The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1893-01-01
The story OF the Accident and u,.,
dehts OF the Voyage Prove Inter.
cshng Reading-AM Pas.
aeOS ers Safn

ing as near to shore as she could nossi
bly, do. 1t took the observer. who
knows all the ships and the lines by
their lights, but few seconds to make
ont the unmistakeable nighs colors of
the Cunard line,
When the Umbris came into the dock
this morning her decks were black with
people, while along shore crowds stood
on the pier heads and yelled and cheered
The hoarse whistles of the ferry boats
roared welcome home. The pier was
Jammed with people, and when the
UmbIia brushed aside the ice that had
settled in the ship, and the cabin pas.
sepgers on her hurricane decks cheered a
good substantial Yankee cheer, great
many on the pier went frantic almost
with JOY. A number wept 1t was like
seeing 900 odd souls from the grave.
The first intima,ion the passengers
had that there b ad been an accident was
after dinner on Friday, alth ugh the en-
gineer had been watching the shaft with
anxiety for forty eight hours, and the
machinery had twice been stopped dur
ing the previous night for an Inspection
OF a flaw in the great steel casting
During dinner Friday the steamer came
to stand still, which caused some spe.
cu'ation among the passengers, though,
as the weather was rough, 1t was not at
once perceived that the machiuerv was
not in motion. About 7.3O o'clock in
the evening, as the men were in the
smoking room Captain Mckay came in.
"Gentlemen," he said, addressing the
entire room, Il am sorry to inform you
that we have broken our shaft and shall
be unable TO proceed at present. l shall,
however, accept towing offer from any
( vessel large enough that comes within
hailing distance"
There was momentary silence as the
situation dawned upon the room, and
then plaintive voice inquired: "Why
don't you send up rockets2'
There will be time enough for rock
ets," responded the captain, "when 8
vessel comes near enough to see them. ,
There was very little commotion when
the ladies were informed of the situation
They took it as calmly as the men. Tho
principal anxiety of every one, indeed
was on account of relatives and friend,
at home.
Just after daylight Saturday morning
those who were asleep were awakened
by several reports from the Umbria'
gun and the sound Of her whistle IL
ten minutes almost every one was on
deck to ascertain what was the matter
A ship was In sight just in the edge O
the horizon, bound eastward. For hal
an hour. during which time the gum
was constantly discharged and the
hoarse whistle blown, it was impossibl,
to detect whether or not the other boa
had seen or heard the Umbria's signals
as during the entire voyage she hac
sighted but two other vessels aud tn.
passengers felt that it was almost toe
much luck that help should be at hand
so soon after the break down Soon
however, 1t was seen that the steamer
was making toward the drifting ship,
and at O'Clock she was alongside. She
proved to be the Bohemia, remembered
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 be
fore noon she was connected to the big
steamship by steel hawser and was
steaming slowly west ward. the German
flag at the stern flAunting before the bow
Of the disabled Englishman
The storm grew heavier in the after
noon and it was all that the Bohemis
could do to drag her big burden, in th.
teeth of head wind. After dawn q
heavy snow storm sprung up, which OBJ
scured the lights Of the TWO vessels from
each o her; about mid night the ba xsel
broke in violent gale, and on christina
morning the passengers of the Umbris
found themselves again adrift in ragi ing
storm, with naught in sight but 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 and, il
she searched for her after day break, sh.
did not find her. Christmas day passec
without any demonstration Of discomfort
Just at dusk light was sighted to tht
southwark and again the passepgert
flocked on deck. Rockets were fred
and soon the light that at first seemed tt
fade away, began to grow more ani
more distinct, and in half an hour
small steamship lay along side. II
answer to the Umbria's signals the new
conner reported that she was vessel O
the Wilson line, bound for Philadelphia
and that she could not take the other il
tow because she did not have Goa
enough, with which pleasing informatio,
she slgnaled good bye and departed.
From the hour her time was taken a.
noon Friday until she broke down tina
evening the Umbria had made 1874 miles
She drlfted twelve miles to the southeas
during the night, and the Bohemi
towed her seventy five miles toward New
York on Sunday. At Monday noon sh'
had drifted forty two miles and the gall
was still blowing Just after luncheon
on Monday a steamer was sighted pro
ceeding westward. In answer to tn,
Umbrias signals she came alongside, ant
proved to be the Manhassett, bound from
swansea to New York the property o
James McC aldir, one OF the passenger
of the Umbria. The Manhassett hat
scarcely come to a standstill, however
when much larger steamship hove il
sight and bore down rapidly toward tn
drifting vessel. In few moments sh
was close enough for the officers Of tn
Umbria to distinguish her as the Galli
of their own line, en- route from Boston
to Liverp ,ol Everybody on board tn
Umbria was jubilant. The consternatio
of the captain and officers, crew, ant
passengers may be imagined. however
when in response to the Umbria's signal
DISABLED ;standb b, " they Gallia returned
Cant stand by; carrying mails"
The Umbria signalled back 1--WE hol'
you responsible" whereupon the CALI