The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-19 00:00:00

THE GRE 4T P,I,cTERY DISART, pr.

(From the Cork Examiner.)
The Great Eastern arrived off Cork harbour this
(Tuesday) evening, in a very damaged state. She
encountered a very heavy gale about 280 miles to
the west of Cape Clear on Thursday, and had both
paddles completely carried away. The top of the
rudder post (a bar of iron 10 inches in diameter)
was wrenched away, so that she was unable to
answer the helm. She lay like a log in the trough
of the sea from Thursday evening until two o'clock
on Sunday, rolling all the time, her bulwarks almost
touching the water. The furniture of the cabin
and saloons was completely broken to pieces, and
the greater part of the passengers' luggage was de-
stroyed. A cow-shed with two cows in it broke
into the ladies' cabin, and both cows were killed.
The passengers and crew expected every minute
that the vessel would go down, and they spent a great
part of the time at prayers. Between 20 and 30 of
those on board, including several ladies, had limbs,
ribs, &c., fractured, and numerous cuts and bruises
were inflicted. A temporary steering gear was
fitted on Sunday, and the vessel made for Cork har-
bour, sailing with her screw at the rate of nine
knots an hour. She is at present moored about
one mile outside the lighthouse of Cork harbour.

The announcement of the disaster to the Great
Eastern on her voyage out from Liverpool was the
topic of conversation and excitement yesterday, not
only in the city, but throughout the metropolis.
The telegram received by the Great Ship Company,
and posted at their offices in Cannon-street, re-
ceived from Captain James Walker, the commander
of the vessel, was as follows :

" Queenstown, Sept 9.
" Having lost both paddles and rudder-head in a
terrific gale, I have been compelled to put back until
put to rights. " J. WALKER.
"To the Directors of the Great Ship Company."
From other information received by the authorities,
it appears that the. vessel left Liverpool on the
10th inst., with 400 passengers and a large general
cargo, a complement both of passengers and freight
considerably larger, indeed, than she has car-
ried on any previous voyage, arising from the
feeling of confidence and security that had been
established by her previous successful voyages, and
more particularly her last from New York to Liver..
pool, when it will be remembered a testimonial was
presented by the whole of the passengers, number-
ing 212 in all, to the commander and the officers,

expressive of their appreciation of the great vessel
and her working, and recommending her on the
ground of her ample accommodation, easy motion,
and safety, as one of the best vessels in which the
public could cross the Atlantic. On the present
occasion every berth was taken, there being 400

passengers, including several families, on board,

Between 100 and 200 passengers occupied the berths
in the principal cabin, saloons, and state rooms, at
passage rates of from £2O to £2B, and the remainder
of the passengers occupied the intermedilte and

steerage cabins at from £7 to £lO respectively. All
went well till on Thursday last, as she was under
full steam and sail, she encountered a terrific gale
about 280 miles to the west of Cape Clear, which
swept away both her paddles. Nor was this the
only damage, for at the same time th© top of the
rudderpost, a bar of iron of immense size,
being ten inches in diameter, was wrenched
away,, so that the vessel was no longer able to
answer her helm. Her steering gear was also shat-
tered and gone, so that she lay, like a huge log in
the trough of the sea from Thursday evening until
two o'clock on Sunday, her bulwarks almost touch-

ing the sea furrows, and rolling and pitching about,
the passengers expecting that she would every
moment go down, and offering up prayers for their
deliveience. The rocking and rolling of the vessel
displaced and destroyed the furniture of the cabin
and saloons, throwing the passengers pell-mell
about the cabin. Everything that occupied the
upper deck was washed away, and a large part of
the passengers' luggage was destroyed ; while be-
tween 20 and 30 of those who were on board, includ-
ing several ladies, were bruised and maimed. No
particulars of their names or of the precise injuries
they have received have as yet come to hand, nor
does it yet appear that any of the officers or crew
were lost. The passengers are all safe. One of the
cowsheds, with two cows in it, was washed into the
ladies' cabin, and caused indescribable confusion.

On Sunday evening_ after two days' suspense, a

temporary steering gear was fitted up, and the dis-
abled vessel made for Cork harbour, running with
her sci ew at 9 knots an hour. Her flag of distress
was sighted at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of
Tuesday off the Old Head of Kinsale, and her Ma-
jesty's ship Advice at once steamed out to her
aEsistance, and towed her to within one mile of the

lighthouse off Cork harbour by about 9 o'clock,
where she remains moored. She will, on clearing
out, be towed forthwith to Liverpool, where she
will be laid upon the gridiron and repaired. The
principal directors and officers of the company
started yesterday for Cork and Liverpool
with a view of instituting a rigid inquiry into the:
causes of the catastrophe, and telegraphed special
instructions to their agents at the respective ports.

IRON .SIIIPBUILDING ON THE

MERo'EY.

We stated last week that arrangements were not
finally concluded as to Messrs. John Laird, Sons,
and Co. building oue of the new iron cased frigates
of about 7,000 tons measurement. Since that time.
we understand the contract has been settled, and
the work will be proceeded with immediately. The
Black Prince, Defence, Warrior, and other vessels
of this class, already constructed, have been built on
the slipways and launched in the usual manner,
which in vessels of this class involves considerable
risk and the necessity of launching before the
armour plates are all complete. As Messrs. John
Laird, Sons, and Co. possess the only private grav-
ing-docks in the country capable of receiving vessels
of this large class and great draught of water, it
is, we hear, their intention to build the new ship
in one of them, roofing it over, and fitting the
sheds with travelling cranes and other conve-
niences, so that the ship may be entirely finished
under cover, and floated out of dock ready for sea ;
and also with the engines and boilers fitted on
board, in case the Admiralty should decide to have
them put in here, instead of sending her to a dock-
yard for that purpose. By these means the work
can be more efficiently completed, and the men em-
ployed will have the advantage of working under
cover. It is stated that the vessel will require two
years to build, employing during that period 1,000
to 1,500 workmen, an immense advantage to the
town of Birkenhead, which will gain largely by an
increased expenditure among the tradesmen and
artisans of the township. Workmen are now ac-
tively employed upon the troopship of 3,000 tons,
lately ordered by the Admiralty from the same
firm, and on several other large new iron and
wood vessels ; also in repairing the Galway ves-
sels Hibernia and Columbia. The engine work-
shops at this establishment are also fully employed
in making new engines and repairing others. The
Birkenhead Dock werks now in course of comple-
tion by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board will
possess greater facilities for the reception of
men of war of the largest class than any
public or private docks in the country. The great
float, of 120 acres, having a minimum depth of
water of 22 feet, is already opened, and railways,
cranes, and other appliances are now being com-
pleted, which will render these docks a most suit-
able place for fitting out steam vessels of the largest
class, and lead, we hope, to a large amount of Go-
vernment work being given out on the Mersey. We
noticed some time since the launch by Messrs. John
Laird, Sons, and Co„ of a steam tug vessel for
China, called the Island Queen- She has been built
for Mr. M'Farlane, who was for many years resi-
dent in China, and who thoroughly understands the
river navigation of that country. She is about 400
tons measurement and 110 horse power, the engines
hping made on Messrs. Laird and Sons' diagonal
principle, which has been so successful in the Inca
and other vessels. In this instance they are fitted
with surface condensers, and, as this great improve-
ment in machinery was looked forward to with
considerable interest, we have ascertained the fol-
several trials the Islanalneen
lowing particulars of