New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-06
l0SS De LIE HELENA SLOMaN.

Can't. Hovey, from London aud Portsmouth, we
have the Intelligence Of the loss Of the steam
nroDeller Helena Slornan, bound from Southamp
ton to this port
A number Of lives were lost by the staring Of
one Of tle boats Of thc Devoushire, while assist
ing the passengers aud crew Of the Helena Slo
man to escape from the wreck.
We are indebted to Capt Ho5ey OF the Devon
shire for an early account OF he disaster, which
we published yesterday afternoon. Since that
we have obtained from Capt Paulsen Of the
Helena sloman the following rn'l details Of the
affair:
The Helena slornan, new iron screw-stea.aer'
built at Hull, England, Of zoe tans burden and i8o
horse power. commanded BY Capt P. NJ anisen'
which had already maic Two successful trips be-
tween Hamburg and New York, left the former
oity Oh her third voyage OF the 18th October call
ing at Southampton for passengers and freight
At the latter port she completed her loading,
leaving there on the Isl Nov. at PM. for New
York. Her cargo consisted Of 100 tnns Of Iron,
ind about $50 tuns Of German and French mer-
chandise, large proportion OF the latter being
extremely valuable, Beside this, she had on
board % passengers in her first cabin, 81 in the
second, and 81 Storage, and crew Of SO men,
including Engineers &c-in all $50 souls, all, with
the exception of on English, being Germans.
From the time of her departure from Southamp-
ton till the 10Th Nov. nothing occurred worthy of
note, unless it be that the weather was more bos-
ferrous than US aal, even for the time Of year. On
The evening ofthe 10Th when in attitude AZ 49, N.
and longitude 10y cbronometorl so 36' w. the
wind which during the morning bad been blowing
fresh from the NNW. increased, till at M. it
became D most fearful gale. The Sloman how
ever braved it most gallsntly, and notwithstand-
ing the sen was running mountains high, shipped
scarcely any water till about IL NJ. when more
than ordinarily heavy cross sea struck her with
frightfu violence on the stern and starboard quar-
Ger, sweeping the poop flooding her cabins, and
causing her to culver for some moments through
her whole length from stem to stern After a.
III. the wind gradually grew less till daylight
when it was but ordinary breeze the swell
throughout the day however continuing very great.
At PM. "Wednesday Captain Paulsen being
on deck observed to the man ct the wheel that he
was steering very unsteadiIy and few moments
after not being satisfied with his reply took the
wheel himself, and on making complete revolu-
ton discovered something was amiss, the ships
head not at all answering to the helm. Looking
over the stern he found the ruddcr had parted
from the ship and was hanging in the upper
chains, about feet below the surface the effect
doubtless Of the heavy sea of the preceding night
Calling the crew and passengers aft the capstan
was manned and powerful tackles used in an en-
deavor to raise it, the third mate at the same
time going over with hawser to pass round it
as coon sufficiently high; ere however it had
barely reached the surface, its immense weight
iover tuns) proved too great for the chains both
snapped ut the same moment, and the whole
sunk
Willie thus engaged, the first Engineer came
alt and reported to the Captain that the engine
was Jerking so violently, he feared there was
something wrong with the Propeller, and advised
it should cease working till daylight next morning
when an examination might be made. Steam
was accordingly blown off, and the greater part
of the night employed in constructing distress
rudder out of a coil OF rope, bat which, when COM
pleted, owing to the calm weather then prevailing
the Captain was afraid to try, lest 1t should ioul
the Propeller, and do some further damage.
The next morning Thursday as soon as it was
daylight, boat was lowered and thorough ex-
animation made of the stern inside and outside,
when it was found that not only was the rudder
gone, but that it had carried with it about - feet
of the stern of the outer or false sternpost, the
lower part of which being attached to the keel
had in breaking away damaged that, also causing
:, considerable leak beside this, the end OF the
shaft by means of which the Propeller was work
ed being made to rest in this stern post, was by
its giving way deprived OF its support and was
considerably bent in an obque direction causing
the fans of the screw to incline inward, toward
ahe stern thus enlarsing the stuting box in the
inner stern post Tor that bat in the ship and
causing second leak Immediate measures
were taken to stop these, additional pumps set
going, and man placed below to watch the stul-
ing box, fill it up as far as practicable, and report
upon its condition, &c The leak at the keel
could mol be reached owing to its peculiar sltu'
alton and the extremely sharp build OF the ship
Considerable uneasiness now began to be expe-
rienced by those who knew the exact position OF
things as to the probable result of the accident.
the ruddel lost, stern post gone, ship leaking pro-
peller not able to be worked, and ship refusing to
steer by ker sails, owing to her great length, (225
feet.
AtlOA.M, a breeze sprung up from S. and e,
shortly after changing to n. w. and n. N. w,
scon increasing to a violent gale at I PM. blow
ing perfect hurricane, carrying away the fore
trisai and ripping the mizen sail to pieces con.
tinuing to blow with almost undiminished fury all
the nextaay, and till early on the morning Of Sat
urdoy during the whole OF which time the pumps
were kept working by means of the engine.
early on Saturday, Nov. 24l the wind having
partially iulled the distress fudder was tried but
found to be wholly inefficient. At 10 o'clock, AN.
bark was seen about o miles distant, having all
sail set and steering west Distress signals were
ko;sted and every ATTEMPT made to get the ship