Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-23
An Ocean Steamer Struck by a Tidal
Wave.
rHE N0RMANNIA BADLY DAMAGED.
Passengers Were Thrown Into a
Panic. =
ACCOUNTS OF THE AFFAIR

NEW YORK, Jan. 23-The steamer Nor
manila. which sailed last Thursday for
Genoa. returned to this port this morning
with a smashed deck house. On Sunday
morning during a strong easterly gale
heavy sea boarded her forward and swept
aft, carrying away rails. stanchions and
completely wrecking the forward deck
house. and flooding the cabins. AS soon
as the break could be covered up with can
vas the ship was turned about and headed
for New York. The damage according to
Capt. Hebich can be repaired in twenty-four
hours.
The vessel can be coaled and again ready
for sea in forty-eight hours at the furthest
Passengers all well and will remain On
board until the vessel sails.
struck by u Tidal Wave.
Tho Normannia was struck at sea by a
tidal wave. which swept away some of the
deck rooms and part of the promenade deck
and injured seven men, including the sec
ohd officer. who. - is feared, will die.
The wave sprung the hurricane deck,
wrecked tha LADIES' paror, the music room,
the main saloons, both upper and lower
an1 flooded the Storage.
The 40 first-class and the 145 steerage
passengers were thrown into a paine when
the immense wave boarded the ship.
The list of the injured is as follows:
The inJured-E Kading, first second off,
Ger, probably fatal internal injuries and bad
injuries about the head. Unconscious from
time or accident until this morning W.
Pompati, deck steward, serious injuries on
leg and side. Keke. steward, bad cuts on
head and arm. koetschan, steward, cuts
on mead, badly bruised. Kobe, steward
bad cuts and bruises. Schilds, musician
and steward, bad cuts on head. Ronnicke,
musician. cuts on head.
All or the Injured men are from Germany
A Passengers Story.
The following account Of the accident was
told by passenger:
I'VE were about $50 miles out at sea last
sunday morning when the wave came
aboard. All day Saturday the ship had
been running at half speed in the teeth Of
terrific gale. About midnight Saturday
the gale moderated somewhat, and at 8 a.
m. full speed was ordered, the sea having
quieted down somewhat. Most of the cabin
passengers were in their berths, and the
second officer was on the bridge in COM
mand OF the ship Suddenly a tremendous
sea, mast high. appeared on the port bow
II was impossible to alter the course Of the
vessel. and the big wave struck the vessel
on the port bow. burying the steamers nose
up TO the bridge under tons of water
me force of the blow smashed the front
Vi the mouse on the promenade deck COM
pletely wrecking the first and second OH
GERS rooms. the music room, the ladies'
room the main saloon and the lower saloon
~ also smashed the starboard bulwarks
anu raiinSs, carrying away fourteen venri-
iators. II sprung the hurricane deck flood
ed the steerage with six feet of water and
tne cabins on the main deck with three feet
OF water. The passengers were awakened
by the shock Of the blow and the force OF
the inrushing waters. They tumbled our of
their berths in their night clothing, and
noundered through the water. which, in
some instances. reached to their waists. to
get to the companionways.
Inc general impression seemed to be that
the big ship was going down head first
Inc cries OF the injured and the shouts Of
the frightened passengers caused a panic
wmcn extended to the steerage where
everything was afioat. The captain who
mad been on the bridge until a. m, was
his clothes on. He awoke to find his ca hin
Hooded and attempted to open his door. put
FOUND 1t held fast by the wreckage. After
some minutes he succeeded in forcing his
way GU, and rushed to the bridge AS soon
as ne realized the extent Of the damage and
as the vessel continued to ship heavy secs
which poured down into the gap made by
about P1'
The terror Of the passengers was. for
the time being. increased by the turning
OF the ship as she pitched into the trough
OF the sea and rolled from side to side
alternately burying the hurricane deck first
on the port side and again on the star
board The steamer quickly righted her
seii' however, ana ran before the sea. Cap
tain Hebich, realizing that his vessel was
TOO badly injured to continue the battle
with the gale and heavy seas decided to
put back to New York
His announcement to this effect gave
great satisfaction to the passengers The
return trip was comparatively without in
cident. Within a few hours after turning
back the ship ran into better weather and
then temporary repairs were completed
1t was an intense relief to the passengers
when they caught sight of the Fire Island
light this morning. The effects of MANY of
the passengers were ruined by the water"
The ship was damaged between $4,000
and 100000. which is fully covered by in
surance.
Among the passengers were John Quincy
Adams, Mrs. Adams, Count and Countess
De Burgau and Lieut.. W. Gordon kellogg
and Mrs Kellogg.