The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-10 00:00:00

TERRIBLE VOYAGE OF AN ATLANTIC

MAIL STEAMER.

The Britannia, one of the Anchor Line of steamers
sailing between Glasgow and New York, arrived at
New York on the 23rd of January, after an extra-
ordinary and perilous voyage of 32 days, and it is gene-
rally conceded by nautical men that the passage of
theßritounia is thelongest on record from port to port.
On the 23rd of December the steamer left Glasgow
with a full cargo and 00 passengers, and the weather
continued favourable until Christmas-day, when a
fearful gale sprung up, anti at midnight increased to a
hurricane—the ship labouring heavily, and taking on
board immense volumes of water. During the nicht
two of the lifeboats were stove, and one of the sailors
was seriously injured by being crushed against the
taff rail by a tremendous sea. On the 26th the storm in-
creased, accompanied by snow and sleet, and such was
the state of the rigging, that the sailors were unable to
furl the sails, the result being that they were torn to
shreds by the force of the wind and tempest. On the
27th a mountainous wave struck the vessel at noon,
and Captain M'Clellan, who wee on the bridge at the
time, was nearly washed overboard, whilst two seamen
narrowly escaped being drowned by clinging to the
catlines near the mizenmast. The 29th and 30th
found the Britannia struggling with the gales, with
engines at half speed, and the water at times plunging
down the companionway and submerging the cabin
floor. The passengers during this time exhibited the
wildest terror, and imagining the ship was going down
resisted all efforts to keep them below until the storm
lulled. On New Year's-day the barometer fell, and
another fearful hurricane set in. The hatches were bat-
tened down, and none but the captain, officers, and
crew were permitted on deck. At two o'clock several
sailors were sent to the jibboom to secure the anchor
and fix the Rails. The captain and the chief officer were
standing on the bridge at the time, when suddenly and
before they had an opportunity to escape it, a tre-
mendous wave engulphed the ship. Captain M'Clellan
and the first officer were severely injured, and the
sailors were swept along the deck as far back as the
cabin, and had to be taken below to have their wounds
dressed. The captain and the chief mate were still
suffering from their injuries when the steamer
reached New York. For thirteen (lays after this the
weather continued tempestuous, and the ship received
large quantities of water on the deck, which swept
down into the cabin and steerage apartments,
rendering the condition of the passengers miserable in
the extreme. On the 15th of January the coal began to
give ont,while the storm was still raging, and to heighten
the calamity the provisions grew scarce. The result
was that stringency in giving out water was necessary,
and the speed of the vessels was also checked. Another
trouble that stared the officers in the face was the diffi-
culty of gaining an observation, for the sun had been
obscured for days ; and consequently they did not
know where they were drifting, except by deed reckon-
ing. On the 16th, however, the storm abated; the sun
was visible, and at six o'clock in the evening the
Britannia reached the port of Halifax. Here the re-
victualling and coaling was accomplished and after
five days of exceedingly rough weather she reached
New 'York on the 21rd 'Ult.