Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-01-03

Mr. FARAN, of Ohio, moved suspend the rules for
the purpose of offering resolution which he held in his
hand but the House, without hearing it read, Immediately
adjourned.
PERILOUS VOYAGE OF THE LAKE ERIE STEAM
BOAT EMPIRE
Gen. RuFus KING, Editor Of the Milwaukee SEN
tine, who, with his Lady, were passengers on board
the Empire on a late trip up the Lakes, gives the
following graphic description of the voyage:
The Storm Of which our friend Of the Racine Advocate
speaks, very one, and the Empire encountered
its full fury but her condition not quite bad the
Advocate represents That she danger
be denied vessel either SAIL could be out
in such gale the IN question without running
tain degree of risk She admirably handled throughout
the whole Storm and about Saturday got Grand
river without the least damage.
This reminds us by the way that have yet fulfilled
PROMISE made days since give brief account of
the Empires last trip The gale Lake Michigan, though
perhaps the worst was by the only encouni
tered and it sdue alike 10 the officers and Of this
BILE boat that something should be said o the which
she behaved during succession Of We sailed from
Buffalo the morning of November ID, with the wind
northeast blowing pleasant breeze The Empire had
very large cargo of merchandise and, for the season. full
complement Of passengers. After had been out few
hours the breeze began to ehen and the went down
both wind and seemed TO RISE by night-fa in
the midst Of regular northeast gale with heavy beam
running, and mingled and scet falling fast Matters
continued grow all the evening, but there no
help for it, the Empire kept steadily her for
Cleveland II calculated that should reach there about
o'clock In the morning. and as it was known that bar
made off from the pier and that both wind and were
making right ia shore, rendering matter of some difficulty
to carry the Empire square in between the PIERS (only
hundred feet apart there good deal Of anxiety among
the passengers about getting into port.
Soon after O'Clock made the Cleveland lights, and
ranged up abreast OF them the Empire gradually
headed in shore As approached the harbor could see
by the light of the beacon the huge rolling in rapid
successo and combng high above the piers The space be-
tween looked scarcely large enough to allow the Empire
squeeze n and each successive surge would lift her and
send her forward upon its swell seemed if steesans
skill could control her and guide her safely
port But Gus Bartholomew, the second mate of the EN-
pire stood at the Wheel (and there better sailor the
akes,) while the captain and his first mate, Bob Wagstaf
conned ship from the forecaste and after moment or two
of beahess expectation gallant shot into smooth
water between the piers Even them there being person
upon Shore several of the deck hands had jump the
pier the Empire along to take her ropes Yet such
the skill with which she was handled that fen
der rubbed, until she breasted to alongside the pier
The Empire lay at Cleveland thirty hours when the
storm abang she again got under way, and had good run
into Lake Huron. But in crossing Saginaw Bay, which
joys as deserves, rather bad name, she met stiff blow
and rolling from the southwest, and after getting
under the lee Of the west ho the wind chopped round and
began 10 blow heavily from the nortward After struggling
against this for hours the Captain concluded into
Presque Isle, which reached about nine o'clock Thurs
day morning, and where lay until Friday at dawn. Re
Stunning her march upon the mountain wave the Empire,
during Friday, up Macknac and thence to the Mani
tous where arrived between eight and nine O'Clock night
and, after weodng put out again. The wind was blowing
fresh from the northwest got under the lee of these
determined push But In the Of houror
The sky was changed; and such . changet Oh night,
And storm, and darkness, yeare wondrous strong,
Yet lovely in your strength, as is the light
OF dark eye in woman.
The wind, which had been at northwest, canted the
north and the flying scud caution of what might
fearful tempest raging Upon leaving the Manous the
Empire had been headed for Milwaukee, but the winds and
became necessary keep her right before hem
and she running directly the Lake. and about ten
miles from the Michigan shore. From midnight until day
break long and weary six hours steamer plough
ing through these tremendous seas, rising swelling
surge, till from the bow you could twenty feet OF her keel
out of water, and plungng If she would GO down
head foremost Standing aft it seemed as If each waye as it
rolling and rising higher and higher above the level of
decks must inevitably bury under its foamng crest
OF course there but little chance to Sleep most of the
sengcs sitting dsconsoae groups about the saoon cacu
atng the chances of reaching port The ladies, with hardly
exception evnced courage and composue that shamed
of the sterne but all felt less anxious
At length the dawn came, and oyfuly it welcomed
and after the lighting up the crcstng blows
and disclosing the Michigan coast within few miles of
By huggng the shore close got into smoother water
and about made snug harbor in Grand river We
need hardly add that Captain Howe and Mr. Wagsta walk
ed the deck the whole night Gus stood eight hours
tck the wheel without inchng watching every
of the vessel with ynx-eyed vigilance, and meeting
her. she would lurch away upon huge roller with
quick and steady hand. There moment when a
mountain wave towering above its fellows struck the Empire
square aft and rolled forward lifted her stern clear from
the Heavng the wheel over her head swung round
Gus could feel the rudder For instant he thought
that had been carried away and, he expressed it, hs
heart in his mouth !" but in the the bow
the stern sank, and feeling her helm again, the Empire
came up handsomely TO her
But making much longer story than had intended
and must hurry conclusion. The Empire lay at Grand
river from Saturday until Monday night and then,
ing out again, she made her way Milwaukee in the
teeth of head wind and heavy We sorry,
after eight days bueting with the winds and of
the Lakes, get ashore but in with the rest of
the passengers LEFT the Empire with the conviction that
of the stanchest seaboats that sailed and that
Captain Howe and his two mates Mcssrs Wagsta and Bar
thoonew, not be beat in the way Of managing vessel
Success to them and their noble boat
ISuspArIoSA serious accident happened at Athol Mas
achusetts on Thursday Of last week. the giving way Of the
dam which formed large reservoir of hundred
in extent for sustaining the waterpower OF the fac
tories at Atho Centre So sudden and violent the nun
aon that several dams the stream below, and number
of buildings carried away. The lives Of number Of
persons greatly endangered but fortunately immediate
notice Of the disaster being given, they all escaped
eman who the dam giving way raised the cry Of fire.
and thus arrested the attention Of all the persons in the co
and houses exposed The loss Of property estimated at
from ten TO twenty thousand dollars,-Daity Adr
II A REnARKABLE FAcT,-The ice made in the Penobscot
river the present upon high eshet The ice by this
means pressed down great under that further down
the river until the bed the river for distance below