The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-23 00:00:00

PERILS OF TILE SEA.

From the Boston Times

The steam ship Pacific, Captain Nve, left Liver-
pool on tho 28th of July last, bound for New York, with
about one hundred passengers, besides engineers, sailors,
and servants-120 more. On the outward pes.ate to Liver-
pool, Captain Nye discovered a difference its his compasses,
the one in the binnacle differing. from the one on deck. Oa
leaving Liverpool an allowance was made for this differ-
ence, and which proved senses, as the ship passel the
Tuskar light and Cape Clear at about the distance in.
tended. The first 21 hours' run was very favourable,
being 327 miles—the second equally so, being 300 miles.
On Friday, the third day out, being then entirely clear of
Ireland, and on the bread Atlantic, a thick fog set in,
which looted until Monday, when we were enabled to get a
good observation, and found the ship nine folks north of the
great circle or latitude intended. The ship's course w.a
then altered so U to place her on that circle line, and
which would carry her 6 or 10 miles south of Cape !tare.
On Wednesday morning, at 6 o'clock, it was supposed
we were about abreast of the Cape, and the officers and men
forward were told to keep a good look-out for lead. At
half-past eight the same morning, the sea being smooth, the
tog thick, a sudden call was made of " A boat alongside."
The engines were ordered to be stopped, but before this
could be done, the boat, in which were two men, was swept
under the paddle-wheels, and the two men instantly killed,
fragments of the boat only being seen floating on the sur-
face. By this time the engine was stopped, and the ship's
headway deadened; when, about the length of the ship
ahead, a rock rose up, as it were, out of the ocean, the top
which could not be seen. The helm was ordered to the
starboard, the ship rounded to, almost es it were on a pivot,
out paddle-boxes coming within about twenty feet of an
immense rock, supposed to be from three to flee hundred
feet high, and about as long.
Another boat, in which were five men, was soon seen
around the projecting reek, which soon camo down to us
and told Capt. Nye our position—which was, Cape Broyle,
on the western end of Newfoundland, and 20 miles mirth
of Cape Rate. Oar ship', head was then put to the south.
ward, and after running on that course about 30 miles, it
was changed to the westward. The imminent danger that
we thus so providentially escaped, mused many a heart to
best with gratitude to the great Dispereer of events ; so
many lives, together with that noble ship, having been
saved by the sacrifice offered by the two men so suddenly
called to eternity. It was the opinion of the paseengen
that they heard, through the fog, the noise of our paddle
wheel,, and put off from the iand to warn us of our
danger.
The object of the writer in making this statement is with
the hope of eliciting from experienced nautical men their
opinion as to the propriety of the Atlantic steamers follow-
ing, in all eases, whether the atmuephers is clear or fogey,
what is celled tailing on the great circle." It is, without
doubt, desirable to make Cape Race, bat the question is
often asked, is it of as much importance that great hazard
should be taken to accomplish it ? Almost all our Atlantic
steamers have been in great danger at that plate. Last
year the Humboldt, it was said, came within twenty feetof
Cape Ram Rock. In April last the Niagara came very
near being lost there. In fact, it is rare fur any steamer to
pan that point in thick weather, that they do not run gent
hazard. The difference, in taking this course, in preference
to taking a direct line, is but about seventy miles—and this
cows., it is said, is always taken by Captain West, of the
Atlantic.