The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-08
MR. MOODY,s STORY.
A Thrilling Description OF Dangers on tho
Atlantic.

the past season was made by the steamer
Spree, which sailed from England on the
22nd of November, with 700 passengers
on board. When three days out from
the land the steamer broke shaft, tear
ing big hole in the vessels side, causing
it to fill rapidly with water and begin to
sink. The Spree seemed to be kept aaoat
by especial providence, as she drifted
helplessly a thousand miles from land,
when the steamer Huron, guided by her
signals of distress, that famed all through
the nights, found the helpless vessel and
towed her into the port of Queenstown.
The passengers took another vessel and
landed in New York on the 10th of De.
cember.
Among those on board the Spree was
Mr.. Dwight L. Moody, the celebrated
evangelist, who went directly to his home
in Northfeld, Mass, upon his arrival in
this country. He was given q joyous
reception by his friends and neighbors,
and on Sunday morning following the
night of his arrival at Mortified, Mr..
Moody told the story of the disaster and
rescue of the Spree, making a profound
impression upon the large congregation.
"My last day in London" said he,
twas pleasant one, day of promise it
might have been called, for the sun
shone out brightly after weeks of those
dark, foggy days so common in London.
A company of friends gathered at the
station to seq me off, and I suggested that
they sing my favorite song, Then shall
my heart keep singing but they said
that they did not feel like singing that
just then Twas the only one in the
little group who seemed to feel like sing.
ing. I couldn't sing with my voice, but
deep down in my heart sang, for l was
going home, to meet my loved ones.
"You land people have not perhaps a
very clear idea of what those great Allan
tic steamers are like. embarked on the
Spree, vessel about four hundred and
ninety feet long, with seven hundred
passengers on board, representing Great
Britain, Germany, Austria, Russia, Hun.
gary and ether countries, besides eur
own. There were many from all parts of
our own country returning from trips Of
business and pleasure; there were per-
sons of all ages and both se1es-old
fathers going over to America tn spend
their last days with their sons who had
gone before to build up homes in this
land of promise-men and women ip'
middle life, and many children, some of
the brightest and most beautiful have
ever seen.
"When about three days out on our
voyage, remember, was lying on my
couch-as I generally do at sea-con.
graduating myself on my good fortune
and feeling very grateful to God. con-
sidered myself a very fortunate man, for
in all my extensive travels by land and
sea had never been in any accidents of
q serious nature. l. thought of how my
wife and children had escaped cholera
and the quarantine at New York. The
steamer that had sailed before theirs, and
the one that followed after, both had
cholera aboard and were detained in
quarantine, while the one that bore my
loved ones, being swifter sailer, reached
New York and landed her passengers
before either of the other two had arriv-
ed.
"While engaged with these grateful
thoughts I was startled by a terrible
crash and shock as if the vessel had been
driven on rock. I did not at first feel
much anxiety-perhaps I was too i'll to
think much about 1t. But my son jump
ed from his berth and rushed on deck.
He was back again IN few moments,
exclaiming that the shsft was broken
and the vessel sinking. Idid not at first
believe it could be so bad, but concluded
to dress and 60 on deck. The report was
only too true. The captain told the
affrighted passengers, who had rushed on
deck, that there was no danger, and some
of the second cabin passengers returned
to their berths, only to be driven out
again by the inrusbipg water, leaving
everything behind them.
"The officers and crew did all they
could to.save the vessel. But it was soon
found that the pumps were useless, for
the water poured into the ship too rapidly
to be controlled. There was nothing
more in the power of man to do. We
were utterly, absolutely helpless. We
could only stand on the poor, drifting,
sinking ship, and look into our watery
graves. At this time, unknown to the
the officers were making pre-
paratious far the last resort. The life
boats were all putin readiness, provisions
prepared, life-preservers in hand, the
officers armed with revolvers to enforce
their orders, and the question was evil
IDENTIFY being debated in their minds
whether to launch the boats at once or
wait The sea was so heavy that the
boats could have hardly lived in it. Two
of the passengers had loaded revolvers
ready to blow out their brains if the ves-
sci should go down. preferring death by
bullets to death by drowning.
At noon the captain told us he thought
he had the water under way and was in
hopes of drifting in the way of some pass
ing vessel. The ships bow WAS now in
high air, while the stern seemed to settle
more and more The sea became very
rough, and the ship rolled from side to
eide with fearful lurches. IF he had