The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-01
ARRIVAL OF THE UMBRIA.
The Steamer Adrift for -Four Days With a
Fractured Shaft.

rived off Sandy Hook at 3:15 O'clock this
morning, seven days behind time. A
fracture was discovered in her shaft and
her machinery was stopped, south of the
banks OF Newfoundland, at $50 o'clock on
the afternoon of Friday, Dec. % After
drifting for twelve hours in a storm she
was towed seventy-five miles by the 30
hernia of the Hamburg-American line:
but the cable that connected the two
steamers was broken in heavy gale on
Saturday night, and they lost track OF
each other. After drifting for three days
10 the southeast she started again, with
her own machinery, which had been re-
paired under great difficulties by Chief
Engineer Tomlinson, and came on in fine
weather at half speed to her destination.
1t was $40 o'clock this morning when
the Umbria dropped anchor of quaran-
tine, and in a minute she was boarded by
DR.. Jenkins and a score of reporters.
Rarely has the pier been the scene of such
excitement as was visible from an early
hour this morning. Crowds OF people
focked &C the foot of Clarkson street, and
when the red smokestaCks OF tie big steam
ship began to be visible a cheer went up.
One or two among the women became
hystsrical. As the Cunarder steamed up
ing of tug and ferryboat whistles The
crowd was so dense that the police had 10
be summoned, and IL was all they could 90
to keep the excited and enthusiastic as
sem bage in order. The big steamer was
finally docked, and the passengers came
down the gangplank, while the dock shed
rang with cheers and shouts. There were
many affecting scenes as friends greeted
those who had been so long at ses, and
thousands Of anxious hearts rest easily.
The conditions that confronted the peo-
pie on the I'm bria when it was discovered
that her shaft was broken were not en-
tirely gleeful. In the first place, the pros
pect of reaching home by Christmas day,
which SO many expected, was out OF the
question, and then there was the posi-
biIity of drifting out of the ocean roadway
and the track of other vessels, so that 1t
might be even weeks before port was
reached. The big steamship Law disabled
in latitude 43:4S and longitude 57:l7, about
200 miles from Halifax aud 500 miles from
New York, with heavy gale blowing
Nevertheless, there was no actual danger,
and almost every passenger on board ac-
cepted the situation cheertuly. There
was very little commOtiOn when the ladies
were informed Of their situation. They
took it as calmly as the men. The prin-
cipal anxiety of every one, indeed, was on
account of relatives aud friends at home.
Just after daylight on Saturday those
who were asleep were awakened by several
reports from the Umbria's gun, and the
sound of her whistle In ten minutes
every one was on deck to ascertain what
was the matter. A ship was in sight, just
Oh the edge of the horizon, bound east
ward. Soon, however, II was seen that
the newcomer was making toward the
drifting ship and at O'Clock she was
alongside. She proved to be the Bohemia,
remembered in connection with the chol-
sra scare in New York harbor, of the
Hamburg American line, bound from
New York to Ham burg. She at once re-
spouded to the Umbria's request for
tow, aud before noon she was connected to
the big ship by a steel hawser and was
tteaming slowly westward, the German
flag al her ern f1utIeriDg before the bow
OF the disabled English vessel. The storm
grew heavier in the afterno Don, and II was
Hll the Bohemia could do to drag her dig
burden in the teeth Of head wind. Alter
q k heavy snowstorm sprang mp, wnlcn
Ubscured tie lights OF the Two vessels from
each other. About midnight the steel
tawser broke IN a violent gale, and on
christmas morning the passengers on the |
l mbria found themselves again adrift in |
raging storm, with naUgbt in sight save !
tie ky and the sea. What became of the |
Bohemia no one knew. She probably lost |
track CT the Cmhria in the snOwstorm /
after the hawser parted, and, if she /
searched for her after daybreak, she did |
not find her. A larger percentage of the !
passengers than usual attended divine /
service, conducted by Purser Field in the |
saloon that morning, and the responses to /
the prayers were unusually hearty. Christ. |
plas day passed without any uemOnstra- |
SOns OF discomfort among the Passengers |
Just at dusk light was sighted TO the !
Bouthward and again the passengers /
focke0 on deck. Rockets were fired and !
in halt an hour small steamship lay !
alongside. She was a vessel Of the " ilson |
line, bound for Philadelphia. but she |
could not take the other III tow because |
she did not have coal enough. From the
hour her time was taken at noon Friday |
until she broke down that evening, the |
Tn ori~ lad made l24 miles. She drIfted /
I'VE " IA les to the southeast during the /
ign and the Bohemia towed her seventy |
i've mics toward New York on Sunday At 1
noon Monday she had driLted forUy-two !
Ailes, and the gale was still blowing
Just after luncheon on Monday a !
,teamer vas sighted proceeding eastward j
IL answer 90 the UmhrlS's si6nal she bore /
rapidly toward the drifting vessel In a /
wv moments she was close enough for the /
Ulcers OF the Umhria TO distinguish her /
- the Gallia of their own line, enroute /
from Boston to Liverpool. The couster- /
nation Of the captain, officers, crew aud 1
passengers may be imagined when, IN re- /
spouse to the Umbria's signal Disabled /
stand by, the Gallia returned, "CaunoU |
sand by-cArryIng mails" The Umbria |
gnalled back I'VE hold you response
bic" The Gallia simply dipped her en-
sign, siSnitylDE Good bye" and disap- |
peared to the eastward as the Mauhauzett /
passed out or sight to the west. The Of |
icers and passengers on the Umbria locked |
NJ one another IN bewildermeuC. The /
Gallis bad not even waited long enough t
20 inquire Le extent Of her sister ships |
injuries. For sli that Captain Ferguson
Of the Other ship knew, the Umbria might /
be laundering The Glllla's action was
inexpiscsbie on auy basis that any one on
board the CmbTjH could imagine
About $50 O'Clock on Tuesday the thrill /
II the engines was felt through the steamer
nd she worked Cif-at n slow rate OF speed.
70 O8 surs-hut us stsunChly and steadily /
II her driving machinery were intact
The drifting Of the Umbria and The short
distance she was towed 10y the Bohemia
had brought her back nearly TO the place
where the machinery gave out. She came
- stsuusUll in lat. 434S aud long $40 .
Oh Friday morning. When her machinery
was started on the next Tuesday night she /
had come back 20 latitude A. 30 .
Rnd @unEitude 60 On WegDes.
day noon she hsd made l5q miles.
On Thursday noon her record was
"a miles Tor the previous tweutv-fUur
hours, and from that time until yesterday
noon she hRa covered Us miles. In the
afternoon petition was circulated, which
resulted IN the subscription of C1nsidera-
bly, over $500 in an hour. The money WIS
divided among the chief engineer and his
stan OF assistants and artisans for effect
ing the repair of he broken shaft. The
petition also commended The CAPTAIN and
officers Tor doing everything they could to
mitigate he discomfort and disappoigt-
ment OF the passengers
A TOUGH FOR MAYOR.