Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-05

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A burst Of laughter greeted this ora.
ton, mingled with applause from few
timorous ones and inquiries from sew
eral VINO were inclined to be facetious
as TO whether the speaker possessed
$1,000. A voice with very different
| ring in it came from the other side of
| the room.
I'VE ARE IN NO DANGER AT ALI"
it said. "Hhis ship would float through
the biggest hurricane that ever came up
| on the Atlantic. Our captain is one of
the best that ever sailed the ocean, and
is at great deal more risk than any
one on board, and any one who talks
about subscribing $1,000 TO urge him to
his duty is u d--n fool"
The man who was thus designated
turned out TO be, according to the pas
/ senger list, Gen. j. w. Kearncyn of
| Texas, and the one who informed him
was young Edward McVickar of Bos-
ton. McNickar apologi2ed in an Gle.
giant manner for calling the other fool
saying that he spoke in haste, and the
general" told somebody else that if the
man had not done so he should have
made an example of him. McNickar,
who is a stalwart youth, did not seem
to consider, however, that he had had
very narrow escape.
THE LADIES WERE CALM.
There was very little connection when
the ladies were informed of the situa.
ton. They took it as calmly as the
men. The principal anxiety of every
one, indeed, was on account Of relatives
and friends at home. The Umbria had
sighted only two ships since leaving
Queenstown, and it might be week or
even two weeks before She was reported.
There was enough provisions on board
to last for three weeks more without
any one being in the slightest degree
stinted, or even for four or five weeks
with the deprivation of few luxuries.
Very few of the passengers remained
up much later than they did Friday
night, although they fully realized that
they were difting helplessly in mid.
ocean In storm. Oil was poured upon
the water through the drains of the ship
and she was quieter than while the ma
chinery was in motion.
ALL HANDS ON DECK.
Just before daylight these who were
asleep were awake by several reports
from the Umbria's gun and the sound of
her whistle. In 10 minutes at most
every one was on deck to ascertain what
was the matter. A ship was in sight
just on the edge of the horizon, bound
eastward. For half an hour, during
which time the gun was continually dis.
charged and the hoarse whistle was
sounded, it was impossible to tell
whether or not the other boat had seen
or heard the Umbria's signals. During
the entire voyage she had seen but two
other vessels and the passengers felt
that 1t was almost too much luck chat
help should be at hand so soon after the
break down. Soon, however, it was
seen that the newcomer was making
toward the drifting ship, and at o'clock
she was alongside. She proved to be the
Observation-Disclosures in connection
with the cholera scare in New York
harbor-of the Hamburg. American line,
bound from New York to Hamburg.
She at once responded TO the Umbria's
request for tow, and before noon she
was connected to the big steamship W
q steel hawser and was steaming slc wly
westward, the German flag at her stern,
haunting before the bow of the disabled
Englishman.
HARD PULL.
The strain grew heavier in the after
noon, and il was all that the Bohemia
could do to drag her big burden in the
teeth ola head wind. After dark heavy
snow storm sprang up, which obscurcd
the lights OF the two vessels from each
other, About midnight the steel hawser
broke in a violent gale and on Christ
mas morning the passengers Of the
Lmbria found themselves again
ADRiET IN A RAGING STORM,
with Eaught in sight hut the sky and
the sea. What became Of the Bohemia
no one knew. She probably lost track
Of the Umbria in the snow storm, after
the hawser parted aud If she searched for
her after daybreak she did not find her.
Christmas day passed without any
demonstration of discomfort among the
passengers, although the Texas general
croakcd like q bird Of ill-omen. III the
ladies cabin, just At dusk, a light was
sighted to the southwark, and again the
passengers locked on deck. Rockets
were fired, and soon the light that at
first seemed to fade away, began 10
grow more and more distinct, and in
half an hour small steamship lay
alongside. In answer 10 the Umbria's
signals the newcomer responded that
she was a vessel of tho Wilson Line,
bound for Philadelphia, and that She
could not take the other in tow bgCauac
she did not have coal enough, with
which pleasing Information she signaled
Good by" and departed.
From the hour her time was taken at
noon Friday until SHE broke down that
evening the Umbra had made l24 miles.
She drfted II miles to the southeast
during the night and the Bohemia
towcd her 70 miles toward New York
on Sunday At Monday noon SHE had
drlfted AZ miles, and the gale was still
blowing.
HAILED BY THE MANHANZETr.
Just after luncheon on Monday
steamer was sighted proceeding west
ward. In answer to the umbria's
signals she came alongside and proved
10 be the ManhanZntt, bound from
swansea to New York, the property of
James McCaIdin, one Of the passengers
Of the Umbria. The Manhanzatt had
come TO a standstill, however, and was
considering the big prize money she
would obtain by towing the Umbria to
New York, when a much larger steam
ship hove in sight and bore down
rapidly toward the difiiug vessel. Ina
few moments she was close enough for
the officers Of tine Umbra to distinguish
hcras the Gailia, Of their own line, from
Boston TO Liverpool. The officers Of the
Manhanzctt also recognized the Gallia
aud steamed off homeward knocked out
OF her prize money.
COLD SHAKE IN MIDocEAY.