The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-28 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE

LOSS OF THE SHENANDOAH.

The ship Shenandoah, Captain Miller, bound to New
York from Liverpool, was caught in the gale of the 10th
instant, and so much crippled that the captain and crew
had to abandon her to save their lives. They were
taken off the wreck on the evening of the next day by
the barque Brilliant. Captain Miller, which arrived at
port yesterday. The chief mate of the Shenan:
doah was unfortunately washed overboard in the height
of the gale, which fortunat•-ly was the only loss of
life that occurred. The following is the report of
the captain of the Shenan,loah :—"The ship She-
nandoah left Liverpool on the 29th of July, loaded
with coal, and bound to New York. All went on well
till Sunday, the 10th inst., when in lat. 40 59, long. 67
43, hail a strong breeze from the eastward, which in-
creased to a gale towards night, with a very high sea.
Took in the top-gallant sails, mizen-topsail, and main-
sail. At eight p.m. took two reefs in main and foretop
sails. At eleven the w►nd increased to a hurricane, with
heavy rain and lightning, and a most terrific high broken
sea. In hauling up the foresail it blew away ;at the
same time the maintopsail split t•) pieces, and the furled
topgallantsails and jib blew away ; at 11.30 p.m., in a
moat terrific squall, the ship broached to. The foretop-
sail and foretopmart staysail blew away. The cargo
shifted to port, and laid the vessel on her beam ends.
The foremast and mizenmast went by the deck, and the
mainmast eight feet below the eyes of the lower rigging,
the vessel shipping a most tremendous sea at the time,
washing overboard the chief officer (who was not seen
afterwards), the gig boat from the top of the hoUse
forward, spare spars from the deck, bulwarks, fore
and aft, on the port side, and stanchions from the
poop to the gangway, splitting the covering board
and waterways, breaking the poop skylight to pieces,
filling the cabin half full of water, and washing away the
after batches ; sounded the pumps and found four feet
water in the well. Ten hands were immediately set to
work at the pumps, the carpenter securing the hatches,
and the remainder of the crew employed in clearing the
wreck. At 330 a.m. got the wreck cleared away from
alongside, the ship laying with the port covering hoards
under water and the sea breaking over her in a fearful
manner. The gale continued to blow furiously until
noon, when it gradually moderated, the sea yet breaking
fearfully on the lee deck, and the water gaining on the
pumps ; got the main trysail set on the stump of the
mainmast, which kept the ship's head to the sea. At
noon on Tuesday had light winds and a high sea, the
ship lying on her broadside, and the water washing into
the hold tast. Held a consultation with the crew,
when it was determined by them to leave the ship, there
being not the slightest chance to save her, having no
spars, and the vessel lying on her broadside, with seven
feet of water in her hold. Got out the longboat and
pinnace and provisions, and left the vessel at six p.m.,
in lat. 39 48, long. 70 24 ; the same night at nine fell in
with the barque Brilliant, Captain P. Miller, who, with
promptitude backed his yards and took us on board."—
New York Tribune.