Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-05-03
FOREIGN NEWS

FOkEAGN NEWS
FROM our files of the New York Herald, to
the lst March, we extract the following inte-
resting intelligence =
The British steamship Africa, Capt Ryrie,
arrived, at nine o'clock on Saturday night,
with the joyful intelligence of the safety of
the steamship Atlantic
The Africa left Liverpool at Ill, am, on
the LIST instant
Annexed is an account of the accident to
the Atlantic, from Lieut.. Shufeldt, the first
| officer of the A.
ACCOUNT OF THE PASSAGE AND
SAFETY OF THE STEAMSHIP AT
LANTIC.
r. NJ. Steamer Africa, Feb. 13.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ". Y. HERALD.
In order to prevent garbled statements of
the recent accident to the Atlantic, from OBJ
tanning publicity, take the liberty of send
ing you correct narrative of facts, compiled
from her log, and for which | can personally
vouch
The Atlantic left Liverpool on the 2Sth
December, IN fine steaming condition, and
without any apprehension, on the part of her
officers, In regard to the voyage 1t was
blowing a strong gale, at the time of depar-
ture, from W.S.W., so much so as to render
it impossible to land her pilot On the 29th
Dec, at 30, pm, she passed Cape Clear.
and fairly commenced her homeward passage
by plunging at once into a heavy head sea,
and stemming strong westerly gales, which
continued, without intermission, for the time
fol 10, he 40, &c . tbo IN
the 9th of Jan, at noon, she was in latitude
46 IL, longitude Al W., it blowing strong
gales from W.NW At 6 30, pm the en-
gines were stopped. as it was first supposed,
by the engineers, on account of the breaking
of the eccentric strap to the starboard engine
and, on examination, ii was determined 70
60 ahead again, working that engine by hand 1;
but another revolution of the wheels proved
that the accident was of much more serl-
Gus nature-the main shaft was found broken
completely through, in diagonal direction {;
the bearing of the starboard pillar block, and
| the additional turn after the first stoppage,
caused one part of the shaft to lap over the
other-thus fracturing both pillar blocks, aud
rendering the engines perfectly useless. The
ship was at once hove to under storm can
vass, the wheels lashed, and all Hands EN-
ployed during the night, and for the following
day IN sending up her square yards, and
stripping her wheels of the hoats-a task al
once difficult and dangerous in a gale Of
wind, and the decks covered with ice, but
fortunately accomplished without accident
On the 7th and Sth laying-to, with the hope
OF an abatement Of the gale and change o.
wind, as the captain and all hands were ex
I n1t-
own coast On the 9th the wind hauled tC
the NV, and became quite moderate. I'm
mediateIy made sail, and shaped a course iol
Halifax, S91 miles distant, and New Yorl
400. This weather continued I'll, merida,
of the 10th, when an observation placed the
ship lS0 miles S. and 20 miles w. of hel
position at the time Of the accident A gale
now sprung up again, from the S.W., and il
became necessary to heave the ship to, for
even with moderate weather, it was evident
to all that she could do nothing by the wind
under canvas. At 6, am, of the | lth, a
large ship passed, bound TO the eastward
but she either did not see, or took no notice
of our signal of distress. At 10, pm, after
taking an accurate account of stores OH
board, and considering the apparent impos-
sibility of reaching home with the ship in her
disabled condition, the captain determined,
with the assent of his officers and passengers,
to bear up for the coast of Europe-which
was accordingly done. From this time to the
22nd day, nothing of importance occurred
We had following gales and high seas, and
the ship made an average distance of $50
miles per day, and in that interval ran 400
miles. At3, pm, ofthe 22nd, she anchored
in Cork harbor, which fact, alone, when
considering the immense size of the ship,
her small spars, light canvas, and heavy ma
chinery, is sufficient to prove her splendid
seaboat; and must add, in 10 small degree,
to the reputation aleady acquired by her
commander, for prudence and seamaaship
In regard to the conduct of her passengers,
under suchirying circumstances. too much
could scarcely be said. Suffice it that they
bore the misfortune with becoming forttude
and cheerfuness, and testified, ON leaving
her at Cork, as much sympathy as those who
have more permanent interest IN the good
old Atlantic.
One of the leading houses in London. con-
nected with the South American trade re-