The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-15
new ORLEANS SAFE
DISABLED STEAMER TOWED INTO
PORT.
HER SHAFT WAS BROKEN.
CAPTAIN Or VOORBURG DENIES HE
SAW SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

New Orleans Was Helpless.
Thought the Vessel Was stenminE
slowly to Save Coal Until High
Tide-shaft of the New Orleans
VIII lie Repaired in savannah.
Passengers Had "a Rough Trip.
The steamship New Orleans was tow
ed into port yesterday shortly before
noon with her shaft broken. 1t was
happy lot OF passengers that filed down
1he gang plank and stood again on ter
Ta frma.
Hundreds OF people witnessed the
docking of the ship, and shouts went
up as she was finally settled in her
berth and the gang plank was thrown
ashore. The passengers were lined
uIong the rail nearest the dock, and as
soon as everything was secure there
was general hurryipg 10 get ashore.
Although at no time was there any
serious danger TO the New Orleans,
there prevailed that feeling that always
comes over passengers, when they find
that the slightest thing has gone
wrong. Fears were intensified by the
high sea that prevailed when the ship
was disa BLEED, and all of the assurances
of the captain could not allay them.
The propeller shaft was broken about
eight feet from the stern of the ship.
on the inside.
Shock of Breaking shaft Woke Pas
senGers.
According to the statements of the
officers and crew of the disabled vessel
the accident happened about o'clock
Sunday morning. The shock resulting
from the release of the tension on the
engines. and the sudden slackening of
speed, was felt all over the ship, and
those who were able to sleep through
the tempestuous weather, were aWak-
ened. There was general alarm on
board, which was soon allayed by the
officers, who went quietly among the
passengers and told them that there
had been slight accident to the pro-
pellor shaft which was not in the least
dangerous to the ships safety
Capt. Peters ran his ship in shore
ana cast anchor off Hunting Island
"A boat with an officer and three men
was dispatched to Fort Fremont,
where a telephone message was sent
TO Beaufort and thence transmitted to
Savannah.
SignnIed Passing Steamer.
While the New Orleans was at an
chor the Noorburg, a Dutch tramp
steamer commanded by Capt. w. Won
der Schoer de Boer, was sighted
headed in the same direction as the
New Orleans. According to the state
ment of Capt. Peters of the New Or
Jeans, he at once hoisted signals of
distress, inverted his ensign and fired
SKY rockets, signals that the ship was
asa pied and asking for aid. The
NoorDurg proceeded on its course, evil
GENTLY without seeing the signals. If
they were displayed while the tramp
was in sighting distance.
Taken in Tow by Texas.
Shortly after the Voorburg had pass
ca the New Orleans the State of Texas
bound for Baltimore from Savannah
} move IN sight, and about O'Clock was
communicated with and at once gave
a1d. PULLING about the Texas took the
NEW Orleans in tow and started back
70 savannah The Alleghaney, from
Philadelphia for Savannah overlook the
TWO ships just beyond Tybee roads and
relieved the Texas, the latter contin-
ming her voyage northward.
Inc boat and crew, which was sent
ashore from the New Orleans at Fort
Fremont were left behind. The men
will return to Savannah this morning,
and the boat will be picked up on the
next trip of the New Orleans north
ward.
The passengers who went through the
exciting period of the New Orleans
helpless condition were: Miss Leila
Bailey E. NJ. Lunchford, Mrs. E. Be
vans, Miss Bulah Van Horn, A A.
Edwards, Miss S. Fretwell Miss G. K
Richie, G. M. Roberts, Mrs. f. M.
Lunchford, Miss Fannie Bevans. Miss
Annie Lee Bevans. ]. E. Berrien, NJ
Richie, S. Brown, Miss Annie Howard,
w. F. Richie. B. Bevans, Mary Jones,
S. Minshall, c. Richie w. ]. Stewart,
E. c. Fitzgerald
The work of repairing the broken
shaft of the New Orleans will be COM
imenced here at once, and it is expected
10 have her back on the line in a short
time.
tugboats. which We're sent to
tt stance of the New Orleans, re-
sturi, port later in the afternoon,
having 3een signalled by the Texas
that the New Orleans was in tow of
the Alleghaney.
Capt. SchOer de Beers Statement.
The statement that he saw. but paid
not attention to the distress signals
sent up by the New Orleans is denied
by Capt w wonder Schoer de Boer.
though he watched the ship for an
hour with his glasses. The captain of
the Voorburg said last night:
"On Sunday we passed in sight of
the shore from Cape Roman. In the
afternoon we passed Hunting Island
light at distance of about eight or
ten miles. At 430 we passed Martins
Industry lightship, and about twenty
miles northeast we saw steamer on
our port bow, which we at first thought
was crossing our course, but later on,
when four or five miles off, we found
that she had the same course as we
had. Later on we passed the same
steamer. within two miles on our port
eide. Ny chief officer, who had the
watch at that time said to me, She is
slow one ! replied that as coasters
do not take a pilot they could not go
into port at night and this one was
evidently taking her time saving
coal during the low tide. We scruti-
nized her closely with our glasses.
though we could have seen any sig
nails she might have had up without
the aid of glasses. We saw no sig
mails. and it is beyond reason to be-
lieve that we would have been heed
less 70 the calls of a vessel in dis
tress when by lending them assistance.
II not from humane causes. from a
pecuniary STANDPOINT. we should have
been most willing.
willing "a Give Assistance.
First Of all I would have given
assistance from a desire TO as
sist the disabled even were