The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-15 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S SHIP NILE IN A

STORM.

The Cork Constitution has the following account
of the return of her Majesty's ship Nile to that
port, after encountering the dreadful gale on Wed.
nesday last :

" Krumour was circulated in this city on Friday
that her Majesty's ship Nile, 90, which left this
port for Plymouth on Wednesday for the purpose
of undergoing repairs rendered necessary by the in-
juries received by her recently while on her
voyage to Halifax, had been lost in the gale of
Wednesday night. As the vessel was in some mea-
sure crippled and not too well able to bear such a
gale, some anxiety was created by the rumour, but
it was set at rest by a vessel which arrived here and
reported having passed the Nile on Thursday. The
rumour, however, was not entirely without fbunda-
tion. The Nile had received such bad usage that
she was compelled to bear up for this port, which
she entered on Sunday morning, and is now at
anchor in the roads. It will be remembered that
when she put in here the week before last, it was
mentioned that her rudder was so damaged as to be
all but useless, and was the immediate cause of her
coming back from the Banks of Newfoundlond,
which she had reached on her voyage to Halifax.
While here, strong bands of iron were fastened
around it, and it was made apparently secure
enough to admit of the vessel being taken over to
Plymouth for repairs. On Wednesday accordingly
she steamed out, but during the night was exposed
to the fury of the gale which, amounting almost to
a hurricane, then raged. The iron bands which
were put to secure the rudder burst, and the vessel
could not by any means be got to wear. The storm
blew right against her, and she wait driven within
nine miles of the shore at Bantry, so close that the
breakers could be plainly heart lashing the rocks,
and at one time, on a cast of the lead being taken,
there were only seven feet of water under her keel.
Sixteen fires were lighted, all steam was got up, and
every effort was made to force the ship against the
wind. This was so far successful that she was kept
from running ashore, but on account of the dis-
abled state- of the rudder, she could not be worked
up to her destination, but drifted away into
the AtlantitrOcean. After running in this help-
less way untirhoon on Friday, it was resolved to put
the vessel about and make for, this harbour. This
was accordingly carried into effect, but so far had
the ship been driven that, notwithstanding steam
being used and all sails set, with . a fine breeze aft,
it was Sunday morning before she made this har-
bour, and she went into Ballycotton Bay before she
could be got to wear. From the time the vessel
left this until her return she did not make 30 miles
on her proper course, and for some time on Wed-
nesday night so fearfully did she roll and so much
water went down her hatches that it was nearly 5
feet high on the lower deck. Nothing but the un-
flinching gallantry of the captain and steadfast de-
votion of the crew could have saved the vessel
during the night of Wednesday, which was really
dreadful. During the whole of this period. Captain
Wilmot never left the poop, and this may be said
of the two former gales the vessel encountered,
when he exhibited the same watchfulness over his
charge. On those occasions his humanity to the
men was as much remarked as his cool, calm courage.
At one time some of the crow were ordered by one
of the officers to go aloft and cut away a torn sail
which was flapping about, but the Captain forbade
their doing so, it bring a most perilous act in that
fearful weather, declaring that not a man should be
endangered if he could prevent it. Many acts of
the same thoughtful kind have been narrated by
the men, with whom he is evidently a great favou-
rite, It Is understood that Captain Wilmot has
been appointed to the command of the screw steam.
ship Sanspareil, 70, now being fitted out at Devon-
port, and that the. crew of the Nile will be turned
over to her. The Sanspareil will then, it is stated,
be sent to this port to. replace the Amphion as
guard-ship. After repairs the Nile will be de-
spatohed to her original destination, North Arne.;
rica and the West Indies."