The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-20
ANXIOUS DAYS.
Spent by Passengers Of the
Disabled German Liner Ems.
Bv The Associated Press.


NEW YORK. April eo.--The North Ger
man Lloyd steamer Kaiser wilhelm III,
having on board the IL first cabin, IS
second cabin and $50 steerage passengers
of the Ems OF the same line, which was
towed into Fayal, In the Azores. on April
Z. with broken shaft, by tho tank
steamer Wildhower. arrived at her dock
in Hoboken late yesterday afternoon.
The passengers were greeted snthusias-
tfcally by the many friends who had
gathered on the pier to welcome their
safe return after the long and nsver-to- be-
forgotten voyage across the Atlantic.
A reporter boarded the Kaiser Wilhelm
at quarantine and was given o detailed
account Of the experie noes Of the passen-
gers during the terrific hurricanes which
the Ems had encountered One of the first
cabin passengers saidi 1--WE left South
ampton on March 1S I'm clear, fine
weather. On tho 10Th the skies con-
tinued clear, and on the Goth 10 began to
rain and the sea became rough.
"On March 81 the sea was still rough.
The next day it rained very hard, the
wind grew higher and there was every
indication that violent storm was COM
ing ON. The following day 1t came, and
In the shape of full hurricane. Tn ere
was tremendous wind bowling. and the
Ems tossed and pitched frightfully. She
shipped great quantities OF water that
tore away rails. smashed the small boats.
and everything movable was washed
away. The engines then stopped. Every
thing was being smashed, and there was
great suspense among the passengers. In
a few hours the machinery was again
started, but in half an hour stopped
again. Later IL developed that the shaft
had broken, and we were drifting help
lessly
At the Mercy Of the Hurricane.
"During that awful night no one could
lie sbed, and with the increasing velocity
of the wind the sea became rougher, aud
the Ems was being pounded broadside by
the tremendous waves Toward midnight
the elements resolved themselves into the
worst hurricane within the memory Of the
officers, who said that in 16 years they
had not seen anything like it. The pas
sengers remained together during the
night on the alert for news from some of
the officers as to our probable fight, as all
felt that the vessel could not hold out
much longer in that volcano of wind and
water. We were then In midocean and
drifting south ont of the course of vessels
ION the next day. March "a. the Ems
continued to be tossed helplessly about In
the trough of the seas At about p. m.
a steamer, which proved to be the cattle
ship Rappahannock, bound for London,
agreed to tow US back to Queenstown
when the weather permitted. Then an
Inman steamer was sighted, but refused
to aid US.
ION the 25th. Easter. it was raining.
n 49, II
ribly. Our companion and guardian still
hovered about US. but when the storm be-
gan TO renew its violence she signalled
that as there was no prospect Of a change
in the weather she could wait no longer,
and she
Steamed on and Left Us.
.We were now heertsick. and it was all
that the officers could do to control their
feelings. At night, in addition to blazing
lights and signals Of distress, we sent mp
continual rockets and kept fires burning
bn the fore deck. We were drifting yet
further from the line of steamers. Some
of the passengers kept praying fervently
for deliverance, while others, less re-
ligious, made CHASTITY jokes about our
situation in an endeavor to disguise their
fears.
"There was no change on the following
day, but fears that the Ems was filling
added to the misery of those on board.
TUESDAY, March "a, oil was constantly
poured over the sides of the vessel, as the
storm was still raging, aud the tossing Of
the ship had not ceased. Finally the
lookout at the topmast announced that
he saw smoke in the distance on the hori-
xon. The news caused futter of excite
ment among US. Finally the vessel came
IN sight, and to our irrepressible Joy the
vessel was coming toward us 20 rescue us
from what we could only regard as ter
rible fate.
'It proved TO be the Wildhower, an
English tankboat, from Philadelphia to
Bordeaux When the Wildfower got
alongside the captains of both vessels ex-
changed few words. and 1t was in
stantly decided that the tankboat
should tow us to the nearest port, which
was Fsyal, Azores.
after much difficulty two hswsers
were gotten out, and we were joined to.
Qether, the seas having by this time
settled somewhat, and we started out.
We covered 13s miles on the 2sth. in CON-
paratively good weather, which lasted
through the next day.
More niisfortunes.
"On the oVtn, tue sea DtComluR rOuHo
again, the screw of the Ems began to
pound and threatened to smash the keel
EARLY the following morning our main
hawser snapped. misfortunes seeming to
follow every step. But the hawser was
mended finally, and we only made 50
miles without a break. The storm king
again menaced our progress. and there
was a succession Of accidents the next
two davs causing DELAYS.
ION Sunday, April 2, q magnificent
scene was before US. We were reaching
the land. and the appearance of golden
rays In the east made a picture that
soothed our fears. BY daylight we were
near Fayal, and finally drew into the
little bay, where we anchored. The re-
lief was great after the terrific strain of
many days.
eat one time our situation became so
perilous that the crew of the Wildfower
waited upon their captain and begged
Ate n L.1 ...