St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-04
The Steamer Spree ToWeC
Into Queenstown in Dis
abled Condition.
When Three Days Out the
Main Shaft Of the YES
sci Broke.
Water Flooded the Steamer
Through a Hole Caused
by the Accident.
After Being at the Waves
Mercy for Two Days Re-
lief Arrives.

LONDON, DEC. o. L lle 4NOl III WI Hi''h
Lloyd steamship Spree. which lefI
Southampton on Nov. % for New York
and was due in New York on Nov. 3O'
was towed into Queenstown today by
the British steamship Huron. Inc
Spree had 134 saloon passengers on
board, 22l in the second cabin and 15O
III the steerage, besides crew of 247
men and a large mail.
The big steamer presented forlorn
appearance on entering QueenstoW L
harbor. The stern was so deep i'll the
water that the steamer could be boarded
from a row boat. The passengers were
Overioyed at their deliverance and
loudly cheered the Lake Huron for
having rescued them.
As soon as the Spree reached anchor
age, the correspondent of the United
Press had an interview with Gen. How
ard, of New York; Gen. Rufus King, of
Albany, and Evangelist Moody. They
told an interesting story Of their expert
ences. They left Southampton on their
way to New York on Nov. % at p. IN.
For two days the steaming was fair. Al
6 O'Clock, on the morning Of Nov 26,
while the vessel was making high speed
through heavy sea,
The HEain Shaft Broke
and there was a terrible crash. The
steamer trembled from stem to stern.
The engines stopped instantly. and the
passengers FASTENED to ascertain the
nature of the disaster. There was moth
ing like panic, perfect discipline be
ing maintained The officers assured
the passengers that there was no dan
ger, and the passengers had entire contl-
dence in the officers. All the boats,
however, were made ready for instant
use IN case of necessity, and supplied
with good store of provisions.
An examination showed that the shaft
had been broken ten feet from the end.
The weight of the screw caused strain.
and suddenly water flooded the stern
and drove all the second cabin pas
sengers and the stewards from their
cabins and the dining saloon. The
cabin passengers we're obliged to
leave their clothes and baggage
in the flooded cabins in order
to escape. The flood continued
and the officers, fearing the worst, Or
dered all movable articles 10 be re-
shored with heavy beams. The second
cabin passengers took refuge with the
first cabin and were received with all
the hospitality possible under the cir
cumStanceS.
The weather grew more threatening
and the steamer, without sails to steady
or to guide, tossed helplessly in the
trough of the sea. The water in the
stern
ROared and Thundered
with every roll of the vessel, sounding
like a lknell Of Judgment to the more
terrified among the passengers. The
pumps were worked ldbOrOuSly TO keep
the water down, the passengers all or
dered down to the saloon. and anXlOuSly
waited for the verdict of their fate from
the lips Of the officers Capt. Willier-
good entered the saloon and said:
II am able to tell you that our work
is rewarded. We have the water about
under control. There is now no dan
ger"
This utterance conveyed deep sense
Of relief to all who heard it, except to
some women who seemed Historically
deaf to any and all words of reaSSur-
ance. The bulkheads were further
strengthened, and all began to look
ing vessel. The steamer continued to
be tossed by the easterly gale, and the
passengers passed a miserable night.
The ship sunk so low and the water in
the stern roared so loudly and omin-
Ously that nobody could sleep even if so
inclined.
The vessel was drifting in Southerly
direction and on the evening of the
Goth was in latitude 5S, longitude 20.
The wind shifted to the south ana
mountainous seas broke continually
over the decks. The officers spared no
efforts to relieve
The Perils OF the Situation.
Bags Of oil were placed on the side Of
the steamer and had an immediate eff
feet in SOftening the fury of the waves.
An immense fire Of pitch tar was eX-
posed flom the fOredeck in order to at
tract the attention of vessels.
Sunday morning found everybody
melancholy. and some relapsing into
despair, because no ship had been
sighted. The passengers felt that they
were drifting out of the track Of steam
ers, and were Respondent on that
account. Evangelist Moody, who
from the first had displayed
cool courage and a spirit of con-
fdence that helped to sustain
others, held an eloquent service of
prayer in the saloon, which was attend
ed by everybody on board, including two
saloon passengers who had been noted
for their levity during the first two
days from Southampton. These two
seemed to De as thoroughly converted
as Mark Twain and his comrades in the
snoWStOTm, and responded to the Evan
mt
RmenS.
Meantime the pumps were just able
to cope with the water, which nearly
reached the decks. Toward Sunday
night the sea moderated, but again the
weary passengers were deprived of
sleep by dread lest the bulkheadS which
Kept the Vessel Afioat
would burst under the pressure of the
vast volume of surging water. The
night was passed miserably. Every
body was in suspense, and nearly all
the passengers sought the decks at
Intervals to peer through the darkness
for a rescuing sail. At half past
O'Clock cry of Sail no" thrilled
avery breast in the vessel, and it was
vreeted 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. COM
manded by Capt. Carr. The Lake
Huron answered the signals of distress
and promptly ran up Alongside the
Spree, remaining there until daylight.
When the dawn of morning made it
possible to begin the work OF assistance,
siX-inch haWscrs were with great dltfl-
ruIty passed from one steamer to the
pther and firmly fastened, and then the