Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-15
DREPLY INTERESTING NARRATIVE
PASSAGE OF THE GREAT w EST

DEEPLY INTERESTING MARIANNE.
PASSAGE or THE GREAT WEST
= EKN.
! We Law beborc our readers this morning the
! following detailed narrative of the awful per
| lis encountered By the passengers on board the
steamer Great Western, in her late tfip from
Liverpool to New York. This well written
and thrilling narration is said 10 be from the
pen of the Rev. DR. BALcH, and its accuracy
Is attested by most respectable committee OF
passengers to whom its publication IN the
newspapers was confded. No one, we think,
can read il without having his best sympathes
moved and his heart prohtably touched. To
ADOPT the language Of the u. S. Gazette on
the subject-sli will be seen that the situation
of the numerous inmates OF the ship was fear
fully perilous. We know something OF such
scenes and can appreciate the feelings of those
on board Resort, it will be seen, was bad TO
Him who holdeth the winds in his fist and
the sea in the hollow Of his hand and if at
once there went forth no command that the sea
should cease from lis raging, II IS recorded that
the soemnities Of those assembled whispered
quiet to their own agi.atcd hearts, and to the
tnmultuous waves OF their own bosom said
peace, be STILL II is beautiful thought,
that amid all the storm oil life and the wild TIL
mults Of the agitated waves, the call for help,
when the morning of their faith dawns upon
the tossed and praying ones, is often answered
by Presence seen walking upon the tumullu-
Gus waters, calming their rage. and bringing
comfort and confidence to those who have
cried to him out of the depths"
SATURDAY, September 18th, 1896.
The steamship Great Western, B. K. MATH-
Ews ESQ.,, Commander, left Liverpool al
O'Clock, p NJ, haying on board one hundred
and twenty-six passengers, Captain, hive OH
GERS, five engineers and seven,y-four crew. IN
all two hundred and eleven persons.
The weather, generally, was pleasant for the
season of the year, and our progress good, av-
eraging 200 miles day.
SATURDAY, Sept 10Th, lat as "a, long. 81
43, at p M, light airs from the s. Il. and
foggy, with light drissng rain. Gothic yards
aloft, and set the libs and fore spencer Bree-
yes refreshing. AT set the single ,reeied
main spencer and the square sails, with two
reefs in the iopsaii.
cat p. NJ, the wind increasing and vari-
able to the westward, took in the square sails,
outer lib and main spencer. At 10 p. NJ,
freshing gales and ugly weather; sea getting
up and tossing high. Al midnight, increasing
gales and heavy squall; took in the fore spen-
Ger, the outhaul having broken in the mean
time, the inner jib stay bulls eye hook broke
and the sail became useless; hauled II down
and set the fore stay sail"
The above is an extract from the Captains
log book, and gives an account OF the COM
mencement of the awful storm which the
Great Western surnounted on her passge from
| Liverpool to New York, one so terrific during
its continuance. and marked by such signal
deiveranee in the end, that il should be care
fully related.
"SuNpAY, Goth, at 40 minutes past A. M. /,
continues the log, split the fore stay sail; took
in the remains Of ii and lay to, under the bare
poles.
The sea rising frighfully, and breaking over
and against the ship. At4 the wind increased
to heavy storm, and the sea running most
furously at the ship. The wind yeerlng to
the N w at the same time. aud The ship break
ing off 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 ship, which was pumped
out bv the lee bilge pump"
Sunday morning most OF the passengers
assembled in the cabin saloon. Their haggard
faces told too surely Of the sieepless and anx-
ious night which had passed. Even those
most ignorant Of nautical affairs could not tan
to discover that we were in the midst OF great
peril. Few could dress with Their accus-
toned care, owing TO the violent pitching and
constant rolling Of the vessel The stewards
abandoned any attempt to prepare the break
fast 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 ofihc starboard wheel house.
or paddle box, which started the ice house,
and large iron life boat, from their fastenings,
and washed them TO the leeward, and with
much difficulty they were temporarily Sc
cured" t
To understand this, the reader mus, bear in
mind that the Great Western is, so to speak,
three stories high forward and aft, and two IN
the waist, or middle of the ship: ait,there IS a
lower story or cabin, above 1t. the saloon, the
roof or covering Of which is the quarter deck,
and may for the purposes OF description be
considered Sd story. In the waist, or MD
die. the lower story is Occupied by the engine
room, the roof or covering Of which is the
main deck. On this main deck. in the cen
tire, are placed The chimney, gallles, and ice
house. The various offices appertaiEng TO
the stewards and police Of the ship, at The
sides. This part is open above and protected
by the wheel houses and sides OF the ship,
which rise TO the height of Ia feet. The width
of the paddle box is about IL feet. The ice
house contained some seven or eight tons OF
ice, and was fastened by elects and staunch-
ions. Let the reader imagine the force oil the
sea, and the height of the wave, which, rising
over the paddle box, struck the ice house and
the large iron life boat abovet, twisting them
from their fastenings. breaking the ice house
into two parts, ripping off the planks, rush
ing the starboard companion way, and only
prevented from making a clear breach in the
sides of the ship, by sudden lureh to port.
Meantime the wind howled most frghtiully
through the rigging.
SAT Ii O'Clock and Is minutes a. NJ, at
tempted to wear ship, 10 ge. her on the 9th
err tack (thinking she would be easler), as
the wind still continued TO veer 10 northward.
Lowered the after gatis down; manned the
fore rigging, and loosened the weather yard
arm Of ioresail, to pay her off, but found II
had no effect Therefore let her come TOO
again. In the meantime the square sales blew
away from the yards.
III, 80, A. NJ. The lee quarter boats were
torn from the davis by a heavy lee lurch Of
the ship, bending the davis. tearing out the
ringbolls from their stems and sterns-
Word was passed among the passengers