Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-20
TERROR ON THE ETHIOPIA.
Experiences Of tho Passengers When the
Steamship struck m Iceberg.

4 dispatch from Glasgow last night
says; y representative Of the Associated
Press had an interview to-day with J. II.
Ramsay. Of Madison. Wis. who was
passenger on the Ethiopia when she ran
into an iceberg on June 9Th. while on her
way from New YORK to this port. Sir.
Ramsay said.
II was sitting in the saloon. when there
was sudden shock. and the steamer
quivcrcd from stem to stern.
I'VE were going at about threc-quarter
speed. owing TO being In the vicinity Of
icebergs. The shock threw glasses and
dishes % the Moor. Everybody was fright
cned and rushed on DECK. We found
that all the officers had gone forward In
order 20 examine the bow Of the steam
ship. ! looked ahead and could see no
thing bat a great bue-c0IOred mist
I'VE thought the vessel was sinking. as
when she backed away from the iceberg
her bow dropped and her stern rose.
1T ufterward turned out that there was
an immense hole in her stem ana mat IL
was filled with ice. The dropping of the
bow caused the passengers 10 maze
rush for the boats and the order was
issued 10 clear them away ready for use.
Nobody however. entered the boats.
Mrs Ramsay, wife Of Mr.. j. y. Ram
say. continued the story Of the collision.
saying:
Half an hour aftcrward the captain
called the passengers into the cabin and
assured as that We were not IN any i'm
mediate danger. We all wanted to return,
as We were not a great distance from St
Johns. but the captain decided to pro-
coed to Scotland.
Il did not sleep four hours from the
time tho Ethiopia was In collision with
the iceberg until We reached Glasgow.
My nerves were thoroughly upset 1T was
an awful period. We thought We were
all going To perish
Dr A. r. Hahn. of Boston, Mass, said
that in spite Of the accident he had the
utmost confidence in the captain Of the
Ethiopia. and that he intended to return
to New ) OTk on board of her.
Mrs. William r. Walker, Of San Fran
cisco, Cal, referring 10 the collision.
said:
The weather was so cold that the mist
frOzc upon the mems clothing. | was in
tho MUSHROOM when the Ethiopia ran
into the iceberg. The shock was so severe
that 1t threw people upon the decks.
Everybody rushed up from below. many
Of the passengers praying. Mothers
clasped their children in their arms and
rushed wildly about The tallest man in
the ship was bronzed Englishman,
and he was the most scared Of all the
frightened passengers. His terror was
contagious and the passengers ran for the
lfe-belts ana for the boats until an officer
rcassure1 them"
Mrs. Walkers son. who was on deck
when the collision took place. said that
the iceberg was seen some time before
the Ethiopia ran into 1t and the engines
! were Immediately reversed, otherwise he
added. the steamer would certainly have
founderod
4 thanksgiving service was held In the
saloon on the evening following the acct
dent. and the next day everybody felt
treasured
on June 7th three additional icebergs
Were seen. but they did not cause any
alarm. Tho passengers who saw them
continued playing cards and Joking as If
nothing extraordinary had happened, feel
Ing confident that all danger was over.