MARINE CASUALTY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 469, 7 May 1890, Page 6

MARINE CASUALTY.

The Inman line steamer City of Paris, towed by the steamer Aldersgate, arrived at Queenstown at four o’clock on the morning of March 30bh. After leaving New York all went well until half-past five o’clock on the evening of the 25th. Then, while the steamer was going at full speed, the low pressure cylinder of the starboard engine suddenly collapsed and broke, smashing the injection water pipe connections and bursting the iron bulkhead dividing the port and starboard engines. The metal flew around in all directions. A portion of the machinery smashed through the steamer’s double bottom. The water passed through the hole into the engine rooms, compelling the engineers and firemen to rush to the deck for safety. Terrible consequences would have ensued but for the bravery of the second engineer, who, at the peril of his life, enveloped as he was in hissing steam, managed to shut off the steam, thus saving the machinery from total demolition, which would have happened had the engines continued working. He then escaped unhurt. The passengers were much excited, but the captain and officers succeeded in assuring them that there was no danger. The lifeboats were cleared in readiness for use and the pumps were kept working. The steamer drifted helplessly until the 26bh insb., when the captain sent Chief Officer Parson and six men in a lifeboat to get into the track of other line steamers in the hope of being able to intercept the City of Chester or the Adriatic. The boat met the Adriatic, which declined to take the City of Paris in tow. The Aldersgate now hove in sight and offered to tow the City of Paris. The offer was accepted. The Aldersgate is> a small steamer, unable to tow over four or five knots hourly, and progress was slow. On Saturday the American line steamer Ohio, bound west, was sighted. She turned back and stood by until 3 p.m., when Fastneb was sighted. Two tugs were sent later. The water kept increasing in spite of the work of the pumps. The accident occurred 216 miles west of Fastnet. WHAT THE PASSENGERS SAY. Statements by passengers are to the effect that there was a loud ci'ash followed by an explosion. The ship quivered and the engines thumped. The vessel leaked rapidly from tho hole in her bottom. The officers calmed the excited passengers, and the conduct of the crew was admirable. The weather was fine, and there was no wind. During the sixty hours that the steamer drifted she kept showing distress signals, Bending up rockets and burning flares. It appears that when the crew went to work to clear the ship of water ib was found that only the hand pumps were available, the gear of the steam pumps having been destroyed. Recourse was had to buckets, and with the external application of heavy sails and blankets to the damaged portion of the vessel, the struggle against the inroads of the sea was successfully maintained. Calm weather and a smooth sea materially assisted the efforts of the crew. It is the general opinion that if the conditions had been otherwise and the steamer had experienced twelve hours of stormy weather, she would inevitably have foundered. In readiness for such an emergency the boats were cleared and every preparation was made to leave the ship at a moment’s notice.

NO PANIC ON BOARD. Among the passengers, it is said there was never anything in the nature of a panic, although, doubtless, a deal of alarm existed when, after a long drifting, no assistance appeared in any quarter. Things began to wear an anxious aspect when Chief-Officer Parson and a crew of six men started away in a lifeboat in the hope of securing assistance from some passing steamer. At three o’clock on Thursday afternoon the Adriatic bore down on tho City of Paris, and at the same time the Aldersgate hove in sight. The Adriatic then steamed away. The City of Paris as she lay low in the harbour was the object of much interest. It was stated that the water in her hold was still increasing and that four of her watertight compartments had filled. As she lay at anchor she was said to be drawing nearly thirty-five feet at the stern, her average being twenty-five feet six inches. Divers discovered the damage to be so great as to preclude the possibility of towing her safely to Liverpool. She was beached and temporary repairs made.