The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-05
SHE WAS NEAR SINKING.
PERILous TIME roR rHE LINER
cITy or PEKING.


The great modern liner, City of Peking
presents a novel appearance, and carries
upon her return from China and Japan
a thrilling new chapter in her log. Aft
from amidships the craft is innocent of
superstructure, except pilot-house
bearing evidence Of hasty repair, On
this trip the Peking has had another
struggle for her life. Her preservation
is due 10 her staunchness and The efflci.
ency of her officers and crew. For the
three days preceding November 22, the
steamer had been in heavy weather. On
that date tremendous tidal wave struck
the steamer with incalculable momen
tum. For several minutes the fate of
the big carrier hung in the balance. The
noontime flood visitation did its damage
and left its marks, but happily did not
disturb the machinery or seriously dam.
age the rigging. Purser Brickedell and
other officers, and a number of passen.
gers tell well the story of the adveDtur-
GUS incident. They were six days from
Yokohama. the storm they were in had
abated somewhat, and figures were
being suggested upon the hour OF reach
ing the Japanese port. With warning
too brief to permit precautionary action
a mountain of water gathered itself
and swept upon the vessel like host of
warning footmen throwing themselves
upon an enemys wing. The spacious
social hall, the captains room, and the
engine-room slylights instantly became
a macs of debris and were landed over
the port side like SO much chaff. Four
boats were tossed from their fasteniugs.
Two went overheard like monster kites
without tails. The other pair, awkward
and helpless, surged about until caught
forty feet from their proper positions.
A six-inch davit post of solid iron
snapped off like Il toothpick seasoned in
the sunshine. The aft pilot house alone
withstood terrific shock of collision,
and it was badly damaged.
The cabin passengers were thrown i'll
every direction like households In an
Iowa cyclone. The Asiatics below did
not know of the great danger until it
was passed. There was no opportunity
for panic. Those on deck and in the
salon were too greatly busted saving
themselves and others to become other
than usefully active.
Captain Searle was Just leaving his
cabin. He was washed into the scuppers
and sustained bruises that disabled him
for some days. This threw the com
mand upon First Officer Trask. He had
perfect control of the crew as well
absolute presence of mind The prin-
cipal portion of his force was at once
placed to rid the decks, salon. fireroom
aad main deck of water The food tide
shipped was quietly diverted over the
sides of the ship and was disposed of III
a remarkably short time. No water
reached the furnaces and the injury to
freight is slight
Mr.. Quincy Benford, an attache of
the English consulate at Bombay. was
the greatest sufferer by the accident
He was thrown against chair SO that
his right ear was torn from its place.
Nine wounds were inflicted upon his
scalp. His pain was somewhat mitigated
by the fact that for many hours he was
unconscious. Mr.. and Mrs. p. Myers,
missionaries to Japan, are in the
causulty list. The lady had deep cuts
about the eyes and nose. Her husband
lost some blood from his scalp and was
severely bruised. Carlos Ferrara, a
Hollander returning to Java from the
Worlds Fair, had confused left side
and dangerous cut over the left eye.
II. Cherrara, a Japanese merchant, was
thrown under table in the cabin and
made lame in the hip and shoulder for
some weeks.
The one thing of which the passengers
never weary of talking and of which the
officers make enthusiastic mention is
the rescue work of Mrs. Ansel, the
stewardess. While unanimously voted
heroine and heaped with compliments
and praise, she speaks modestly of her
part. Those most in danger, by reason
OF helplessness and separation from their
friends We're two young children OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Elliott, travellers from
Boston. Mrs. Ansel secured first one
and then the second youngster, carrying
them to place of safety and unhesita-
tingly exposing herself with her burdens.
This is not the first trouble the Peking
has had. About year ago sho was
fourteen days overdue at San Francisco.
1t was quite generally believed that she
had been lost but she merely had a
broken crank.