The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-12 00:00:00

THE RETURN OF THE STEAM-SHIP
AMERICA.

In a second edition of our impression of yester-
day, we announced the return of this vessel to the
Niersey in the .following terms :
The steamer America, which sailed from this port
on Saturday, returned here on Thursday morning,
in a disabled state. In the Channel she met with a
most terrific gale ; but we are happy to inform our
readers that, through the coolness and seaman-
ship of the captain, he was enabled to bring her
back to port in safety. She has lost her bulwark a,
&c., &c. The following document was signed by a
number of the passengers, and given to our reporter
for publication :
We, the undersigned passengers on board the British and
North American Royal Mail Steam-ship Ameri:a, on her
outward passage to Boston, while returning their grateful
thanks to Almighty Providence for their safe deliverance
from the fearful storm upon the morning of the 9th, feel it
their duty to express their unqualified approval of the
courage, coolness, and intrepidity of Captain Lang and his
officers during that trying period, and especially for the
skilful manner in putting the ship about in so perilous a
situation, which, in the opinion of the undersigned, was the
only method of saving the ship and passengers.—James
Bennett, Samuel Norris, S. C. Bughie, A. Partridge, Henry,
W. Taylor, George W. Browne, J. W. Snedick, George H.
B-own, J. M. Trodick, and all the passengers.

Dec. 10, 1866.
•
In a subsequent edition we published the fol•
lowing :
Since the above was published we have been enabled
visit the vessel, and certainly the scene of devastation
presented on board all parts of the noble ship is truly
terrible. The gale of Tuesday morning appears to
have been of the most alarming and destructive charac-
ter. From the report of the captain, we learn that, at
about 9 a.m. on Tuesday, off Cape Clear, the wind blowing
a gale, the steamer, for safety, was hove to, but on a
sudden, and as it were with the speed of lightning, a
mighty wave struck the noble vessel on the fore part,
carrying away the bulwarks, two boats, the entire of
the quarter deck rails, and the whole of the stanchions
from fore to aft. Several men were also washed over-
board, but fortunately, and by the miraculous preserva-
tion of Providence, were almost immediately returned
to the deck of the vessel by another wave of equal
violence to the first, but which so, severely injured one
of the seamen that there is little probability of his re-
covery ; one of his legs is broken in two places. The
captain's cabin, saloon, pantry, &c., have sustained such
severe damage that one can scarcely credit it to be
possible that damaga of so great a magnitude could be
accomplished in so brief a period of time. The vessel
has been placed in the Huskisson dock, and is now
undergoing a general survey, so that she may be imme-
diately repaired, and resume her station on, the line.
We are glad to be able to state that the America spoke the
Baltic, which sailed from here on Wednesday, and which
,1 vessel will thus be enabled to convey the news of the
accident to New York, thereby allaying the anxiety that
would naturally be felt at the non-arrival of the America
at her usual time.

The only additional particulars we have now to
add is the fact, that a survey was made by the
underwriters' surveyors in the course of yesterday,
and their report is as follows :--
STJRTEYORS' REPORT.
Dec. 11.—We, the undersigned, being reqnested to survey
and report the damage done_ to the steamship America,
Lang, master, from being struck by heavy seas in- a gale of
wind, when at sea on her late intended voyage hence to
Halifax and Boston, she having returned to repair damages
—on examination this day found the head rails, boards, and
part of the knees broken, the fore deck house or saloon stove
in, and all the internal arrangements broken or injured ;
the deck side houses, paddle box, and part of the floats
broken ; thirteen top stanchions, and sixty feet of the main
and topgallant rail and bulwarks broken, and part of the
starboard covering board split or injured, and topsides par-
tially strained ; part of the topgallant and main rail and
captain's cabin on starboard side aft injured ; four iron boat
davits and part of the topgallant and main rail and bulwarks
on the port side broken ; the after deck house or main
saloon partially injured and windows broken ; the brass and
iron stanchions and rails broken or b3nt, and part lost ;
forty-six feet of the port main rail and bulwarks forward
broken, the platform bridge broken, the fore yard and fore
trysail mast broken ; two boats and two swinging booms
and gear reported to be lost ; the forward lower cabin
seriously injured, the framing, pannelling, staircase, and
internal arrangements being broken or started, and the
upholstery much damaged and other cabin stores injured ;
the fore rigging partially chafed or injured ; and it was
feared that part of the cargo forward might be damaged.
We therefore recommend that the deck houses, cabin furni-
ture, and stores should be cleared away, for the purpose of
repairs, and for further examination, and to give time to
ascertain if the vessel had received any injury in the bottom,
although we believe she has not.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER, ^r SIFT
WILLIAM MITCHELL,
• ' Surveyors for the Liverpool Underviritri3
Association.
The Company, with their usual promptitude,
have had the Canada got ready for sea,'and she
will leave the Huskisson dock this morning, and
proceed at once on the voyage to Halifax and
Boston, and will convey the mails and passengers,
which have been transhipped from the America.

ACCIDENT TO THE LALLA ROOKH.

On Tuesday week the above vessel left this port in "good
order-and well condition," the officers little expecting to be
compelled to return at so early a period as yesterday morning.
It'appears that during the same gale as the American steamer
experienced, she was struck by a sea, and the wind at the
same time catching her, the whole of her sails were entirely
destroyed, and otherwise so severely injured that the captain
deemed it necessary to immediately return.

THE AKEIIICA.N MAILS.—The royal mail steamer
Canada, will sail to-morrow for New York, with the mails
for the States and Canada. The Pod-office letter
box will he open in the ordinary course to eight-and to nine
o'clock with late fees.: The box at the. Stage willloe open
to ten o'clock with additional late fees of Is. on each
letter.
- Tap 'CLAYTON HALL—TEE BROUSILS.—We would re-
mind the public that this talented family are about to leave
Liverpo .1 prior to their appearance before Her Majesty and
the royal family, and that the present is probably the only
opportunity that will be afforded of hearing this wonderfully
gifted and pleasing family ; and the public, no
,doubt, will
avail themselves of the opportunity.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—The body of a woman was picked up
yesterday m)rning on the beach near Birkenhead. It is
supposed she fell off the bridge leading from Birkenhead
to Tranmere. on the previous night, as the collector at
Birkenhead ferry, saw her pass on to the bridge about
nine o'clock. Her basket was shortly after found on the
bridge. In the afternoon, an inquest was held on the body,
what it appeared that deceased's name was Catherine
Murphy, cook at Fernihough's hotel, Tranmere, and she
had been on a visit to Liverpool. A full investigation was
entered into,.before H. Chorton, -Esq., coroner for the dis-
trict, and a highly respectable jury; and evidence having
been given substantiating the above, a verdict of " accidental
death" was returnee.
HISTORIC SOCIETY.—There was a meeting of this
society. held last night in St. George's Hall. Peter R.
11,1 A, lie, Esq., in the chair. The following geitlemen
were admitted members :—Robert Brown, Esq, Preston;
Edward Cranage, Esq , Oldhall,Salop ; W. H. Johns,
Ker3haw,
' Esq., M.P., Stockport ;
Henry N. Peddar, Esq.,
JEoshqn.,
J.
omrtyornes;,JamEsqe.s,
Preston ;
rvreston. Joseph Robinson, Esq., Lord street ; Richard
Threlfall, Esq., and Thomas Wallsley, FAT, Preston. The
following donations were announced—Journal of the Royal
Asiatic Society, vole. 10, 3 parts ; and vol. 16, part 2.
Procesdings of Liverpool Philomathetic Society, Liverpool,
described, by D. P. Thomson, M.D. Poetry of Weather
knowledge, by the same author ; after which, the following
were exhibited—by Dr. M'lntrye, an ancient episcopal seal,
on a swivel with three faces, on which are engraved the
diocesian and personal arms, crest and cypher (place not
knows) ; a small ivory carving of the crucifixion,- with two
figures at the foot of the cross, probably the Virgin and St.
John. The Rev. Dr. Thom was presented with a life
diploma of the society, as a token of respect to him (as
announced last week in our columns.) The Rev. Doctor
returned thanks for the honour conferred on him. Mr.
David Buxon then read the paper of the evening on
" Poetic Resemblance, Imitation and Plagiarism.