Evening journal., 1892-12-29
Gloom in London.

LONDON, Dec. 29.-The anxiety felt
for the safety of the Cunard Line
steamer Umbria increases day by day,
and those who have relatives or friends
on board of her personally visit the
offices of the company or else ask by tele.
graph for information regarding her. Of
course the company has no information
to give other than that contained in the
newspapers, but the officials give reas-
suring replies, having perfect confidence
in the seaworthiness of their steamer
and the seamanship of Captain Mckay,
her commander.
But the long delay in the arrival of
the Umbria causes apprehension that
cannot be allayed by conjectural state
ments. A disarrangement of the macnin
cry, 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 be
necessarily slow; it would be much slower
if a 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 north
west winds prevailing at this time of the
year her drift would be to the southwark
and out of the lane routes Of trans
Atlantic navigation.
That the steamer could be handled
under canvas is not questioned but the
fears for her safety are based on other
reasons. There are several derelcts
afioat in the North Atlantic route and
one or two of them have been reported
by incoming vessels as being dangerous
distractions to navigation. To seafar-
ing men who know the dangers presented
by this class of wreck almost the first
thought is when a steamer is long over
due, that she has struck a derelict Just
awash. To collide with such an obstacle
is like striking a rock and the conse.
quences of such a mishap are more than
likely to prove serious to the vessel that
runs into them.
The fact that the Umbria was spoken
on December 21 in latitude 40 n long
itude 3S65 W, by the Hamburg Ameri-
can Line steamer Moravia was cabled
here from New York last night but this
afforded no relief to those who have
friends aboard. They argue that as the
Umbria was then about halfway across
the ocean she was in the worst possible
position to become crippled. True, she
might, in case of accident, have borne
away for the Azores and made fair
wind of what had been a head one. But
they say had Captain Mckay followed
this course the Umbria should have been
reported from the Azores ere this. 1t
may be that the steamer, having been
blown far out of her course. has at
tempted to make Bermuda
Re-Insured at High Premium.
The underwriters at Lloyds look upon
the Umbria as an extra hazardous risk.
Yesterday reinsurance was effected
upon her at the rate of twelve guineas
premium;which is a high rate, but this
morning twenty guineas was demanded.
Some reinsurance was effected at this
latter rate and this in itself is good
indication of the anxiety felt in business
circles.
Old steamship men, discussing the
probability of the Umbria having struck
a derelict, say that even if such was the
case her compartments would keep her
afoat unless she struck in such manner
as to tear her side out near the engine
room. This might be done by the
steamer striking the floating and water
logged wreck glancing blow and catch
ing an anchor huke in her plates.
Anxiety Increasing.
Whatever the cause Of the non-ar- .
rival of the Umbria, it can truthfully be
said that the anxiety and apprehension
for her safety grows deeper and more
intense as hour after hour passes and no
report Of her is received. A large number
of the relatives of those aboard of her
have left instructions at Lloyds and the
cable offices to be Immediately informed
as soon as any news Of the steamer is
received.