The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-10-20 00:00:00

DANGER OF THE GREAT WESTERN
STEAM-SHIP.

The Great Western, on her last outward passage,
reached New York on the morning of the 30th ult. after a
most stormy .passage from Liverpool of eighteen days.
Her larboard paddle-box was washed away, she lost two
of her quarter-boats, and her deck cabin was considerably
damaged. She encountered the gale of the 20th and 21st,
commencing at S.W. and veering gradually to N.N.E.
with a terrific sea, and besides the washing away of the
quarter boats and paddle-box, sundry other damage was
done to the ship. A heavy sea started the ice-house and
large iron life-boat from their fastenings, and washed
them to leeward, and with much difficulty they were tem-
porarily secured. The ice-house contained some seven or
eight tons of ice, and was fastened by cleets and staun-
chions. A splinter struck the captain on the head while
standing on the poop, and the force of the blow, together
with the sea, carried• him over the lee quarter, and he was
only saved by the nettings. After this sea had passed
over, the mater gained on the pumps. The sails on the
yards, strongly secured by ropes and gaskets, were blown
from their furls, and streamed out to leeward in ribbons.
But all this was as nothing. About one p.m., whilst
most of the passengers were seated in agonising suspense
in the lower cabin, holding fast to the tables and settees,
a sea struck the vessel, and a tremendous crash was beard
on deck. Instantly the cabin was darkened, and tor-
rents of water came pouring down through the skylights.
Scarcely had the waters reached the floor, when all in the
cabins and state-rooms sprang to their feet, and simulta-
neously, as if by concert, the ladies uttered a scream of
agony, so painful, so fearful, and so despairing, the sound
of it will never be forgotten. Several fainted, others
clasped their hands in mute despair, whilst many called
aloud upon their Creator. The crash was caused by the
tearing up of the benches and other woodwork on the
quarter deck. These were hurled with violence against
the skylights by the same sea which broke the windows of
the salson, drenching the berths on the larboard side,
driving out their affrighted occupants, whilst it smashed
by its weight the glass over the main cabin, and thus
forced its way below. This was a period of intense emo-
tion. So vi olent were the shocks of the vessel, although
firmly braced, it was with great difficulty the p issengers
could prevent themselves being hurled from their seats,
and dashed with such violence against a part of the ves-
sel as to endanger life or limb. Many received severe
contusions and bruises, notwithstanding all their efforts.
It was an awful hour. The most thoughtless cowered
in their heart before a danger which none but a fool or a
brute would have mocked, and all, therefore, accepted the
invitation to meet in the cabin for prayers. The Rev.
Dr. Smucker prayed. Rev. Mr. Marsh read the 107th
Psalm. Rev. Dr. Beecher made a few solemn remarks.
Rev. Dr. Balch repeated the words of Our Saviour, " Let
not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe
also in me,”—commenting briefly on their consoling im-
port, and then invited all present to join with him in the
Lord's prayer ; after which he pronounced the Apostolic
benediction. The wind, far from abating, was on the in-
crease. The lulls in the storm being less frequent, and
the squalls, if anything, more terrific. The whole ocean
was one sea of foam, lashing up into terrible waves, wild
and angry, whilst the spray and wind seemed driven
through the rigging and over the ship, as if with demoni-
acal power. As darkness came, clustered together in the
cabin, the passengers all thought and reflected on their
fate. Most, if net all of them, had given themselves up
for lost. For what with the heavy labouring of the ship,
the terrible noise and howling of the wind, the continued
frequent thumpings of the sea, the quivering and shaking
of the groaning timbers, the carrying away of so many
portions of the vessel's upper works, and the knowledge
that they were perhaps for another night to be exposed to
the full power of a raging hurricane, left little to hope for.
In the evening, about nine o'clock, the Rev. Mr. Balch,
at the request of several passengers, administered the
Holy Communion in the cabin, to upwards of sixty per-
sons—many of whom received it there, for the first time
in their lives.

" Monday, 21st, 12 30, continues the log, the storm
commenced raging again in all its fury, and the sea a per-
fect foam, until eight a. m. at which time the clouds be-
gan to break, and the squalls less furious. Got the ship's
head to the N.W. and hauled the yards round, the sea still
raging as before, and nearly ahead, curling and breaking
over the ship in every direction. At noon the storm ceased
but the sea continued more violent till two p.m. at which
time it ceased gradually with the wind—having lasted
about thirty-six hours; during which time, it gives me
much pleasure to state, my officers and crew conducted
themselves with great coolness and presence of mind."

A most graphic description of the storm has been pub-
lished by the possengers, who appear to have had a very
providential escape. They several times gave themselves
up for lost. After the storm had ceased, they drew up a
resolution of thanks to Almighty God for their deliverance,
and also a most complimentary address to the captain and
officers of the ship. They subscribed £2OO for the cap-
tain, officers, and crew, and presentee the money in two
beautiful purses worked by two of the female passengers.
They also opened a liberal contribution, with the view of
creating a fund for the relief of families whose heads and
supporters have been lost at sea, and in compliment to the
ship, as well as in commemoration of the signal mercy
they experienced in her, it is to be called the " Great
Western Fund."

When the danger bad all passed the captain said, "Thrice
on deck I thought destruction inevitable. Each time a
sea of such magnitude and power came at the ship, and I
thought it was all over with us. But unexpectedly each
broke just at the side of the ship. Sir, the hand of the
Lord was in it."

The steamer Hibernia reached Halifax on the morning
of the I.t instant, after a fine run of 111 days from Liver-
pool. It does not appear from the Halifax papers that
she encountered any very heavy weather.