The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-10-03
THE PASSAGE OF THE GREAT WEST,
ERN.-NARROW Escape FROM WRECK

NM hnhoN SShTE KUN HECk
The Courier and Enquirer gives a short &C
count of the disasters of the Great Western.
which we subjoin
We have received a very long statement of tho
causes Of her detention. which we cannot possibly
publish at length. We will give, however, such
an abstract as will convey all the positive infor-
nation il contains.
'emher. at q o'clock. p. NJ, with l26 passengers.
and III hands in all on board. The weather was
pleasant tor the season, and her progress good.
On Saturday, the 18th, the wind began to
f%reshen, and in the evening had increased to a
gale. On Sunday the fore stay sail was split,
and the vessel lay to under bare poles. At 4 p.
M. the wind had increased To a heavy storm. and
a great quantity OF water got into the engine
room. The passengers in the morning assembled
In the cabin, seriously alarmed at the dancers
mat encompassed them. AT III a heavy sea broke
over the starbOad wheel house, and started the
Ice house and iron life boat from their fastenings.
Inc wind was veering norlhward, ard they at
tempted TO wear ship, but were obliged Ia desist
meantime the square sails blew away. The lee
quarter boats were torn away from the davis by a
heaVy lee lurch. and the others seemed likely TO
follow. AT noon the storm still ragged in all its
Jury, and a heavy sea striking the larboard paddle
oOx, smashed II Ia atoms, sprung the spring beam.
and shattered the parts of the ship attached there
TO-. n spllnter struck the Captain on the head,
800 Il W HIN ONPTOO1TU. DILL he
was caught in the MEETINGS.
Inc water was gaining on the pumps; all The
matches were battoned down except those used in
pumping into the engine room. and the weather
continued the same until midnight, when there
was a lui of half an hour.
The sails were blown from their furls and
streamed out 10 leeward in ribbons. But about |
O'Clock a sea struck the vessel and n tremendous
crash oilowed-lorrent of water deluged The
cabin through the ~skylight! The passengers in
total darkness, sprang To their feet, and a scream
OF agony told the terrible apprehensions that pre-
vailed. The crash was cansed by the wave
which swept the quarter deck of all the wood work
upon it,.
Night closed in-the wind Increasing in furv
The whole ocean was covered with foam. In the
evening Rev. Mr.. Balch administered the sacra-
ment to about sixty persons. The scene was
mostas solemn and impressive.
On Monday the storm still ragged with terrific
Jury TIL 8 In the morning, when the clouds began
to break and the equals were less severe. The
shlps head was got to the n. w. and the Yards
hauled around. Al noon the storm ceased, and at
EP. M. the sea abated-the storm having lasted
SO hours.
Al oa on Monday morning the vessel was in
the greatest danger, from a tornado which buried
the gunwales of the ship in the sea at this crit
cal moment the engine was true to its duty and
brought the ship up to her course. The wind had
veered ~ points in Sc hours.
On Tuesday morning all assembled in the cab
IN, when religious services were performed by
Rev. Drs. Smoker, Beecher, Balch and other
clergymen on board. A meeting of the passen-
gers was also held, Archibald Oracle, Esq, being
called TO the chair, and resolutions were adopted
suited to the circumstance of the case.
a letter of thanks to the Captain and other of.
hcers of the ship were also drawn mp and the
sum OF 32OO was raised to present TO The officers
and crew. OF which the Captain was asked to ac-
cept ESQ. A fund was also started for tho sun.
port OF the widows and children of those who
perlshed at sea, to be called the Great Western
Fund.