The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-20

We" IcIA. JdHu1Fy 1f.-t1dlIeQ with
cheers from d vast crowd that tnrongeu
the pier OF the American Line, ST
Snip st. Louis. SIX days over due was
hauled into her berth today. W.iIe
her ~Cetention was in part due to tenn
pestu0ua weather. it was i'll main at
tTIJutaD!e 10 the fact that the def.c-
live condition OF her boilers only a.
nItted of a very low rate OF sp1eu
GnGer the most favorable conditions.
The voyage from Cnerboulg to San
dy Hook LShtship consumed l. days.
five hours II twenty minutes When
was SIX days. fifteen hours and u
Ave minutes behind the ships best rec
Ord.
According 10 the statements OF the
passengers. only two Of the ten bOiIers
were available when the voyage began
anG at times only one Of these was in
use. Four men were scalded Dy escap-
ing steam during the voyage, bat apart
from his no accident occurred and a,
NO time vas the safety of the vesse.
graY6iy iInpeTilIed.
Fer the first three d. Us fair progress
was made, but on jar dary 8. the d fir
Guilty with the boilers increased and O .
she following day len the condition
of the ship became known among tnE
passengers much alarm and ind gIa-
ton were espresso and meetings were
held in the salOo and in the saCOr'
cabin at which r .OlutiOns were adopt
ed severely Gems ring the for
permitting pass lgers to embark on a
steamer in tn" crippled condition in
which the ST. J 1uis proved to be. These
were CmbOdie in a statement drawn
up BY . committee of passengers wh'cl
Was made prJliC on the arrival OF the
ship.
So great AS the anxiety of the pas
seuSeTs WI II the vessel had been out
about a " eek that a petition was ad-
dressed to Captain PaSsOw requosti1"
him to e her head for Halifax or to
transfer the passengers to the frs
EestbOUId steamer that was met
Either If these COITses was declared in
the Judgement OF the captain to be too
hazardous. Towards the end of the
voyage the discomfort of the paasen-
gers was materially increased by a
scarcity of provisions and of water for
washing purposes
After she was sighted of Nantucket
last night. the st. Louis made good
line to New York n reported at her
pier some hours ahead of the time set
last night. Il large crowd gathered at
the American Line pier and cheered
as the sl,ip came in with her o of
human being for whose safety grave
fears a been felt for several days.
Every var tage point on the big dock
had been occupied from early in tn
morning ard as the steamer passed up
the river before the docking tugs lao
taken charge of her, those who had
been a~nXiOusly awaiting her arrival
gave vent to their feelings with cheers,
accompanied by the waving of ha@s
and handkerchief. 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 distance the excitement on
the pier grew. 1t did not take Ions
for the first and second cabin pasSen-
gers TO cross the gangplanks once the
lines were fast, and as they got beyond
the rope enclosure they were gathered
70 the arms Of their waiting relatives.
each little group provided q 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 lands.
oCCAtCS NOA~ LN4Al6 44LONIA
among the steerage passengers on the
lower deck Of the dock. but in this case
the passengers had TO again part from
their friends to so to Ellis Island for
examination by the immigration OFF,
GERS.
When the passengers started ashore
I qUartgTmIster was placed on guard
AZ every gang plank. with orders from
the dock superintendent not to allow
any one 10 so on board. None of the
ships officers was allowed to come
ashore.
The passengers freely expressed thei~
feelings at the delay. Bartlett Lloyd.
of Baltimore, was INK of the signerS Of
the first cabin passengers resolutions.
He said:
There was no pleasure or gaity
aboard the ship. Every Il was as de-
pressed and angry as men and women
could be in such a situation. Suspicion
began from the very n hat we
left Southampton. When. il first be-
gan to be rumOred about the ship thai
the boilers were defective ana leaky.
and We sought information from the
officers and stewards, We cOuld learn
nothing. Our fears were either laugh
ed at or jOculaTly ~evasive answers
ade But when the officers saw that
We were in deadly earnest and would
not be denied In our enGeaVOr 10 know
the truth. they changed their attitude.
and told US promptly what we wanted
TO know. or told us that they knew
nothing about the cause of the delay.
All Of the first class passengers have
put their cases into the hands Of my
self and Mr.. Bernei as their lawyers,
authorized US to make such claims
against the company as we see fit and
20 enGeayor to collect damages"
Rev. Arthus GRANGE. of Savannah.
"a, said:
Whatever we may say il condemna-