New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-01

The Umbria brought in story which Is only
second in interest to her experience with o broken
shaft, and which will probably lead to troubles
some discussions in the next few days. That
story is that the Gallia, commanded by Captain
Ferguson, and belonging to the same Line as the
Umbria. refused TO lie by the disabled Ship and
deserted her in a fierce northwest gale. If it, is
true it was most heartless and reckless act on
the part of the captain of the Gallia. But the
fact 2hat the Gallia Cunard ship like the
Umbria. and that the captain of the Gallia would
have no known reason for refusing aid. while his
remissness would, as he would naturally know
involve him in serious trouble, is taken as proor
that he misunderstood the signals. The New-
York agent of the Cunard Line, Vernon II. Brown,
yesterday declared that he thought this would
prove to be the explanation of Captain Fergus
sens action.
The nature and extent of the Umbra's dame
ages are now being investigated, and Mr.. Brown
said yesterday that he did not know how serious
they were. The break in the shaft occurred id
the after end of the thrust shaft near the engines
and it was repaired at sea by Chief Engineee
Laurence T0mlinson ia novel manner after sevs
enty-two hours OF the hardest kind Of work.
From all accounts, the passengers Of the Umbria
were not much alarmed at any time, and almost
all of them united yesterday in praise Of the
swung into her pier, men and women seized Chief
Engineer Tomlinson and kissed his cheeks and
hands in gratitude Captain Mckay was cheered
from all parts of the ship till he blushed There
were a few passengers who felt differently about
the matter and abused the ship and everything
connected with it, One man had offered $4,000
toward paving for ship TO tow the Umbria into
Halifax. and ne was highly indignant yesterday
WHOM he landed because his offer not accepedI
The charges made against the captain by the dis
satisfied passengers mainly to the effect that
he did not try nard enough to get towed in, and
that he refused to accept aid to save salvage.
STARTING OUT AS A CHRISTMAS SHIP.
The Umbria sailed from Liverpool on Stature
day. December II, about o'clock III the after"
noon. with almost 600 people aboard Her cabin
Messengers numbered 259, there being 13l in the
first cabin and 12S in the second cabin. She had
1ol people in the stecragc, and her crew con"
sisted of I'll men in the engineers gang, "a sea-
men, and lO2 in the stewards department. Az
Iiyerpool she took on ?05 sacks OF mail ard then
started for Queenstown. She arrived there about
0 o'clock on Sunday morning and waited Tor tho
| Irish mail That brought with it l,04O bags or
mail hinge amount 1t consisted largely OF
Cbristmas letters and presents for the big singles
scre,v shin was TO be n Christmas ship, and ID
was supposcd would arrive here in time for thao
holiday. Taking on this immense amount OF mait
DELAYED her, and it was o'clock on sunday
afternoon when the Umbria finally steamed ouo
| Of Queenstown IIarbor and headed into inc
Atlantic Ocean. II was true Channel wcatheE
when she began her run TO this port. Choppy seas
cut of short by the rising wind anil gray SKY
brooding all around made it q melancholy winteS
evening, and no one cared to stay on deck long,
/ .la .lx- fnsr nj
when she struck the gales which have been blow
ing the ,ea into such unusual turmoil lately.
II WAS a real winter gale, with snow and hail
and ice and it came from the northwest. bringing
with i, heavy sea, which made even the Umbria.
steady ship that she is, lurch and roll. But sho
did not decrease her usual speed, and went
driving ahead at q fine rate. pounding her way
through the weather with steady speed thas
bade fair TO bring her into port in abundans
time for celebrating the day of the holly and tie
misrletoe and so the next day and the neXs
THE GALE CONSTANTLY INCREASES.
Each day, however, the gale increased IN
strength. and the sea rose higher. hitting the Dig
shin straight on the bows with mighty hammer
ING. Still she travelled on superbly, logging
a05. A2O and 800 miles. On December zs'
AGAINST q gale blowing wet and nasty srom tha
murky northwes', with furious squalls driving
.n,tefuly against the rushing steamship, She
drove her way through the head seas as IL she
were in the calmest Of water, and at the emo OF
the twenty-four hours run she had logged a"z
miles. 1t was the last good run the vessel wa.
,o make on that voyage. Her passengers passed
the evening merrily in the cabin, speculating on
,hs time when they would be landed in New
York. making plans for spending Christmas Day
With friends ashore, and all felt disposed to MAKE
light Of the unusually heavy gale which was piplhs %
sant her how into the SEA. On the next gay,
ians peoember %, tile Umbya was lyIng crippled ~
the ocean giant still; and delsss dIIss oa Il al soas u's
winds that could blow, out as heipieSS % 'ps'
adrift
THE ENGINEER MAKES DISCOVERY.
=. ,vos IN tho afternoon of that day that {