New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-09
IN HEAT Of ZOO DEGREES
TO AID STEAMSHIPS RUN
Third Engineer on the Carmania
Saves Time by Cutting Out"
Damaged Turbine.
DOCTOR STANDS CLOSE BY
Enters the Hot Drum at Twenty
Minute Intervals, Remaining
Inside Four Minutes to
Make the Repairs.

The triple screw turbine steamship
Cermania, Of the Cunard Line, arrived
here Yesterday from Liverpool three days
late. She probably would have been four
or Eve days late had it not been for the
courage and ability of her third engineer.
who with considerable risk to himself
braved the terrific heat of her middle
turbine box to make temporary repairs
70 what the chief engineer described as
collapsed steam pipe.
The Carmania had hard luck after
. leaving this port for Liverpool. over
month ago. She arrived at her home
port when the strike was menacing all
shipping. and had to go from port to port
o.; her eastward journey to get enough
coal TO take her out of Liverpool again
for her westward trip.
After discharging her passengers FOR
Ireland at Queenstown and her pas
seneers for England at Plymouth, she
took on coal at the latter por-. She had
about 600 tons in her bunkers when she
stopped at Plymouth and managed to in
crease this supply by 1,4OO tons. but
this was not enough She went TO BriX-
ton for more. but when the coal was
brought alongside it was found that the
barges were too high for her ports, and
the coaling had 10 be abandoned. Cap
tain Dow was not discouraged. however,
and headed for Portland where he man
aged to add TO his fuel supply. Then he
stopped again at Plymouth, where his
bunkers were filed.
The Carmania left Liverpool on Au-
guest % and queenstown on August 80.
About 1910 p m after passing Daunt's
Rock. the middle turbine gave some
reduced speed The coal taken at the
various ports in England was of in
ferior quality and burned rapidly AL
though seven hundred tons more than
the regular supply were taken at Ply
mouth, by the time the Ca.mania came
near to Halifax the supply in the bunk
ers was low Throughout the voyage
the weather was exceedingly rough.
Shortly before putting into Halifax
a steam pipe which fed the middle tur-
bine collapsed and there was a great loss
Of power. Captain Dow and Mr.. Caru-
theirs, the chief engineer. decided that
the middle turbine would have To- be
shut out completely. but to do this the
engines would have 10 be cooled off,
This procedure would require one or two
days.
The chief engineer, however, had an
alternative. and that was 70 send man
into the turbine. where the temperature
is generally about 212 degrees. He ex-
plained the situation TO the engine room
force and called for volunteers to enter
the big hot turbine drum. Many offered
to take the risk, but the chief selected
A. G.. McCutcheon, the third engineer, a
Scotchman. ,Iirty-two years old. Mr..
Caruthers selected him, he said. because
he was smart and active"
The temperature at the manhole was
rs degrees. but McCutcheon did not
hesitate. He entered the turbine four
times when the temperature was almost
300 degrees and succeeded in shutting
off its flow Of steam. McCutcheon
worked about four minutes at time.
then taking a rest for twenty minutes.
Dr. Mackenzie, the ships surgeon,
stood by ready to attend the young en-
gineer but as the latter was rugged he
did not require medical attendance. The
chief engineer said he himself would
have gone into the turbine but that his
girth could not PASS through the man
hole
McCutcheon received much praise yes
terdav from Charles + Sumner. the
local agent Of the line, when his courage
and resourcefulness were recalled by
Captain Dow and the chief engineer 1t
is said that his act will most likely
bring about a substantial recognition
from the home Office in Liverpool
The Carmania took on 4IG tons OF coal
at Halifax and came 70 this port at
12-knot speed using the two outer tur-
bines.
twenty-five passengers left the liner
at Halifax, going TO their destinations
by train.