Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
Big Liners Boilers Were
Leaking Badly.
CAUSE OF THE DELAY
OVER THIRTEEN DAYS MAKING
THE VOYAGE.
Passengers Adopt Resolutions Severely
Criticising the Management
Of the Line.

St Louis arrived at her pier here today
after an extremely slow trip, owing to
leaky boilers. Her time from Cherbourg to
the lightship was thirteen days, five hours
and twenty minutes; six days. fifteen hours
and twenty-five minutes behind the ships
best record. There was no accident of any
kind at any time. and although heavy
weather was encountered, practically all of
the delay was caused by inability to get up
good steam in the defective boilers.
The passengers became very indignant
when they learned of the poor progress the
vessel was making. and an indignation
meeting was held, at which the line was
severely censured for permitting passengers
to embark on steamer in the condition
the ST. Louis showed. statement was
drawn up and given to the public on arrival
here today by a committee chosen to set
forth the grievances Of those on board.
After she was sighted off Nantucket last
night the st. Louis made good time to New
York. and reached her pier some hours
ahead of the time set last night. A large
crowd gathered at the American line pier
and cheered as the ship came in with her
load of human beings for whose safety
grave fears had been felt for several days.
Every Point Of Vantage Occupied.
Every vantage point of the big dock had
been occupied from early in the morning,
and as the steamer passed up the river be-
fore the docking tugs had taken charge of
her those who had been anxiously await
ing her arrival gave vent to their feelings
with cheers, accompanied by the waving
of flags and handkerchiefs. The signals
were answered from the steamer, and then
there was more cheering.
The tugs having gathered around the st.
Louis, she was slowly brought to the dock,
and when she came within speaking dis
tance the excitement on the pier grew. 1t
did not take long for the first and second
cabin passengers to cross the gangplanks
once the lines were fast and as they got
beyond the rope inclosure they were gath
cred to the arms Of their waiting relatives
Each little group provided scene, the
women in most cases weeping In their JOY.
While this was going on on the upper deck
of the pier, where the first and second
cabin passengers land, similar scenes were
being enacted among the steerage passen-
gers on the lower deck Of the dock, but in
this case the passengers had to again part
from their friends to go to Ellis Island for
examination by the immigration officers.
Sighted Last Evening.
The ST. Louis was sighted Oft Nantucket
last evening, and was off the Sandy Hook
lightship at o'clock this morning.
The Hamburg American steamship Penn
sylvania, from Hamburg, Boulogne and
Plymouth, which arrived In port tfis morn
x,
45.35, longitude 1920 she fell in with the
ST. Louis from Southampton and Cherbourg,
proceeding very slowly. The Pennsylvania
steamed close to her and asked the diff
Guilty Officers Of the st. Louis replied that
her boilers were leaking, and sent boat
alongside the Pennsylvania in charge Of
the first officer with letters from the pas
sengers. The first officer reported that the
st. Louis boilers were leaking SO badly
that the ship could only steam five knots
an hour in fine weather. They had on
board eight days provisions and water, and
all were in good health. The steamer re-
Quired no assistance.
Came Slowly Into Port.
The st. Louis made slow progress coming
Into port. Although she was sighted off
Fire Island at o'clock. it was not until
O'Clock that she passed Sandy Hook. She
reached the quarantine station at 0:47 a. IN.
From quarantine, where she will be kept Tor
a time for the port doctors examination,
the steamship will come up to her pier at
the foot of Fulton street, North river
where she Is expected to arrive at about
II 80 o'clock.
The marine station at Sandy Hook dis
played signal flags for the word Welcome
as the overdue steamship came in, and the
st. Louis replied Thank you.' No other
signals were displayed by the ship as she
passed Sandy Hook.
large crowd gathered at the American
line pier to welcome the delayed passenge s.
at 1906.
The St. Louis left Cherbourg January 4,
at LOG am. and arrived at Sandy Hook
Lightship at 6:34 o'clock this morning, max.
Ing the passage in thirteen days, five hours
and twenty minutes, average speed OF
9.14 knots. Her days runs were 341, 2S9,
3S2. s, 312, 200. 1863, 12J. 1870, 1873, 1913, 10,
$50 and 2795; total distance 3.043 knots.
The first three days the St. Louis made
fairly good progress for her ability in the
prevailing weather which was rough and
squally, with high cross-seas The speed
then became so slow that passengers began
to discuss it. and between the rough and
stormy weather and the ships inability to
make speed they became so indignant that
meetings were held.
Resolutions Of Censure.
Resolutions we're adopted censurfng the
steamship ccszassa5ly for permitting the pas
sengers to eSFsbark on steamer whose
condition was so pitiable 1t was decided
that these resolutions should be typewrit-
ten on arrival on shore and given to the
press for publication. Many of the pas
sengers expressed great indignation.
On January 9 the steamships boilers