New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-24
MANY IN PERIL
AS GALE BEATS
HELPLESS LINER
Fl it Ship Hurled About
for "a Hours After
Rudder Breaks.
NARROWLY ESCAPES
DIAMOND SHOALS
Santa Marta Rescued by U. ).
BOat-Passengers Tell of
Racking Vigil.

A voyage Of peril for her si1ty-nine
passengers ended safely at 0 o'clock
last night, when the steamship Santa
Marta, Of the United Fruit Company
Line. was brought TO Pier l, North
River. For seventy-four hours the
vessel wallowed helplessly in the
trough Of heavy seas, her rudder
smashed beyond repair The wind and
tide we're carrying the ship steadily
toward the Diamond Shoals Wheh
rescuing tug arrived. At one time tne
steamer was within sixteen miles OF tht
rocks, whore certain destruction and
death would have been the fate OF veg
eel and passengers.
The Santa Marta sailed from Colon
On February g. and after touching at
Kingston headed for this city. Heavy
weather that grew steadily worse fol-
lowed the ship on her northward
course. On the afternoon Of Thursday,
the 18th, giant wave slammed INTO
the bow Of the steamer and oroke the
rudder post g.,
The next three days passengers lived
IN suspense. The United States reye-
nue. cutter Onondaga was searching for
them. hut was unable TO locate the
bclpless steamer. The Santa Marta
was battered about by every wave.
Shutters were over the windows and
portfolios.
Ship in Peril Many Hours.
When the fruit steamer came into
port last night, it was in tow Of two
wrecking tugs of the Merritt q Chap-
man Derrick and Wrecking Company,
Of II Battery Place. The revenue cut
ter OnondaGa trailed at the rear serV-
Ing as a rudder. Sunday afternoon the
tug Rescue reached the Santa Marta,
and took her in tow The cutter, stand
inc by. also connected a hawser. Mon
day the second tug, the !. J. Merritt,
arrived al the side Of the helpless
steamer. The cargo Of bananas was
severely damaged by the extra five
days in the vessels hold.
A thrilling narrative of the Santa
Marta's plight was related last night
by 4. d. Wheeler, Of 200 Devonshire
Street. Boston, who went TO the tropics
for vacation.
eve left Kingston on Sunday, Feb
ruary "a, at 3:15. in the afternoon
he said, "ard experienced fairly pleas
ant weather until the following
Wednesday. A gale arose that beat up
the sea until the waves were breaking
HIGH over .he bow. Later they came
across the stern Of the ship as well,
and al times there was at least foot
of water in the waist Of the ship, fore
and aft. The storm continued all
night. and next day, at 4 p. m, one 81
gantic wave hit us from the rear and
the rudder post was broken.
Passengers Faced Death.
"From that minute things began to
happen. The vessel swung broadside
into the wind and bobbed about like
cork between the waves. If there was
a passenger on board who did not eX-
pect each minute 20 be his last, he de-
serves the belt as the worlds cham
Iion optimist.
Thursday and Friday nights we're
anxious ones. We knew the Onondaga
was searching for US, the wireless had
brought Us word, but the weather being
overcast the captain could not deter
mine his exact position TO notify the
Tescuing craft.
Friday afternoon we sighted the
United States collier Orion. The cap
tain offered 10 stand by US. and he
did, until II o'clock that night. Then
he signallcd Captain Dawson that his
NetHel WAS iolllNE at an angie OF OV
degrees and that TO remain where he
was would invite destruction.
Women Wept in Terror
practically all the passengers were
in the lounge and smoking rooms at
2:l5 o'clock Saturday morning when a
wave struck with terrific force. Crock
cry IN the pantry was dashed to pieces.
Portfolios and windows were burst in
and the steamer shook as though she
had run onto solid rock. That was
what all believed had happened, and
the terror was heightened a moment
later when SIX bombs were discharged
in rapid succession. They were chance
signals for the Onondaga. Some Of the
women became hysterical."
On Saturday, according 10 John c.
Perry. Of Philadelphia. who added an
occasional word 70 Mr. Wheeler's story,
the Santa Marta drifted toward the
Diamond Shoals. The passengers were
not told Of the additional peril at the
time, but they learned it later. At 3
o'clock that night the searchlight Of
the revenue cutter was seen. When il