Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-10-08
PASSAGE OF THE GREAT WESTERN.


The Great Western experienced terrible storm
on her late passage from Liverpool. II commenc-
ed on Saturday. Sept 10, and lasted i the lollow'
ing Monday. the numerous passengers (l2o ~
number,) and also the crew, believing all the time
that they should never more see The land. long
md interesting narrative Of the storm is published
by the passengers. in The New York papers. We
extract from il as folIows
To convey an idea Of the appearance Of all
around. is out Of my power In the words OF Sher'
idan, 'the tempest roatned in all the terror OF It's
glory" The atmosphere was surcharged with
thick spray, rendering look far GOT 10 seward,
impossible. The wind howled roared and below
ed like the constant mutterings OF the thunder
cloud Huge waves Of Tremendous height aud vol
ume. rose in mad display around the ship, threat
eniug every moment to break over us amldshiPs,
and crush the vessel Sea after sea striking us
with terrific noise caused the gallant ship 10 stop
for am instant irembe aud shake ~ every timber,
from her stem her stern post, Keeling aud lnrch-
ing tossed To an FRO, again would she gather fresh
strength aud With her wheels half hid IN the Wild
waters. again and again receive The laundering
blows Of M element thai seemed armed for our
destruction.
The sails on the Yards strongly secured b. ropes
and baskets, were blown from their iurls aud
strcamed out 10 leeward in ribbons. But all this
was nothing About r. NJ, whilst most oil rs
were seated IN sgonizing suspense in the lower cab
in holding ias, the tables aud setlees, sea struck
the vessel and a tremendous crash was heard on
deck Instantly the cabin was darkcned, aud tor
rents ofwaler came pouring down upon US through
the sky lights.
Scarcely had the waters reached the floor when
all in the cabins and slate sprang 10 their
feet and simultaneously, if by concert. the ladies
uttered scream fagoHy so painful, so fearful, and
so despairing the sound Of II will never be forgot
ten aud heaven grant that such wall OF anguish
may never again be heard by Several tainted
Others claspcd their hands in mute despair
whilst many called aloud upon their Creator,
The crash to which the writer audes cnus
ed by ahe tearing up ofthe benches and other woor
work on The quarter deck. These were hurled
with violence against the sky-ghts, by the SAINT
sea which broke the windows ofihe saloon, dreneh
ing the berhs the arboard side, driving out the
afrighted occupants, whilst it smashed by us weigh
the glass over the main cabin, aud thus forced IL
way below.
This was period ol Intense emotion. I wa
sitting in the upper saloon. striving 10 protect SOM
| ladies from injury. So violent the shocks o
I the vessel, although firmly braeed, II was witt
great difficulty we could prevent ourselves bein
hurled from our seats. aud dashed with such via
lence against part Of the vessel, to endange
life or limb Many received severe Commissions an
bruises. notwithstanding all their efforts.
Twas an anxious hour My eye wandered owe
the different groups in the saloon Resting or
while on Father passing from one TO another q
his family. and cheering with kind word an IL
teresiing group Of daughters. Then a youn
wife folded TO the bosom Of her Husband withou
n syllable being uttered, but the action spoke yo
umes. and again upon a mother whose chlldre
had been iell in America, as she clasped her hand
ms II IN secre, prayer, Wills, her husband and he
father gathered around. aud all seemed bowe
down TO earth in one common feeling of iende
solieiIudc for those who might soon becom
helpless orphans
Ii awful hour Inc most thoHa,hhlfl
Knocked, aud all therefore accepted the invitalio
to meet in the cabin for prayer.
Kew NJ. Marsh read the I07ih Psalm. Re,
Dr. Smueker prayed Rev Dr. Beecher made
le" solemn remarks. Rev. Dr. Balch rcpeate
.'e WORDS OF our Saviour, Lei not your hearts b
troubled, ye believe IN God believe Also in me
commenting briefly on their consoling imnor, an
ihen invited all present TO Join with him in m
Lords Prayer after which be pronounced the Apo.
| ties benediction. -'P''
! Night approached. Aud again quote from III,
gentleman who had kindly given an account o
what took place below
Amid this accumulation Of horrors. and sill
more to add to our alarm, night gathered in arounc
u.s. The wind lar from abatinr. was on the in
and the squalls il any thing more terrific Tho
"hole ocean was one sea Of foam, dashed up into
terF,be waves, wild and angry, whilst the spray and
wlnu seemed driven through the rigging and over
tue snip, as u with demoncal power. As darkness
came, clustered together in the cabin we al thought
and reflected on our fate Most il not all of us
had given ourselves up for lost. For what with
the heavy aboTing ofihe ship the terrible noise and
bowling OF the wind, the continued frequent thump.
lngs OF The sea, the qulyerng and shaking of the
groaning iimbers, the carrying away of so many
portions OF the vessels upper works, aud the knowi-
edge that we were perhaps for another night 10 be
exposed 20 the full power of raging hurricane,
LEFT US little to hope for"
In the evening. about O'clock the Rev. Mr.
baleh at the request ofseveral passengers, admin
istered the Holy Communion, in the cabin. 10 up-
wards oi SIXTY persons--mnny Of whom received il
there tor the FIRST time ~ their lives Several an
pied to HIM as TO The propfiey Of their embracing
that occasion TO ful6la long cherished purpose Of
Their hearts. but which, like many other good
thoughts, had been deferred to "a more conven.
len. season" They all Communicated together
whh DINERS OF almost every creed and nation, thus
reminding US OF the promise Of Scripture, They
shail come from the East and the West the Nort6
and the SooIh, aRd sl down with Abraham and
isaae and Jacob, IN the kingdom Of Cod
II was most solemn scene Mr. Bach frs, read
ne service appointed for storm IL sea, after which
me whole communion oibce. The terrible eonf;c,
oil Inc elements which ragged without was rendered
YET more striking by The impressive stiffness which
pervadcd that campany Of Christ's dsciples within
1atheTed around the liable, they received iu,o
neS,ts deeply moved, the consecraied embleos Of
'he 1edee'nefs body aud blood An eel, eon,fnr,.
~ ~ me Dressed ordinance OF grace Many a
bosom before tossed with fear was now ,ranon;I
htnr Ill