamship Kansas of th
Warren line or Nov. 4, 1891, by Captain
| Alexander Fenton. A report like the dis
charge of a heavy piece of ordnance ha(
| just been heard in the after part of tn,
ship, and the great iron hull had beer
shaken from stem TO stern. Immediately
| the screw lad ceased to revolve, and th,
Kansas was as helpless in the arms of tht
ocean as babe in the lap of its mother.
The men responded with alacrity, and il
| less time than it takes to tell it everything
was in readiness for a hasty departure
from the ship if necessity demanded it
| While these precautions were being taker
| the chief engineer emerged from below
and going to where the captain stood in
formed him that the shaft had broker
short off about twenty-five feet inboard. Ii
can readily be understood what an acci
dent of this nature means, as the sail ares
of modern steamship is hardly sufficient
to give her steering Roadway even in q
gale.
The steamer Kansas sailed from Liver
pool On the 2Sth of October with general
cargo of English merchandise. She was il
splendid condition, having recently come
off the dry dock in thorough repair. II
was her ninety third trip across the At
lantic, and, while not starting out to break
her record, the captain believed he would
have most successful passage. Every
thing worked smoothly until the afternoon
Of Nov. 4, when the accident occurred, and
the ship took even chances of going to the
bottom of the ocean.
There was a heavy sea on at the time
and the wind howled through the rigging
with force that threatened to wrench it
from its fastenings. The log showed that
the ship was just 81 miles off Fastnet
when she received the shock that came
very near ending her career. When it was
learned that the shaft had parted, an ex
animation showed that the trouble was in
the stern tube, which is probably the most
dangerous point on the whole length OF
the great shaft, as at that particular spot
the packing is used to prevent the water
working into the tunnel
Here was an emergency that Captain
Fenton was quick to appreciate. 1t was
shown that the ship was making over 200
tons of water per hour, and that the safety
of the vessel and perhaps the lives of those
on board depended on checking this flow.
1t was perilous undertaking to go into
the tunnel, as the water rushed in with the
force of Niagara.
''Who will volunteer to follow me-" said
the captain to his men.
Ali of the officers stepped forward and
one brave seaman. While the captain
could have ordered any member of his crew
into the tunnel, yet he felt he would not
call upon them to go where he was not
willing to lead the way.
Down into the black depths of the ship
descended the men until the tunnel was
reached. A hosty survey showed that it
was half filled with water Cropping their
way along murky darkness the stern box
was finally reached. Here the water was
nearly up to the armpits of the daring of
fcers and of icy GOODNESS. The danger of
the undertaking was enhanced by the
fact that any accident to the pumping en-
gines and the tunnel would have become
filled with water, rendering escape impos-
sible. But the machinery worked all right
for the time, and kept the flow partly
under control while the repairing was go
ing on. The officers had taken with them
ropes, blankets and any otler material
that could be used to advantage in dimin-
ishing the rush of the waters. An attempt
was made to chain or chuck up the broken
end of the shaft, but in this only partial
success was attained. The men remained
at their labors for over four hours, and
when they emerged it was with difficulty
that their limbs were made to relax their
rigidity.
After this the captain turned his atten.
ton to doing what he could to make port
First of all the sails were set, then the can.
vas on the small boats was hoisted, Their
covers were also put up to the breeze, ev.
cry spare sail was brought up and rugged
so as to catch the puffs of wind; the cargo
booms and derricks were also utilized, and
thus decorated the Kansas presented one
of the most novel marine pictures that
was ever seen on the Atlantic.
Under the influence of the moderate
breeze the steamer took up a sort of drift
ing course, or, as the sailors call it, she
had a leeway of six points, and crept the
water at the rate of % knots per hour
Practically she went dead to leeward. The
prospects of reaching shore were not very
assuring, but all that human ingenuity
could devise had been done.
On and on she drifted, until it was be
lieved she would ultimately reach the
French coast. In the meantime the pumps
began to cause trouble, as under constant
use they became choked and worn, which
necessitated stopping them from time to
time to make repairs. During these times
the water frequently rose to a height of
seven feet in the ship The ship rolled
heavily, and d great part of the cargo be
came broken and the contents of barrels
and boxes were a confused mass in the
hold.
On the sixth day after the accident the
British steamer Vondram sighted the
Kansas and sent boat off to see what
assistance she could render. 1t was de-
clded that the Nondram should tow the
crippled ship into Liverpool, and arrange
mertS to that end were Immediately car
ried out. The Kansas was practically help
less, and the great strain that came upon
the hawsers was more than they could
stand. After the two ships had kept com
pany about forty-fve miles the ropes part |
ed, and all subsequent attempts to renew
the attachment of the two vessels failed, |
and the Nondram finally steamed away |
out of sight.
The vessel continued on her drifting |
course for ten days, and was nearing the |
Bay of Biscay when the wind suddenly |
shifted to southwest, which changed the |
course east-northeast.
The Kansas held to her new course for an |
additional ten days, and gradually drew |
toward the coast of Ireland. On the morn |
ng of the Goth day after the accident Capt |
Fenton located his ship about sixty miles |
,ff Queenstown, and concluded TO com 4
pun;cate with the land if he could find /
rev OF volunteers who would undertake /
he task in 2 lifeboat.
Before assistance arrived the ship had |
lrifted within nine miles of Old Head 1
Hinsaie. and ultimately brought up four
lnilns of he enasr rrhera fl..a u ,a trSs..d