Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-22
DISASTER NARROWLY AlvERTED.
Two Big Ocean Liners Almost IN
COLLATION..

COALA01Ons
New York, Nov. 22.An ocean tlisas-
ter Of appalling proportions was mar
rowly averted Within twelve hours
steaming distance OF New York harbol
this morning.
In the gray hours Of dawn the
speedy Oceanic, the pride Of the White
Star Line, was approaching this port,
when Captain Cameron suddenly saw
ahead of him the red side light of an
ocean liner which was bearing directly
down upon the Oceanic.
Captain Cameron's action was as
quick as his sight.
A few sharp words, skilled hand at
the helm and others at the engines, and
then-safety.
1t was safety, tho only by a narrow
margin. In passing the Oceanic the,
other liner supposed to have been the
Trave, barely avoided brushing against
her.
This was the climax for the Oceanic
of a voyage which Captain Cameron
asserts was one. of the stormiest in his
personal experience. Nevertheless, de-
spite the handicap of adverse wind and
wave, his great ship arrived only few
hours behind the regular time.
The stormy ex perience of the Oceanie5
has undeub;eGly been that OF the
Kaiser Wilhelm der Gross, the big
North German LleyG steamer, oNertas
since yesterday, but no fear for her
safety is felt, as her captain is one wfit
sacrifices speed and schedule time
| whenever danger can be avoided by 81
doing.
The narrow escape of the Oceanic
from collision was known to few of the
pass myers until hours afterwards.
From $50 until O'clock in the morn
| ing, while most Of them sin.nbered, thu
! time CT danger came. but SO promptly
MAS ii met and so smoothly We're the
/ orders executed tina; there was absa
! lutsly no excitement until it was all
/ over.
1 Capt. Cameron was on the bridge pre-
pared to meet any such emergency His
Years of experience had fnrewarned him
itiat Just such time might come when
nasty weather had prevailed for several
1 days, ana he determined that he would
be on hand ready to take command.
When the Trave was sighted he lost
not a moment. First in order was 10
4 warn the oncoming vessel. Next came
I the duty of taking precaution for the
/ Oceanic.
/ Ordering the whistle blown twice as a
signal for the Trare that danger was
imminent, Capt Cameron issued quick
commands 10 those directing the
Oceanic machinery. The White Star
4 liner was quick to respond. tho TO the
Eanxious boat officials each minute
seemed an hour.
Slowly hut surely the stern of t;ae
sOceanic swung around. AS SLOW. but
! Just as surely the Trave turned eni!i
capt. Cameron could see her starb0at1
lights. Then he heaved a sigh Of relief
4 The danger was past.
just after The ships passed each other
some of the early rissrs among the pas
/ sengers came on deck When they asked
i about the unusual whistling their III
|aulries We're lodged as long as possible
lin order to avoid the least possible sem
ihlance to undue excitement 1t was moor
before the truth was fully known, and
Il Their Cant. Cameron was congratulated
4 on all sides.
And it is the united opinion Of al
q mariners and all port officials that h,
81 deserved the best that could be said o
Thin. These experienced Non shudde
4 when they think Of the possibilities q
of awful disaster in that one half hour
n suggests.