The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-01-05

SSoSSsSeeeSoeSSS SssSNSSse sSisoS
with the cholera scare in New York
harbor. Before noon she was con
nected to the big ship by steel haw
ser and was steaming slowly west
ward. The storm grew heavier and
at midnig hit the steel hawser broke il
the violent gale and Christmas morn
ing the passengers of the Umbris
found themselves again adrift in the
raging storm, with naught in sight
but sky and sea. What had become
of the Bohemia no one knew. She
had probably lost track Of
the Umbria in the snow
storm after the hawser parted.
Christmas day was passed without
any demonstrati of discomfort
among the passengers. Just at dusk
a light was sighted. Rockets were
fired. In half an hour small steam
ship lay alongside. She was vessel
of tie Wilson line, bound for Phila-
delphia, and could not take the other
in tow because she did have coal
enough, with which pleasing informa.
tion she signaled goodbye and de-
parted.
Just after lunch steamer was
sighted proceeding westward. She
proved to be the Manhanset, Swan
son to New York, property of James
McGoiden, one of the passengers on
the Umbria. The Manhanset had
scarcely come to standstill, however,
and considered the big prize money
she would obtain by towing the dis
abled vessel TO New York. when a
much larger steamship hove in sight,
and bore down rapidly toward the
drifting vessel. 1t was the Gallia of
the Cunard line, Boston to Liverpool,
and the Manhanset steamed off home
ward, disconsolate at being done out
Of he prize money.
Every body on board the Umbria
was jubilant, but the CONSERVATION of
the captain, officers, crew and passen-
gers may then be imagined when, in
response to the Umbria's signal :
Disabled, stand by" the Galha re-
turned: Cant stand by, carrying
mails" The Umbria signaled back:
1--WE hold you responsible" but the
Gallia simply drapped her ensign,
signifying goodbye and disappeared
to the eastward as the Manhasset
passed out of sight to the west. The
Gallia's action is inexplicable on any
basis that any one on board the Um-
bria could imagine.
The passengers were now genuinely
alarmed. Many believed Captain
Mckay had deliberately sent the
Gallia away; but he expressed him
self as much surprised as any one on
board of the I'm Oria at the conduct of
the Gallia. He also stated, however,
at this juncture, that the chief engin-
eer had promised him to start the
machinery ut noon the next day
Tuesday, if the sea was smooth
enough. Nevertheless when II O'Clock
came and the machinery was not
started The croakers were more anx-
ious than ever; but about $3.50 O'Clock
the thrill of the engines was felt
through the steamer and she worked
off at slow rate of speed to be sure,
but staunchly and steadily as if her
driving machines were intact. We'd
nesday noon she had made 159 miles,
and by Thursday noon 224 miles
more, and from that time until yester-
day 225 miles.
In the afternoon yesterday the Cir
culation of petition resulted in the
subscription of considerably over $500
in an hour, to show in some degree
the appreciation of the ingenuity and
labor the chief engineer Mr.. Tomlin-
son and his staff assistants and arti-
sans in affecting the repairs of the
broken shaft.
The Umbria left Liverpool Dec. II,
carrying 12l first class cabin passen-
gers, 1913 second class, and 121 steer
age, besides a crew of 277 men. She
arrived at Queenstown Sunday and
waited for the "Irish Mailo which
brought ten additional first class pas
sengers and 1049 sacks of letters, a
total of 1874 sacks, making one of the
largest mails that was ever carried
across the Atlantic. This condition
was due to the circumstance that the
Umbria was expected to arrive in
New Nork the day before Christmas.
Rarely has Cunard line pier been
the scene of such excitement az was
visible from an early hour this morn
ing. Crowds of people, many OF whom
had FIT ends on the vessel. 1ocked to
the foot of ClarkSon street, and when
the red smokessacks of the big steam
ship began to be visible cheer went
up from the crowd. One or two
among the women became hysterical.
The big steamer was finally locked,
and the passengers came down the
gang plank while the great dock rang
with cheers and shouts. There were
many affecting scenes as friends on
the pier greeted those who had been
SO long at sea. But in very short
space of time the baggage was ex-
amined, passengers and friends lett
the pier, and only the usual hustle at.
lending the arrival of an ocean steam.
ship remained to mark the eventful
voyage of brave Captain McKay's big
vessel.
Forever Fifty Years
Mrs WinsloW's Soothing Svrup has been used |