A photograph of the Cimbria at dock in Hamburg.
[New York Times, Sunday, April 28, 1867, page 1] Arrival of a New Hamburg Steamer. The Hamburg and American Steamship Company's new vessel, the "Cimbria", arrived at this port last evening with dates to the 17th inst. The "Cimbria", like her sister vessel the Hammonia, was built by Messrs. CAIRD & CO of Greenock, and is fitted with all the latest mechanical improvements. Some idea may be formed of her size and accommodation from the following details as to her dimensions: Length of keel, 332 feet; breadth of beam, 40 feet; depth of hold, 33 feet; tons register, 3,000; strength of engines, 300 horse power. She is constructed to carry 80 first cabin passengers, 120 second cabin, and 540 steerage, besides 137 of a crew; nearly 900 souls altogether.
Internally, the vessel has been constructed with the view of combining economy of space and convenience of accommodation, and both these objects have been very successfully attained. The main saloon, which is capacious, well lighted, and magnificently decorated, is about one hundred feet in length. In the second cabin there is also very comfortable accommodation, much superior to that in days not so far distant was wont to be provided for first class passengers. Of the steerage the large number of berths it contains has been, as far as possible, constructed with every consideration for the health and comfort of their occupants. The Cimbria has been fortunate in getting as its commander an officer of the large experience and high reputation of Capt. TRAUTMANN, late of the Allemannia, distinguished as one of the fastest steamers on the Atlantic.
A photograph of life on the deck of the Cimbria – usually reserved for the first class passengers.
[New York Times, Sunday, May 2, 1867] The TIMES of Sunday announced the arrival at this port of the new steamship Cimbria, of the Hamburg and American Steamship Company's line, and gave a brief description of the vessel. Yesterday, upon the invitation of Messrs. KUNHARDT & Co., the agents of the line, a select company assembled on board this latest triumph of Clyde shipbuilding to propitiate wind and waves, through the medium of an excellent dinner, garnished by most excellent wines. Capt. TRAUTMANN, late of the Allemannia, and now commanding the new steamer, and a seaman of thirty years standing, presided at the festive board, and proved himself as efficient there as upon the upper deck. The Cimbria is simply complete as a passenger vessel; her first cabin is finished with a magnificence that is tempered by most excellent taste; her second cabin is more than comfortable and her steerage roomy, cleanly and well ventilated. These advantages, coupled with the great speed evidenced by her making the voyage from Southampton to this port in ten days and six hours upon her first trip, when her machinery was new and when she encountered heavy head winds during the entire passage, should commend her to those who contemplate going down to the sea. The Cimbria sails for Hamburg, touching at Southampton, on the 4th inst.
["Dictionary of Disasters at Sea During the Age of Steam", by Charles Hocking, published by Lloyd's Register of Shipping in 1969.] The liner "Cimbria", Capt. Hansen, left Hamburg on Thursday, January 18th, 1883, with 402 passengers—mostly emigrants from Russia, Prussia, Austria and Hungary—and a crew of 120. There were also a number of French sailors on board, bound for Havre, and a party of Chippewa Indians returning to the U.S.A. after performing at an exhibition. Early on the morning of the 19th the weather thickened, and later on became dense. Off the Island of Borkum the siren of an approaching steamship was heard, but her location was in doubt until the very moment that she loomed into sight, barely 150 feet away. She proved to be the "Sultan", of the Hull and Hamburg Line, Capt. Cuttill, and she crashed into the "Cimbria's" port side immediately in front of the foremast, cutting a hole which extended to below the water-line. She then backed away, finding her own plight extremely bad, as she had a 7-foot hole in the bows and was making water fast. In these circumstances she did not lower her boats or make any effort to get into touch with the vessel she had rammed, believing that her own case was the more serious. Shortly afterwards the two ships drifted out of sight of each other.
Conditions on the "Cimbria" were very serious, the startled passengers, who were asleep below, came on deck to find the ship heeling over to starboard and rapidly settling down. The seven boats were got away as quickly as possible, one capsizing on launching. In general there was good order and every means of saving life was adopted, even to cutting loose the ship's spars to provide assistance for the unfortunate people when they were flung into the water.
An engraving of the Cimbria.
Two of the boats were picked up by the British barque "Theta", on Sunday the 21st, with 39 survivors. A third boat containing 17 was picked up by the British ship "Diamant" off the Weser Lighthouse, while a fourth boat with nine people arrived at Borkum, thus making 65 all told. Among the saved were the second, third and fourth officers and the second engineer. Nearly all of the 72 women and 87 children on board were lost.
At an official inquiry at Hamburg, Capt. Cuttill stated that he considered his ship the more damaged at the time, and that he did not lower his boats for fear of losing them in the fog. He affirmed that he was not aware of the disaster to the "Cimbria", from which he had drifted away. It was proved that if the "Sultan" had shipped a foot more water in her hold she would have foundered.
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