American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-18

THE E1ASSAG 4 OF THE GREAT ERR
TAIN over the Atlantic-AH Interesting
Account, by Passenger.
The New York Morning News contains the
following letter written by passenger on board
the steamship Great Britain on her arrival at
Holmes Hole.
The pass engers on board the above vessel
have, all of US, been in an alarmed state of
much excitement this morning, but now find
ourselves in the evening with renewed hopes
of speedy and safe arrival at New York.
have thought il would interest you to relate
the strange things which have occurred on our
passage across the ocean in this mighty Leva-
Than of human art. We left Liverpool on the
appointed day, the 27th ultimo, amidst the
cheers Of many thousands who crowded the
shores and sWarmed i'll the many steamers,
yachts and sail boats which graced our depar-
ture, drawn together from many miles 10 see
our gigantic vessel.
As we sat down to our first meal, we found
we numbered about one hundred passengers
The next day we awoke to adverse winds,
which in soaman's phrase, hard-heartedly OPP
p Ised us the whole way to the Banks OF New
foundand, blowing at one time with the full
severity OF heavy gale of wind; at the COM
'nencement of which, as it bounded on US at
one sudden Jump, it swept overheard our fore
mast, which the next moment, we saw tossed
about in the heavy swell by the tapping sails
still adherng to it, and the whole yet dashed to
the ship by portions of unsevered cordage.-
The engines of the vessel were then stopped
tor some time, until these sails and the broken
mast could be again secured on board. This
gale continued ito blow with the greatest Sc
verify for about twenty-!our hours, and con-
fess that when this storm burst on us in such
severity, felt considerable alarm, as had not
that confidence in the ship that should ike 10
make in her q winter voyage, and felt that
would answer the words Of Pryor afiirmatively,
q! did but purpose to embark with hee,
On the smooth surface Of summers sea;
And would forsake the skiff and make the shore,
When the winds whistle and the tCmpcsts roar"
But she rode out the gale most ioyou;ly, and
although some fieccy spray occasionally clam
bered over her mountain sides, and baptized
her iron frame, yet did not see her ship one
sea; no matches were fastened down, nor was
there the slightest need to do so. In the mean
time, however, most piGous were the COM
plants OF the sea-sick against the excessive roll
ing Of the vessel. | think that the action of
the propeller, acting like skulling small boat,
contributed to this. They say also that she
wants false keel, and that all of her six
nasts, excepting one, being simply camped on
The upper decks, instead of descending TO the
keelson, is an additional cause; yet never in 4
gale of wind, even of less severity, did see a
dinner eaten so peacefully, and at which the
dishes behaved themselves with equal pro-
Erety; soups initiated in moderation the ups
and downs of the ocean tides gravy chasseed
right and left, without improperly leaping INTO
ladies laps; and in the general dance CT the
dishes. at dinner time, usually so uproarous in
l.. e ,,,,l ,i,,,, ,.Df ,plf q
;oycd themselves within decent bounds This,
however, may perhaps be accounted for be-
cause thc dining saloon is on the second deck
below the uppetmosL deck of the vessel, and
thus is situated at the centre of such rolling
motion
At the conclusion Of the gale, think it was
The very general opinion of the passengers that
the Great Britain was a very buoyant and dry
sea boat, and capable Of behaving herself most
handsomely III storm.
We had come to this pleasant belief, whom
on the morning of the It'll inst, CONSERVATION
seized on many trembling heart, from new
source of alarm. Just as the iron gauntletted
hand of the c0mmandant resounds at the door,
at the supper scene in the opera of Don Clio
vann, so laundering iron knocks were felt and
heard dashing against the bottom OF our YES
sci, and it soon became evident that our pro-
peer, which, with its immense tangs, fifteen
feet in circumference, of solid iron, and said to
weigh several tons, and which revolves at the
rate of FROM 40 to SO revolutions in a minute,
was, from SEINE disturbing cause, dashng Its
iron arms against the bottom of the vossel.-
Well was it for us that iron met iron, and that
tie propeller proved the weaker comhatant,
and soon gave up the contest with, Gas was
said after examination,) one of its siX iangs
broken off and another doubled up. In the
evening, at tea time, many face turned pale
as the contest was renew ed, and which again
terminated with new damage to the propeller.
This morning, however, | awaked partaking
in the general and satisfactory belief that III
spite of adverse winds, damaged masts and
crippled propeller, | should meet you and my