Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-10
Human Chain Saves Many
Carboys Of VitrioI.
Horses, Burned by Acid, Start
Stampede Between Decks.
PeriIous Times on Steamship Michi-
gan, Antwerp to New York.

New York, Jan. 9.-The steamship
Michigan arrived from Antwerp,
Monday, with one of the most thrill
ing tales of sea voyage that has
reached this port in many a day. In
furious northeast blizzard, on Fri
day last, dozens of carboys containing
vitriol and muriatic acid that were
stored ON the main deck broke loose
with the heavy rolling and pitching
of the ship. In great peril to them
selves. the sailors, working in relays
of nine. dashed together in a human
chain and crawling on their hands and
feet on the ice-coated decks, strug-
gled TO secure the large glebular glass
jars. some of which burst as they roll
ed about the deck, hurting the deadly
fluid on the sailors.
While the fight to save the carboys
of acid was going on above the wild
lest confusion was taking place in the
ldeck below, where 100 horses We're
stabbed. The animals had become
frightened by the storm and We're un-
mana geable Several broke their halt
ers and were rushing about the pas
sageYay, injuring themselves and en-
ldangering the lives of the stable boys.
threatened to result in the death of sew
eral of them, two carboys of vitriol were
washed down ladder to the deck where
the animals We're running about. The
! jars were smashed against a stanchion,
and the fluid spattered among the stalls,
burning several of the horses. When the
acid fell on them they praneed and kick
| ed in pain knocking away the boards
! ha al 40 rY.az ed horses
tore themselves loose and rushed among
the other animals in panic. The attend
ants were helpless To have gone among
| them then would have meant death. The
ship labored heavily in the huge seas that
| tossed her about like a chip and threw
several of the stampeding animals to the
deck Two of the horses Were killed and
30 others were hurt badly. Several We're
| bruised and cut by the hoofs Of those
| burned with the acid Animals that We're
| thrown down by the rolling of the YES
! sci We're trampled by the pain crazed
ones. Before anything could be done bg
| the attendants Captain $ ". Watkins
| had to reduce speed to about four knots.
The struggle of the sailors to secure the
carboys on the upper deck was the most
daring incident of the trip. With every
lufch of the snip men skated across e
deck between the jars of acid. As the
water broke over the vessel in froZe. The
men dared not venture singly to pick the
earboys up They had to work in gangs
of nine. Waves broke over the vessel
constantly, drenching the men. The blind
| ing snow hampered them in their work
Several of the carboys Were washed over
board before the crew could reach them.
The sailors found it difficult to keep
their feet so slippery was the deck, and
| for this reason four of them We're burned
painfully by the acid a wave came
aboard Just as one of the relays had cor
| rallied a half dozen of the jars, and all
| hands We're washed against the rail. one
of the carboys burst and the fluid burned
the hands and faces oil four sailors They
| had to be taken to the ships hospital for
| treatment, When the blizzard abated the
veterinary surgeon was kept busy patch
| ing up the horses that had been cut il
the stampede.