Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-05
I'eriIs of the Sea.

uesa ses-ouat Inc following account has been drawn
up by a committee Of the passengers
SATURDAY, Sept l2th. 1876.
The steamship Great Western. Il. X. Mathews. ESQ.
commander, left Liverpool ut 4 O'Clock, z. NJ, having on
board one-hundred and ,won,y.six passengers, captain. five
officers, hive engineers and seventy-fou. crew, in all two
hundred and eleven pcrsone.
The weather generally was pleasant for the season Of the
year. and our progress good. averaging 200 miles n day.
saturday. Sept 18Th, lat. Is -. loag, 81 ~. at 2. NJ
llght air from the 5. +. and foggy. with light drizEing rain
Got the yards aloft, and set the jibs and fore spencer. A,
b set the single reefed main spencer and the square sails,
with two reefs in the topsail.
"AtsP. NJ. the wind increasing and variable To the
westward, took in tho square sails. outer jb and main
spencer. Alto p. ". ~Greshening gales and ugly weather;
sea getting up and tossing high. At midnight increasing
gales aud heavy squans; took in the fore spencer. the ont
maui having broken; in the mean time tho inner jibstsy
bulfseye hook broke and the sail became useless; hauled
1t down and set the fore s,aysai."
The above is an extract from the captains log book and
gives an account OF the commencement OF the awful storm
which the Great Western surmounted on her passage from
Liverpool 70 New York; one 81 terrific during its eontn-
uance, and marked by such a signal dcliversnce in the end,
that IL should be carefully related.
"SuSpsN, 2oih, at 40 minutes past ,, A. NJ" coniin-
ues the log, split the fore staysail; took in the remains Of
Il and lay To. under bare poles.
The sea rising trghuully. aud breaking over and against
the ship. At 4, the wind Increased TO a heavy storm, and
the sea running pos, furiously at the ship. The wind veer.
ing to the N. w. at The same time. snd the ship breaking
Oft into the trough OF the sea, rendered our situation more
critical. a great quantity Of water got into the engine room.
from the sea breaking over the snip, which was pumped out
by the lee bilge pump"
Sunday morning most Of the passengers assembled in the
cabin and saloon. Their haggard faces told too surely Of
the sleepless and anxious night which had passed. Even
those most ignorant of nautical affairs could not fail to dis
cover that we were in the midst OF grea, peril. Few could
dress with their accustomed care, owiag In the violent pitch
ing and constant rolling ct the vessel. The stewards abnn-
doned any attempt to prepare the breakfss; table. and both
then and throughout the day were obliged to content
/ themselves with bringing such articles Of food as were
most convenient. TO those who felt any disposition TO eat.
al o'clock, a. MA heavy sea broke over the fore
part Of the sIarboard whcel-house. or paddle box, which
star;ed the ice house and large iron life boat from their fast
enings and washed them to leeward. and with much diff
Guilty they were temporarily secured"
To understand this, the reader must bear in mind that the
Great Western Is. SO To speak, three stories high forward
and aft, and Two IN the waist. or middle % the ship; aft,
there is the lower story or cabin; above it, the saloon, the
root OF covering Of which Is the quarter deck, aud may Tor
the purpose OF description be- considered az a third story
In the wa ST, or middle, the lower story il occupied by the
engine room, the root or covering OF which is the main
deck. Ga this main deck, in the cenuo. are placed the
chimney, gailtcs and ice house. The various offices apper
iaining 10 the steward and police OF the ship, At the sides.
This part s open above, and protected by the wheel.houses
and sides OF the ship, which rise 10 the height OF "a feet.
The width Of the paddle box is about ~ feet. The ice
house contained some seven or eight tons Of ice, and was
| fastened by eleets and staunchions. Let the reader Imagine
the force OF the sea, and the height Of the wave, which,
rising over the paddle box. struck tho ice house and the
large iron lite boat above It, twisted them from their fas-
Jennings, breaking the ice house into two parts, ripping off
the planks, crushing the starboard companion way. and on.
y prevented from making 4 clear breach in the sides OF the
ship by a sudden lureh to port. Meantime the wind howl.
ed most ~irichtully through the rigging.
"AtIl o'clock and Is minutes A. VI. attempted 10 wear
ship, 10 get her on the other tack. thinking she would be
L cIsler,l as the WIND sui continued TO vcCr 10 NOrthWnrd.
Lowered the after gafs down; manned the fore rigging,
aud looscncd the weather yard arm of the foresail. 10 paw
her of, but found Il had no effect. ThereiorS let her come
to again. In the mean time the square sails blew away
from the yards.
"iI, 80. A. NJ. The lee quarter boats were torn from the
davis. tearing out the %ringbolts from their stems and
Stems"
Word was passed among the passengers that two Of our
boats were gone. and the others were likely to follow. the
davhs aud bolts beginning 10 give. But no, a remark was
made; each spoke TO the other only through the eve. And
the ominous silence which pervaded the whole company
told how sensibly all felt themselves in the very presence
OF the King OF Tcrrors, uncertain of their doom.
1t was wonderful TO see how a few short hours changed
the condition aud feelings OF all on board. The grades and
distinctions incident 20 SO large a company, varying in So
cal position, citizens OF almost all countries, and protesting
different creeds, yet, IN the presence OF so imminen, dan
ger. all distinctions seemed merged into one common emo.
uon OF awe, as We stood together in the court Of the great
leveller, Death. With this intense feeling which bound US
together as one, came also another Of an opposite and re-
peliIng character. Every heart was deeply occupied with
it, individual greis and memories. as If not another shared
the Penl. Home with its loved ones. and a thousand cher.
ished hopes and joys. arose fresh to the view, and with a
power Ike the storm, swept over the mind and left it like
The ocean, tempesLto,t and troubled.
See" said a gentleman TO me, ''nO one conyerses. no
one reads-au are engaged, each with his own thoughts
and il my wife and chidten were here, | confess, my feel
ings would be Of the most distressing character" oBut"
said ! , 'tney suffer IN your loss" VERY true; yet II IS
only 4 question Of time, and, whether sooner or later,
Code will be done"
"Atnoon, storm and sea raging in all its fury, sea still
breaking over The ship, a heavy sea struck the larboard
paddle-box and smashed II TO atoms, sprung the spring-
beam, breaking the under half; shattered the paris of the
ship attached thereto. 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 quar-
ter, and he was only saved by the MEETINGS.
AFTER this sea mad passed over, we found the water had
gained on the pumps; the wind appeared to lul a ltde and
the ship a little easier, but still blowing n storm. All the
matches, except those made use OF TOR passing into the
engIne room, wee bat'ened down, and the skylignts par
TALLY covered. The weather continued the same nuul
midnight, at which time il lulled for hall an hour"
Tho log conveys to the reader some idea OF the state Of
the ship aud effects OF the storm on Sunday at noon. Its
effects on those below can best be given in the words Of a
gentleman who remained the greater part Of the time in
the cabin:
ITO convey Oh idea Of the appearance Of oil around bs
out Of my power. In The words Of Sheridan, "ihe tenn
pet roamed 10 oil the terror OF it, glory" The atmosphere
was surchafged with a thick spray, rendering a look far
out ~ seward impossible. Tho wind hovled, roared and
beloved like the constant muiterngs Of the thunder cloud.
Huge waves, Of Tremendous height and volume, rose in
mad display around the ship. threatening every moment TO
break over Us amidships aud crush the vessel. Sea after
sea, striking us with terrific noise. caused the gallant chip
70 stop for an instant, ucmble and shake in every timber
from her stem TO her stern post; Keeling and lurching, tossed
to aud fro. again would she gotier fresh strength, and with
her wheels halt hid IN the wild waters, again and again re.
ceiye the laundering blows Of an element that seemed ar.
med for our destruction.
The sails on the yards, strongly secured by ropes and
gaskets, were blown from their turs and strenmcd out 10
leewafd m ribbons. But al this was as nothing. About
III. NJ while m0stOf as were seated in agonizing suspense
in the lower cabin. holding fast 10 the tables and settcos,
a sea struck the vessel, aud a Tremendous crash was heard
on deck. Instantly the cabin was dlrkened, and torrents
Of water came pouring down upon us through the skylights.
"ScaTcey had the waters reached the floor when all in
the cabins and state rooms sprang to their feet, and stimuli
tancousiy, as If by concert, the ladies uttered a scream Of
agony, - painful, 90 fearful and 20 despainng, the sound OF
II viii never be forgotten; and heaven grant that such n
vale Of anguish may never again DO heard by me. Several
iainted-otbers clasped their hands in mute despair. while
many called aloud upon their Crentorr
The crash 10 which the writer alludes wa1 c,ussd bv the
tearing up Of The benches and other wood work on The quar-.
ter deck. These were hurled with violence against the
sky lght', by tho same sea which broke tho windows Of
] tho Ea.uYu. dreurhfnu fhr hrrfna ON H. r..t...H -. l..
wing out thoir ahnghtod occupants. while u smashed by lie
weight the glass over the main cabin, and thus forced is
way below.
This was a period Of Intense emotion. | was sitting in
the upper saloon, striving 70 protect some ladies' from iniu-
~. So violent wcro the shocks Of the weasel, although firm.
y braccd, " was with great difficulty We could rcycnt our
selves being hurled from our seats, and dashed with such
violence against a part Of the vessel a. 10 ondangor lmo or
limb. Many received severe contusiOns md bruises, not
withsnndiDR oil their III. rs.
n was an anxious hour. Ny eye wandered over the
/ dII-rn rrnnua In Ihn .nInun. rcallng unn WhLc On q Inhnr