The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-11-21

gineer, Performed q MarVeious reau-
The St. Paul Struck sunkcn Dere-
lict-Lost Propeller and Disabled One
Set of Engines-Explosions After Shock
New York City (SpeciaD.-Through
the heroism of John Anderson, first
assistant engineer, the st. Paul was
probably saved from a disaster that
might have entailed the loss of the
steamship and probably the lives OF
several hundreds of those on board OF
her. AS it was, with one propeller
gone and her starboard engines
crushed, she came into port safely and
without the loss Of q single life.
At the risk of his life, in the dis
charge of what he simply considered
his plain duty, John Anderson plunged
through scalding steam and whirling
machinery that threatened to knock
hole in the vessels side, and moved
the lever that disconnected the star
board engine and stopped the mad
humping of beams and rods which
were smashing everything around
them. -.
Shortly after eight o'clock in the
evening of Wednesday, October 81, the
passengers on the st. Paul were al
most stunned by a shock received by
the stout vessel that made her culver
from stem to stern. Then followed
the thunder of whirring machinery,
wild and beyond the control of it's
masters. Great hammers of iron and
steel were crashing against the iron
plates, hurled by the force of the en-
gines, which were left to turn their
terrible power upon the ship. J.,
This crash of iron against iron,
which made the blood Of the passen-
gers run cold, continued for q few
seconds, that seemed hours to the ter.
ror. stricken, was followed by a series
Of f.explosions. Many thought that the
worst was about to come, and that
the sides Of the ship had been blown
open. and the next act in the tragedy
would be the final plunge into the sea.
And then, as suddenly as the coming
Of the first shock, the thunder and the
crashing ceased. The hand of John
Anderson had. reached the lever and
the great engine had been curbed and
knew it's master again. z The ship
settled down In its path, the throb 6f
It's great propeller, driven by other en-
gines, was heard once more, and the
vessel steamed. on through gale. and
rushing waves toward the distant port
that, she was destined to reach in
safety
The ship was quite able to continue
her voyage and to make. her port. A
lderelict or wreckage, it is believed,
had crossed her path, the starboard
propeller had become entangled in it
and had been snapped from its shaft
head like q flower from its stem, The
, engine, driven with tremendous power,
and suddenly relieved, Of all friction
and resistance clattered and Vibrated
in its bed, shaking itself to pieces, and.
hurling 5pieees. Of Its steel structure,
against Sfhe sides Of the vessel Then
s the fofcssof the steam, turned back
.hpon itself, blew out the heads Of four
cylinders and, completely wrecked the
starboard engines.
- Anderson had narrowly escaped
death in the midst of the wreck of the
engines, while he was saving the pas
'sengers and crew, but his hand
reached the right lever at the right
moment, and the ship was saved.
The officers of the line were much
praised by the passengers for the ex.
'cellent manner in which they fulfilled
their duties after the accident.
The st. Paul left Southampton and
Cherbourg with full cargo, 316 cabin
and 245 steerage passengers.
The st. Paul will undergo repairs at
Cramps shipyard in Philadelphia.