The Portland daily press., 1893-03-20

The Passengers W0ro OhcorAuA UntlI Inc
Tobacco Gave Out-They Kept Up
Their Spirits BY Giving Entertain
ments-The Sandman Has Also Arrived
and Sails for Portland This Morning.
Especial to the Press.]
HALIFAX. N. S., March 19.-Steamer
Madura, from London, arrived this morn
ing at O'Clock. She brought anxiously
ooked for news from the Sarnia. The
report soon spread and hundreds visited
the Madura today, many to learn Of their
friends.
The captain of the Madura reports he
sighted the Sarnia 70 miles off st. Pierre,
making for this port at the rate of five
miles an hour. She was seen first by the
Madura Thursday night. Signals were
exchanged and the Madura was asked to
keep near the Sarnia all night. She sig
nailed her shaft was broken and engines
had been broken nearly a week.. She
was trying to effect repairs. The captain
of the Madura says the captain of the
Sarnia was very non-communicative and
it was exceedingly difficult to signal with
him. The Madura received no answer
and left.
When the two red lights were hoisted
on the mast, the signal denoting that the
Sarnia was sighted, there was great re-
joicing. Hundreds focked to the quay,
but only to be disappointed, as the cap
tain Of the Sarnia decided to remain out
side, believing it impossible to swing the
ship to the wharf, and overhaul defective
machinery. No passengers or mails were
taken off and will not be until tomorrow.
At u p. m. the press reporters procured
boats and boarded the Sarnia. 1t was
almost impossible to gain any informa-
ton of the trip, owing to the captain
being surrounded by passengers and
others. The following authorized report
was, however, obtained:
The position of the Sarnia as reported
by the American was erroneous, being
in error 10 miles. The shaft broke in
lon. $3.50 east, lat. 44.30 north. The
break occurred Saturday week, in mod
crate weather. About one half hour be-
fore the shaft was broken the after crank
shaft broke, the break being a very bad
one and rendering repairs exceedingly
difficult. Much time land labor were
spent getting the broken part disconnect-
ed from the main shaft. Four engineers
worked night and day allowing but a
short time for food or sleep. The ship
tossed about, thus rendering repairing
very difficult. When the accident hap.
pened the ship was $50 miles from Hall
fax. The drift was very favorable. the
ship having drifted only IA miles during
the days it took to effect repairs.
Had the Sarnia been dangerously near
Sable Island, as reported by the Ameri-
II II L IL,
risk of refusing to allow her to be towed.
The captain of the Sarnia can't under
stand why the captain of the American
should make such an erroneous and
mislea ding report. Effort was made to
start the Sarnia before the broken piece
of the shaft was removed but without
good result. The engineer removed
forward part of shaft to off place and
replaced it with after piece. To accom-
plish this great trouble was experienced
in getting couplings off, owing to should
ing formed, on heads of bolts from a
years wear. The engineers were obliged
to drill sixteen bolts out. This
caused the big delay. But on
Friday afternoon last the re-
repairs were completed and cheers were
given by the 400 passengers for the cap
tain, engineers and crew. The passen-
gers were in happy mood when the
ship arrived off Halifax, and were loud
in their praise of the captain for having
taken his ship to port without assistance.
All on board are in the best of health.
The only thing that ran out was tobacco.
The Sarnia took course south of Sable
Island after completing repairs. With
favorable winds yesterday she made 10
knots per hour. The steamer Newield,
sent out to search for her Thursday last,
fell in with the Sarnia Saturday, and ac-
companleu nGr W puiD' l5nuelins ~ 90.
cantain Immediately dropped sea anchors
The break occurred II miles off St.
Pierre. The captain of the Sarnia want
ed the Madura to Law. by until Friday
mornine hit the latter wanted to tow
and left.
The passengers of the Sarnia inter-
viewed by the PRESS correspondent saw
that discipline on the steamer was re-
markablv GOOD. The passengers reposed
ssoo,,tad +ha ;deo If allow;nr anothar
vessel to render assistance. Notwith-
standing the vessel was helpless on the
ocean, fears as to her safety were never
10. Aa~E l,1lI nr1d