The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-04

Otner el0e OF the room. e are In no
danger at ALL" it said This ship will
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 has a great deal more at
stake than any one on board. Whoever
talks of subscribing 100000 TO get him to
do his duty is a d. fool"
The man who was thus designated
turned out to be, according to the pas
senger list, Gen. j. w. Kearney of
Texas" and the one who informed him
was young Edward McVickar OF Boston.
McVickar apologizsd for calling the other
fool and afterward said 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. McVickar,
who is stalwart youth, did not seem to
consider, however, that he had had very
narrow escape.
Watching for Sails.
The Umbria had sighted only two ships
since leaving Queenstown. and it might be
a week or even two weeks before she was
reported. the Catalonia of the Cunard
line, which sailed from Liverpool for Bos-
ton Thursday. the 18th, might pass with
in hsiling distance in day or two, and
the Normsndie of the French line, which
sailed from hsvre on the previous Satur-
day, was also due over the same course.
II these should be missed there was still
chance of later falling in with the
Cunarder Galia, which was to leave Bos-
ton for Liverpool the next Monday, or the
Britsnny Of the White Star line that had
sailed from Liverpool for New York the
Wednesday previous. Outside of these
were chances of hailinR tramp steamers or
vessels of other lines.
Chief Steward Gore said that there was
enough provisions aboard 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.
Kickers and Ants.
The ships company divided into two
parties known as the kickers and anti
kickers, and il was noted that ell the more
intelligent men on board were on the cap
tain's side. while all the rough element
was on the other
That evening the kickers called a meet
ing in the smoking room TO pass a vote of
censure on the ships officers, but the anti
kickers came in and put guietus on this
project by forming what was called an
amusement committee with J. Henry
Harper as chairman, its object being to
have a representative obtain information
from the captain and as it was not known
how long the Umbris would drift, to get
up entertainments in the saloon for even
ings. Capt. Mckay expressed himself as
entirely ready to cooperate with this
committee. He tod Mr.. Harper that ne
was as much surprised as any one on
board ct the conduct of the Gallis, but
would say nothing more about the mat
ter. He also told Mr.. Harper that the
chief engineer had promised him to start
the machinery at noon the next day Tues
day) If the sea was smooth enough.
On Tuesday morning, for the tirst time
since the Umbria left Liverpool the
weather was fine and the sea smooth, con-
ditions that existed until the end of the
voyage. Nevertheless when u o'clock
came and the machinery was not started,
and the log informed the passengers that
they had drifted twenty-five miles further
from the course, there was much murmur-
ing and complaint. A notice was now
posted to the effect that the steamer
would start at $40 in the evening. and
the passengers learned that the machinery
had been moved during the night as an
experiment, and that one of the bolts
Engineer TomlinsOn had put into the
tn block had broken. This was not
encouraging. and the croakers We're more
anxious than ever, but about $50 o'clock
the thrill OF the engines was felt through
out the steamer, and she worked off at a
SOW rate of speed, to be sure, but as
sIanchly and steadily as ii her driving
machinery were in tact
Pleasant Shipwreck.
II "those who go down to the sea in
ships" could always experience as com
Portable a shipwreck as that suffered by
the passengers on the Umbria ocean
travel would he robbed OF all of its terrors.
Shipwreck is shorn OF all its romance In
such circumstances. but is far more salts
factory than the old style of procedure.
1t is hard TO be sentimental over the perils
OF the deep when one is getting three or
four good meals with excellent service per
day. and when he may attend concert in
the afternoon and drinks and cigars in the
smoking room and read ali night by cleo
trio light If he so desires and sit in a state
| room heated by steam. The officers of the
Umbria eXerted themselves TO make
things as pleasant as possible for the pas
sengers. Capt Mckay threw aside the
mantle of superhuman dignity that usually
| envelops the commander OF an ocean
liner aud told everybody frankly and freely
| iust what was the matter with the ma
| chinery and what were the varying pros
poets from day to day OF arriving in New
York DIR. Finkin put more sugar than
| ever in the pills he administered and was
always resdy with a Joke or a funny story
| If anyone became too much depressed ia
his vicinity. Purser Neld rendered a very
substantial service by reapportioning the
stste-roOms so as 10 give everyone as COM
| Portable quarters as possible for the long
wait, and Chief Steward Gore busted him
self going about among the passengers to
inquire what were their favorite dishes
and serving up the same at luncheons,
dinners aud suppers. Everything was
done that could be done in fact TO miti-
gate the discomfort and disappointment of
the travellers who were detained at sea by
unavoidab accident.
Altogether the victims of the Umbria' .
"shipwreck" may, in looking back to their
/ present trip, remember that thev have
/ spent many unhapper and less comfort
able days than on that ended today.
| The only complaint that anyone has to
make with regard to the Cunard company
relates TO the Gallia incident Simon
Sterne is particularly severe In this direc-
| ton.
Il