Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-12-13

rescue OF one hundred and Serentg-fce souls!
We are indebted to the New York Sun for an ex-
ira giving the particulars of the loss of the fine steam
propeller Helena Slousn, on the voyage from Ham,
burg and Southampton to New York e#
The Helena Sloman left Hamburg on the Goth
october at D r. M. and reached Southampton on
the morning OF the 29th, and left again November l.
On the 18th had heavy gale which lasted till the
10Th She, however, braved it most CALAMITY, and
notwithstanding the was running moutains high,
shipped scarcely any water till about IL P. NJ when
more than ordinary heavy cross struck her with
fghttuI violence the stern and larboard quarters
sweeping the poop, flooding the cabins, and causing
her to culver for some moments, through her whole
length from stem to stern she stood it until morn
ing, when it was discovered that the rudder was so
seriously damaged merely to hang by the chains.
Calling the crew and passengers att the capstan
was heaved, and powerful tackles used in endea-
to raise it; the third mate at the time 60
ing over with hawser to pass round it, soon as
sufficiently high ere however it had barely reach
ed the surface, its immense weight lover TONS
proved too great for the claims both snapped at the
same time, and the whole sunk,
While thus engaged, the first engineer came aft
and reported to the Captain that the engine was
jerking so violently he feared there something
wrong with the propeller and advised it should cease
Working till daylight next morning, when exam
snation would be made.
Steam was accordingly blown off, and the greater
part of the night employed in constructing distress
Tudder out of coil of rope, but which, when COM
pleted, owing to the calm weather then prevailing
the Captain afraid to try lest it should foul the
propeller and do some further damage
, The next morning, as soon as it was daylight, a
boat was lowered. and thorough examination made
OF the stern inside and outside, when it found
that not only was the rudder gone but that it had
carried with 1t about twelve feet of the stem of the
outer false sternpos the lower part of which be-
ing attached to the keel, had, in breaking away
damaged that also, causing considerable leak.
Besides this, the end of the shaft by means Of
which the propeller was worked. being made to rest
bV rs ed
of its support and was considerably bent in an obi
que direction causing the fans of the propeller to
incline inward, towards the stern, thus charging
the suhing box in the inner sternpos Cor that built
in the ship and causing second leak!
Immediate measures were taken to stop these
leaks, additional pumps set going, and man placed
below to watch the stuffng-box, fill it up far
practicable and report upon its condition. &c. The
leak at the keel could not be reached owing to its
peculiar situation, and the extremely sharp build of
the vessel.
Considerable uneasness now began to be exper-
fenced by those who knew the exact position of
things to the probable result of the accident the
rudder lost stern post gone ship leaking propeller
net able to be worked, and ship refusing to steer by
her sails, owing to her great length (226 feet)
E. shortly after changing to T. " and N N. W.,
soon increasing to violent gale at P. NJ blowing
a perfect hurricane, carrying away the tr-sail and
ripping the mizen sail to pieces; continuing to blow
with almost undimnished fury all the next day, and
till early on the morning of Saturday, during the
whole of which time the pumps were kept working
by meaps of the engine.
After drifting about for eight days encountering
three violent gales, firing signal guns, and the boat
leaking so badly that it was feared she would 90
down, the packet ship Devonshire fell in with her
The DevOnshre Immediately manned two boats
in charge of first and third mates, and they with
three boats belonging to the steamer, commenced
transporting passengers on board the D. The third
mates boat had made two trips and had on board
passengers on her third trip when she got stove
lOngsde the steamer, and the third mate three sea-
seaman and two passengers were saved. No other
Storage passengers with the of forty men,
the westward; the steamer, when the Captain left,
at 80 P. M, having about six feet water in her
The passengers only saved what they had on
Names of Those DroWned Belonging to the Devon
shire John Johson, third mate, of New York George
Riley, seaman, London John Arson, do. London
derry; Daniel Macarthur, do. Montreal; and steer
age passengers belonging to the Helena Sloman, al
from Germany Total number Of lives lost-9.
She had already made two very successful trips
between Hambugh and New York, and left the for
mer city on her third voyage, the 2G of October
calling at Southampton for passengers and freight
Her cargo consisted of about $50 tons of German
and French merchandise q large proportion Of it be
ing very valuable, besides this she had $50 tons O
coal, and 100 of iron, (the latter for ballast)
Her passengers were % in the Cabin 81 nlidships
and 81 in the Storage. with crew including Off
GERS engineers, &c, of sc men, together 1oO souls
principally Germans.