The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-10
signaIed Her Sister Ship for Aid, but
Could Not Reach Her with the
Marconi Device.
SHOT OFF ROCKETS FOR HELP
WILLIAM CLIFF WAS ALONGSIDE
WITHIN FIFTY MINUTES.
Passengers Not Alarmed by Their
PIight-WiI Wait at Horta for
Arrival of the Elbe.

HORTA, Azores, March 9-The Cunard
liner Etruria anchored here at o'clock this
Sunday evening. All on board are we'll.
She had a comparatively uneventful pas
sage, except for the breakdown. which
occurred during the dinner hour Of Feb.
20. When this occurred the Etruria had
only just finished speaking by wireless
telegraphy with the Cmard line steam
ship Umbria. After the accident was dis
covered the Etruria called the Umbria
wireless for one hour. but without success.
On examination it was found that the
ships propeller was broken off outside the
tube and that the rudder had been car
ried away by the propeller. The Etruria
then sent UP rockets, which were seen by
the British steamer William Cliff. The lat
ter bore down and was alongside in fifty
minutes after the accident. She stood by
until daylight, when, after several at
tempts. she succeeded in passing hawser
aboard the Etruria. The tank steamer OF
tawa arrived on the al this time
The William Cliff then attempted to tow
the Etruria, while the Ottawa attempted TO
steer her. The hawser, however, snapped.
The Ottawa stood by for two days and
then left for Fayal. bearing the second
officer of the Etruria to report the dis
aster and obtain assistance.
In the meanwhile the crew of the Etruria
had made every effort TO rig a jury rudder.
The first such rudder carried away imme-
diatey an attempt was made 10 use it.
After further efforts. lasting for two days,
a second jury rudder was successfully ad-
justed and is still in position.
The passengers of the Etruria were sat-
isfied they were in no danger, and they
praise the conduct of the captain and crew
of the vessel. After the accident the pas
sengers amused themselves with the usual
deck sports, and concerts were held in the
first and second cabins. Only those who
were anxious concerning business matters
chafed at the unavoidable delay.
The Etruria reports having sighted the
Italian mail steamer Sardegna, from Ma
pies, Feb. 26, for New York, on last
Wednesday. March 5. The Sardegna stood
by. but, finding she could be of no assist
ance, proceeded on her course.
The Etruria was hoping to communicate
with the North German Lloyd steamer
Kronprinz Wilhelm by wireless telegraphy,
but her mast wire broke in several places,
and she was unable to repair it until the
weather had improved when 1t was too
late. After the accident the passage of
the Cunard steamer was entirely unevent-
full, and nothing of interest occurred be-
yond the daily runs of the vessel, which
ranged from sixty to one hundred knots.
The Etruria will wait here for the ar
rival of the royal mail steamer Elbe, which
left Southampton for Horta yesterday
The Elbe will carry the Etrurias passen-
gers to England. The Etruria will then
be towed home by the two tugs which are
now on their way out from Liverpool for
this purpose.
The passengers on the Etruria are look
ing Iongingly toward the shore, waiting
for tomorrow morning, when they will be
able TO land and become acquainted with
! Horta and the island of Fayal.