Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-01-06
UABRIA SAFE IN PORT.
A BROKEN SHAFT THE CAUSE
OF THE TROUBLE.
Scenes On Board Described by II Pas
seuger flowed - Miles in Bind
ing snow storm Drifted HelpleSSly
in Mid Ocean,

The T'mhria steamed out VI Queenstown
narhOr and passed FaStnri on her trip hither
At - on the afternoon of Dee, Is. The sky
was overcast and fresh breeze came out of
the west. She logged I0j miles up TO noon
the next day, Dec. -. She had heavy
weather shipping many wave crests for,
ward for the next three DAYS. The wind
blew moderate or a whole gale, mostly
from .he west and northwest. and there was
frequent hail and snow squalls.
The arrived at the bar on Saturday morn
ing Al = O'Clock, and at her dock at lilo
O'Clock.
capt. Mckay had brought his fine steam
ship and all on board safely through terrific
gales, and as his vessel entered the harbor
he was congratulated and thanked by many
passengers who had waited up all night
To see the welcome lights of New York
again.
The l'mbria proceeded up the bay by the
the main channel. burning her signals ut
sandy Hook and blowing her whistle in re-
>ponse to glad sautcs Of tugs in the lower
bay. Capt. Mckay declined to permit any
one on board or to furnish details of the
accident and the voyage until after he had
reached quarantine and been passed by the
health officer.
Frank Marshall White, former London
correspondent Of the sun, who was one OF
the Umbria's passengers, gave the following
account of the accident to the ship and her
experience since II occurred;
"A fracture was discovered III her shaft,
and her machinery was stopped south of the
Banks Of Newfoundland at 80 o'clock on
the afternoon of Friday, the I'D inst. After
drifting for Il hours In storm she was
toWcd - miles by the Bohemia Of the Ham
burg American line, but the cable that con-
nccted the two steamers was broken in n
heavy gale on Saturday night, and they lost
track of each other.
After drifting three days to the southeast
she started again with her own machinery,
which had been repaired under great diff
culties by Chief Engineer Tomlnson, and
came on in fine weather at half speed to her
destination.
The first intimation the passengers had
that there had been an accident was after
dinner on Friday, although the engineer had
been watching the shaft with anxiety for As
hours, and the machinery had twice been
stopped during the previous night for an in
spcction of the flaw in the great steel cast
ing. During dinner Friday the steamer
came to standstll, which caused some
speculation among the passengers, though
~ the weather was rough ii was not at once
perceived that the machinery was not in
motion.
About 40 O'Clock in the evening Capt.
Mckay came into the smoking room. Cen
tlemen,' he said, i am very sorry to inform
You that we have broken our shaft and shall
he unable to proceed at present. | shall,
however, accept a towing offer from any
vessel large enough that comes within hail
ing distance
There was mOmentary silence as the
situation dawned upon the room, and then
pantive voice inquired: why don't YOU
send up rockets"
There will be time enough for rockets,
responded the captain, when vessel comes
near enough to see them.
There was very little commOtion when
the ladies were informed of their situation
They took it as calmly as the men. The
principal anxiety OF every one indeed, wa
on account OF relatives aud friends at home
The tmbria had sighted only two ships
since leaving Queenstown, and it might be q
week or even two weeks before she was re-
ported. Chief Steward Gore said there were
enough provisions on board to last for three
weeks more without anyone being in the
slightest degree stinted, or even for four OF
five weeks with the deprivation of u few
Injuries.
Just after daylight those who were asleeI
were awakened by several reports from thu
| mbria's gun and the sound Of her whistle
In 10 minutes almost every one was on dect
to ascertain what was the matter. A shiI
was In sight just in the edge OF the horizon
bound eastward.
For half an hour during which time tn,
gun was continually discharged and tn,
hoarse whistle blown, it was impossible L
detect whether or not the other boat had
seen or heard the lmbria's signals.
soon, however, 1t was seen that the new
conner was making toward the drifting ship
and at o'clock she was alongside. Sh,
proved to be the bohemia, remembered il
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 Umbrias re
quest for tow, and before noon was con
nected to the big steamship by stee
hawser, and was steaming slowly westward
the German flag of the Bohemia's steri
flauuting before the bow Of the disablct
Englshman.
The storm grew heavier In the afternoon
and it was all that the Bohemia could do {,
drag her big burden in the teeth of heat
wind. After dark heavy snow storm
sprang up which Obscured the lights of tn
two vessels from each other; about midnigh
the steel hawser broke in violent gale, anC
on Christmas morning the passengers of tn
Cmbrla found themselves again adrift In
raging storm, with naught in sight but tn
sky and sea. What became Of the Bohemi
no one knew. She probably lost track o
the Umbria in the snow storm after th
hawser parted, and il she searched for he
after daybreak she did not find her.
"A larger percentage Of the passenger
than is usual attended divine service, con
Quoted by Purser Field in the saloon tha
morning, and the responses to the prayer
were unusually hearty, though when th
men met in the smoking saloon afterwar
ma N NO gt rainp1 m al hot BIO
only str0lled in TO hear the music or to pas
away the time.
From the hour her time was taken q
noon Friday until she broke down tina
evening the Umbria had made 1874 miles
She drifted II miles to the southeast durinl
the night and the Bohemia towed her !
miles toward New York on Sunday. A
noon Monday she had drifted AZ miles an,
the gale was still blowing.
Just after luncheonIon Monday steame
was sighted proceeding westward. In an
swer to the Umbria's signals she came alOnl
side. and proved to be the Manhanset ,boun
from Swansea to New York, the property G
James NJ. Cabin, one Of the passengers O
the Umbria. The Manhanset had hardl
come to a 81 indstil, however, and consid
cred the big prize money she would Obtai
by towing the big vessel to New York whe
a much larger steamer hove in sight, an
DOle down rInldly toward the drifting vel
sci. In few minutes she was close enoug
for the officers of the Umbria to distinguis
her as the Galia Of thelrsown line, en- rout
from New York TO Liverpool. The office
of the Manhanset also recognized the Gall
and steamed of homeward disconsolat,
done out of their prize money.
Everybody on board the Umbria we
jubIlant. isn't this Cunard luck?" til
officers asked each other. The Gallia WI
large enough to tow her larger sister shi
with ease, and there would be no big savag
to pay to rescuing steamer of another lin,
The CONSERVATION Of captain, officers, cree
and passengers may be imagined when,
response to the umbria's signal disabled
stand by" the Gallia returned, Cant stan
by; carrying mails" The Umbria signale
back, 1--WE hold you responsible" wher
upon the Gal'ia simply dipped her ensign
signifying gooI-by and disappeared to Il