The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-01

New YORK, Dec. 3O.-Frsnk Mar
shall White, the former London cores
pondent OF the Sun, furnishes an &C.
count OF the accident to the
umoria. BE was ono OF the pas
sengers. Ho says q fracture was
discovered in her shaft, and her
machinery stopped south OF the Banks
of New Foundland at $50 o'clock
on the afternoon of Friday, tho 23rd in
slant After drifting for twelve hours
In storm she was towed seventy-fva
miles by the Bohemia, of the HAMBURG
American line, but the cable that con-
nected the two steamers was broken in
heavy gallo Saturday night and thew
lost track of each other.
After drifting for three days to the
southeast she started again with her
own machinery, which had been ro.
paired under great difficulties under
Chief Engineer Tomlinson, and came on
In tine weather, 1t half spred to her
destination.
The vessel left Queenstown Sunday
afternoon, December is. That night a
gale sprang up which increased in
violence until Thursday, it being i'm
possible for those passengers who were
able TO leave their staterooms to 90
upon the decks, and tho violent pitching
and rolling OF the steamer almost pre-
venting sleep at night. The first intima-
tion the passengers had that there
n nae econ an accident was after dinner
Friday, although the engineer had been
watching tho shaft with anxiety for
forty-ei2ht hours and the machinery
had twice been stopped during the pre-
vious night for the inspection of the
law In the great steel casting.
During dinner on Friday the steamer
came to standstill, which caused
some speculation among the pas
sengers, though, as the weather was
rough. 1t was not at once perceived
that the machinery was not in motion
About 1870 o'clock in tho evening, as the
men in the smoking room were lighting
their cigars, sitting over their coffee or
drawing up their chairs to poker tables,
Captain Mckay came in.
Gentlemen" he said, calmly, ad-
dressing the entire room, II am very
sorry to inform you that we have
broken our shaft and shall DO unable to
proceed at present. shall, however,
accept towing ofFor from any vessel
large enough that comes within mailing
distance"
There was momentary silence as
the situation dawned upon the room,
and then plaintive voice inquired:
why don't you send up rockets?"
"There will DO time enough for
rockets. responded the captain, when
vessel comes near enough to see
them"
The conditions that confronted the
company OF the Umbria were not en-
tirely gleeful. Tho big steamship Law
disabled about 2il miles from Halifax,
ard 800 miles from New York with
heavy gale blowing. Nevertheless there
was no actual danger and almost overy
passenger on board accepted tho situa-
ton cheerfully. There was very little
commotion whom tho ladies' were iu-
formed OF their situation They took it
as calmly rs the men. On Saturday tho
Bohemla took the vessel in tow with
the result before stated. Sunday the
steamer Gallileo was sighted and Mon
day tho steamer Manhansett, both which
reported the Umbria on arrival in port.
On the day following the Gallia, q sister
ship bound east, was sighted but she
passed ON without stopping.
The broken shaft was repaired and
tho vessel started again, and tho re-
mainder OF the voyage was uneventful.
Tho fracture OF the Shaft occurred
twelve feet from the engine and 1870 feet
from the propeller.