The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-05
Most Serious Accident of the Vessels
History, but No Great Excite
ment Followed 1t.
VESSELS ASHORE IN THE ELBE
TWO BIG STEAMERS DELAYED In
LEAVING FOR NEW YORK.
American Fishing Schooner Sunk on
Gloucester and Crew Taken to
IreIand-One Man Drowned.


steamer st. Paul limped into port this
morning under her port engine. after having
incurred the most serious experience of
her career. On Oct. 81 the st. Paul struck
n supposed submerged wreck, carrying
away the starboard propeller. causing the
engines to race SO fiercely that the shaft
broke and all connections snapped. The
starboard engines were severely wrecked
that they are useless and it will take six
months TO replace them with new SET
The after cupboard shaft tubing was car
ried away. The ship is leaking considerably
When the accident occurred the cabin
passengers were greatly excited, but they
were soon restored to quiet by the prompt
report that the steamer was in no danger
The wind was blowing heavily from the
northwest, with high cross sea.
The engineers examined the breaks and
disconnected the starboard engines and the
st. Paul proceeded on her voyage under the
port engine at reduced speed.
The st. Paul left Southampton and Cher
hourg Oct. e7. with a full cargo, SIS cabin
passengers and 245 in the steerage. About
8 o'clock on the evening of Wednesday
last, while some of the saloon passengers
were still at dinner and other passengers
promenading, a sudden shock was felt all
over the ship. although it was not sufii-
GENTLY severe to cause panic. The en-
gines were stopped in few seconds after
the shock, but II is said that during that
brief time the whirling machinery, free of
the weight of the propeller. wrought havoc
in the engine room, which the officials of
the steamship refused to allow anyone to
enter.
James A. Wright, second vice-president
of the International Navigation Company.
which controls the American line, was u
passenger on the steamship, having gone
abroad in October to bring back his farl-
ily He said: 81 was smoking in my state
room when felt a slight tremor through
out the ship. / thought that probably her
head had fallen away a few points, and
that she had in consequence shipped big
sea. The shock was SO slight that TIE
average passenger did not apprehend that
anything unusual had occurred. 1 went
below to find out what was the matter. L
found that the ship had lost her starboard
propeller, together with part of ncr tail
shaft, and had otherwise damaged her ma
chinery.
John Hunter are under the impression that
we struck derelict. We were running at
full speed at the time, but we're not over
taxing her engines or driving her. Chief
Engineer Hunter, at the moment of the
accident, happened to be passing through
the pantry and Immediately turned the
emergency valve, thus shutting off the
steam. About the same time the assistant
engineer happened to be in the vicinity
OF the tail shaft when the propeller struck
something and dropped off, carrying with
il portion of the tail shaft, which broke
just inside the stern of the ship. The gov
erning machinery worked splendilly. and
the engines were brought to full stop in
ten seconds.
'"The st. Paul will leave on Tuesday for
the Cramps shipyard, Philadelphia, where
the necessary repairs will be made Mean
time the Friestand. which sails on wednas-
day for Antwerp, will take the ST Paurs
passengers. mails and freight to South
ampton.'
Samuel BEETLE. the acting manager of the
Americas line. said to-day. after consulta-
ton with Chief Engineer Hunter: AT six
minutes after O'Clock, Wednesday even
ing. while the ship was running under most
favorable conditions, although pitching
and rolling a good deal, the st. Paul's pro-
peler probably struck derelict The tail
shaft broke just inside the ship, the ex-
treme end of the propeller dropped into
the sea, and serious damage was done To
the starboard engine, which was stopped
within ten seconds. None of the crew was
injured, and there was no excitement
among the passengers, many of whom re-
manned undisturbed at dinner, unaware
that an accident had occurred. The ship
had q succession of strong headwin6s and
seas throughout, but 1t was not through
driving her that she lost her tail-end shaft,
propeller and stern tubing"
One of the engineers of the st. Paul made
the following statement to-day: 1T Will
take five months to repair the damage,
which is to the extent of from $250O00 to
100000. The starboard engine is a wreck
Four of the six cylinders are completely
wrecked. two piston rods are bent, enc
connecting rod is bent and the starboard
engine shaft is sprung six inches. The
starboard engine is wrecked beyond re-
pair"