Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-18

NEW YORK, September 1S.-Informa-
ton concerning the worst hurricane which
has cut capers over the surface of the
North Atlantic ocean for years. wrought
havoic with steamship schedules and
doubtless sent many sailing vessels scud
ding before the gale under bare poles was
brought into port yesterday by Capt.
Kaempff. the crew and every one Of the
1.037 passengers on board the Hamburg
American line steamship Deutschland.
The terrific gale, with the velocity OF
the wind fiuctuating between seventy and
eighty miles an hour. swept down on the
big liner at o'clock Wednesday night.
denly as 1t appeared.
During the night not passenger was
allowed on deck. and the captain. pacing
the bridge high above the sea. was
drenched with the spume and spindrift
which continually swept over the vessel.
The waves broke over the bow. made
sluice- of the promenade decks and
one sailor was caught in a whirlpool of
water swept half the length of the boat
and rendered unconscious. Capt. kaempn
said in all his years at sea he had never
gone through such an experience.
Eight Vessels storm-Bound.
This same hurricane. which dashed a
path of gigantic waves from the gulf
stream northward. overlook at least
eight coastwise steamships bound for
New York. and none of these, due yes
terday, had reported up to a late hour
last night In addition, 1t caught, dur
ing the height of its strength, the out
ward bound Cunard line steamship Lus
itania and the White Stars Majestic,
which sailed from this port Wednesday
morning.
Little apprehension is felt by the off,
Gals of the companies whose vessels
are overdue. because Of the compare
lively short duration of the hurricane.
the Hook either late today or tomor-
row morning.
Outgoing coastwise steamers. how
ever. which left New York Tuesday in
ballast. or with light cargoes. must
have experienced the toughest weather
of their careers. for, according to the
reported path Of the storm. they struck
the full fury Of it after the first day
out.
The first warning Of a hurricane sent
Capt. Kaempff. At o'clock Wednesday
afternoon the operator on board the
Deutschland caught a message from
the steamship Hamburg. a sister ship,
eastward bound. which had taken a
more southerly course. The telegram
said the vessel was in a violent hurri-
cane and warned the Deutschland to
prepare for heavy weather.
Four hours later the gale struck the
big liner. and from twelve-knot wind
1t Increased to seventy miles. In the
midst of the hurricane messages were
received from the Lusitania and the
Majestic, which were outward bound,
saying they were facing an easterly
gale with the wind becoming more
strong every minute.
Waves Swept Big Ship.
The hurricane first began with the wind
from the east, but 1t gradually wore round
to the north and west until at the end of
four hours it was northwest. BY that
time the Deutschland was well in the lea
OF the Atlantic coast and was no longer
impeded by gigantic waves.
Trouble for the voyage was not over.
however. for with the quieting of the gale
off Montauk Point. The steamer crept
slowly up the Long Island shore until at
9 o'clock. when five miles off Sandy Hook,
her captain caught the sound Of the sub
marine bell and soon had pilot on board.
The hurricane has delayed shipping on
the entire Atlantic coast south of Cape
Cod The steamship Bermudan. which
was scheduled to sail from Bermuda Sep
TENDER Ii. was unable TO leave. and Will
not arrive in New York until Saturday.
ue SlcdHlcTS oiluOCo, Sibcild,
Parma, Cuthbert, Crown of Navarro,
Alamo and Ell Siglo. all coastwise, are
still unheard from. The Hanrburg-Amer
lean line steamer Pretoria. much slower
vessel than the Deutschland. was riding
out the storm at reduced speed, accord
ing to the latest wireless reports, and she
may arrive this morning.
The hurricane was looked for nearly
week ago. September 10 the weather bu-
reau at Washington caused storm signals
to be displayed at all points along the At
lanttc coast, warning mariners of the APP
preaching gale. 1t was believed then 1t
would sweep shoreward and cause havoc
among small craft. The high pressure on
this coast drove il to sea where it spent