The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-02-26

We give below some interesting particulars in
regard to the accident to the steamer Atlantic.
She has certainly proved herself splendid sea
boat and Capt. West has also shown himself equal
to any emergency
1t will be recollected that the steamer Atlantic
left Liverpool on the 2Sth December. She was
then in fine steaming condition and without any
apprehension the part of her officers in regard to
the voyage. 1t was blowing strong gale from
the w. S. W. at the time Of her departure, so
much so to render it impossible to land the pilot
On the 29th December, at half past nine o'clock, p
NJ, she passed Cape Clear and fairly commenced
the voyage for America by plunging at once into
heavy head sea and encountering stormy, strong
western gales, which continued without ntermis-
sion from that time up to the day of the accident
which occurred on the 9th January, at noon, when
in latitude 46 II and longitude al West 1t
bowed strong gale from N. n. w.
At half-past six P. NJ, the engine was stopped,
as it was first supposed, by the engineer, on
account of the breaking of an eccentric rod to the
starboard engine. On examination it was deter
mined to go ahead again, working that engine by
hand, but another turn of the wheels proved that
the accident was oil serious nature. The main
shaft was found to be broken completely, though in
diagonal direction tearing the starboard tlller
block. An additional revolution after the first
stoppage caused one part OF the shaft to lap over
the other, thus fracturing both tiller blocks and
rendering the engine perfectly useless The steamer
at once hove to under strong canvas, the
wheels lashed, and all hands employed during the
night and the following day in sending up her
square yards and stripping her wheels of the
floats, task at once difficult and dangerous in
gale OF wind The decks at the time were covered
with ice. Fortunately this accomplished
without accident. On the 9TH and sth she lay to
with hope of an abatement of the storm and
change of wind.
The Captain and all hands were exceedingly
anxious to reach some port on the American coast.
On the 9th the wind hauled to the northwest and
became quite moderate ; sail Immediately
made and her shaped for Halifax, $50 miles
distant, and n ew York 1400 miles. This weather
continued until meridian Of the l0!h, when an OBJ.
servation placed the ship $50 miles south and 10
miles west oi her position at the time Of the acci
dent A gale now sprung up again from the south
west, and 1t became necessary to heaye the ship
to Tor even with moderate weather. it was evident
to all that she could do nothing by the wind adverse
under canvas At s o'clock, A. NJ, of the 11th,
large ship passed bound to the eastward, but she
either did not see the Atlantic, or, if so, took no
notice OF the signal of distress.
AT l0 P. M after taking an account OF the
stores board, and considering the apparent i'm
possibility oi reaching America 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, and until the 22d day moth
ing occurred OF importance. She had strong gales
| and high seas, and the ship made average dis
tance OF 100 miles per day, and in that interval ran
| 400 miles. At 3 o'clock, T. NJ, on the 22l Ian
uary to the great delight Of ALL she anchored safely
| in the halbor of Cork, Ireland, which fact alone,
when considering the immense size Of the ship, her
small spars, light canvas and heavy machinery, is
sufficient to prove her splendid boat and mus
add IN no small degree to the reputation OF her
| mander for prudent and superior seamanshp
In regard to the conduct of the passengers. un-
der such trying circumstances, much cannot be
| said. They bore the misfortune with becoming
and commendable fortitude and cheerfulness and
| testified ,eaving her at Cork their highest
CARDS for the noble captain, and expressed full
conviction that better steamer could be placed
upon the seas. They all declared deep interes.
in the vessel, and expressed degree Of deep graft
tude for their safe RETURN to which, in great de.
| gree, they were indebted to the superior manage
ment of Capt. West and the surprising strength of
| the noble steamer.
| The Atlantic had on board $50 tons of freight,
and considerable quantity of specie, which the
steamer Camira was chartered to bring over, and
| probably sailed from Cork direct for New York on
| the 4th instant.
"Before the Africa left, arrangements were
making to tow the Atlantic to Liverpool, for the
purpose of having her repaired"