The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-04

Awful Peril Of the Steamship
Sarnia.
Passengers We're In Panic-- Thought
That the End Had Come.


BELFAST Jan. 4--Captain Barnard on
the Dominion line steamship Sarnia,
which has had such rough experience IN
crossing the Atlantic on her way from
Portland. Me-, via halifax to Liverpool,
and which put into Belfast Tough after
having been picked up by the steamships
Anchoria and Norwegian after she lost
her rudder, has described the voyage In an
interview.
He said that all went well until Dec. "a,
when, owing 10 q fresh gale from the
northwest the rudder broke. The gale
continued all day Dec. 81 and 22, and after
the rudder broke the crew succeeded In
rigging Jury ruddcr, but 1t had to be cut
adrift, as is was useless.
The Sarnia was then drifting about, and
there was much CONSERVATION among the
passengers, especially among the women
and children. This state of affairs con-
tinued until Dec. %, when at about a. IN.
the Anchor line steamship Anchoria was
signalled and bore down upon the dis
abled steamer. Az about noon the An
choria passed two hawsers to the Sarnia
and took her In tow.
Atba. IN. on Dec. 25 the wind freshened
and increased In force until strong gale
was blowing, and eventually the hawsers
snapped one after another, again
Leaving the sarnia Helpless.
A. . heavy sea was running, she rolled
heavily and o great many sheep were
washed overheard and several head OF cat
tie wsre killed
When the gale again moderated, on Dec.
IS. the Anchoria made another attempt to
take the Sarnia In tow, but all efforts In
that direction were unavailing mp to the
morning Of Doc. 81, when the Hibernian
bore down upon the two steamers. But
as tho Anchoria was still trying to take
the Sarnia In tow, the Hibernian bore
away, and soon after she had gone away
the Anchoria signallod the Sarnia that her
own rudder was disabled, and that she
would be unable to render any further as
oistance to tho disabled Dominion liner.
The wind freshened at about p. m. on
Dec. "a, and IL increased In force until
hard gale was blowing This state
Of affairs lasted all night and up to
late In the morning Of Dec. 2S, when
= heavy sea was running. At noon on
Dec. % terrific hurricane squall swept
over the 6arnia, and she shipped an i'm
mense quantity Of water, while rolling SO
1earfully that IL was
Impsssible to Go ON Deck.
During this weather about $50 sheep
were washed overheard, and 25 bullocks
were killed In the hold that night. From
D. IN. to midnight. the gale was at Its
height. The sky was frequently illumi-
mated with the most vivid flashes of
lightning and several meteoric fire balls
burst with loud reports around the ship.
In addition, Elmo's fire was observed
about the masts. The passengers were
naturally greatly excited; butthe steam
ships officers succeeded In calming them
as much AS possible.
The wind ut midnight veered 10 the
north, and this kicked up terrible sea-
All the matches were battened down and
every precaution possible was taken to
keep out the seas. At 8 o'clock In tho
evening q great sea struck the ship with
such force that those on board thought the
end had come.
The Sarnia trembled from stem to stern
like stricken animal, and quite time
elapsod bsfore she righted herself and
threw OF the many tons Of water which
had poured on board of her. Women and
children tainted, and several persons were
injured BY being severely knocked about.
Toward midnight, to make matters
worse, the stokehole pump became choked,
but the 6remen, by working desperately,
succeeded In getting the stokehole clear
of water, although ct one time IL looked
- II the fires would DO put out
A Bitter disappointment.
When the storm moderated, the crow
were employed In shifting cargo In order
TO trim the vessel, which still rolled
heavily. To the great delight of all on
board. on Dec. 80 an Allan steamship was
sighted, and the Sarnia signalled that she
was disabled and needed assistance. But,
to the bitter disappointment Of the passen-
gers Of the distressed vessel, tho Allan
liner either did not heed or else did not
notice the signals Of the Sarnia, and it was
not until the next day, when the Nor
wegian, another Allan line steamer, was
sighted
The Norwegian, as soon as she made out
the signals Of distress, slowed down and
headed for the Sarnia. After a few hours
work, the Norwegian succeeded in passing
h6wsers aboard the disabled steamer, and
eoon afterward started with her In tow.
From that time all went well until the
ovcntful trip OF the Dominion liner ended
IN Belfast Tough, where she put In with
the aid of tugs, after having been dropped
By the Norwegian. which vessel continued
on her journey to New York
what He Says IL Right.
LONDON, Jan. A dispatch from Con.
stantinople points TO the significance OF