The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-01
From the Baltimore o Dec.
Tine bA~strous Voyage OF the U. Ohio
BALTIMORE, Saturday. Dec. ash, 1850

The DISASTROUS Voyage U. T. Mail s,s.ns. Ohio
~ 80 BALTIMORE, Saturday Dee ash, 1850
10 me Editors ~ ths Sum-
GENTLEMEN promised at the moment of nv arrival
yesterday 10 give fuller details oil our recent disastrous
voyage Than could then otter you and proceed now 10
fulfil my pledge with deep gratitude for our deliyeranes
from peril and sincere hope that the recital will awak an
the attention OF all concerned steam 10 The
necessity OF guarding more carefully the lives and proper
~ oil those who lnrust themselves the elements in
such vessels on the ocean,
Our voyage from New Orleans 10 Havana was a deli
cious pieasufe-tnp The sea was smooth. the breeze
fresh, and the englaes worked admirably On MONDAY
evening. The 10th OF December. made the light on be
Moro Castle just after sunset but as the rigid rules oil
me poit deny entrance TO vessels alter that hour, We
were o0ged TO remain outside the harboT until the
morning Al daybre the engines put motion,
and as the sun lose entered the mag ncent port OF
inns beautiful island, between the frowning batteries
winch protect on both sides Of the strait and from every
emnence commanding the Ioadstead About II O'Clock
an The ohcia visits OF the custom house aud police had
oeen pad 10 The Ohio and we allowed 10 land for
tue Jay without passports personal inspection. As
soon as We reached shore the passengers distributed
themselves IN parties, TO improve their snort time
moss advantageoosy IN seeing much possible of the
CITY aud lis enyirons Some devoted themselves 10 the
purchase OF cgais and sweelmeas for friends al home
others were presented TO the captain general and
governor Goncha, whom they found 10 be pleasant,
young. and intelligent gentleman; while many slroei
through the Streets and did fail pay visit To the
tablet i'll the Cathedral behind which the bones of Column
bus are said 10 epose After dinner, nearly all the pas
sengers, and many Caofnlans, who had meanwhile ar
rived m another steamer from Chages, mounted voianes
and drove out TO the beautiful paseOs the Cerro and the
castles enconntcrng in the course OF their drive hun
dreds OF fair Hayaneas whose gat costumes and spark
ing eyes ACCORDED well with the splendid tropical scenery
OF palms, plantans, and gorgeous flowers and foliage
WHICH spread out on every side The delightful evening,
the balmy air, and the splendid moonlight, induced al
most all to poloDg their ride until after dark and ii
not until near midnight that we were board the Ohio
again. after enjoying couple OF hours at the OPERA the
Iacon theatre, where we a crowded assemblage OF
the beauty and fashion OF Havana.
Wednesday, the 18th, was pleasant sunny day, and
oeoes we g9l our anchors and proceeded on GU.
half the length OF the harbor towards the Moro Castle,
when sudden tremor was experienced throughout the
steamer She stopped at and the anchor again
thrown out For more than AN hour among the
passengers could discover what the matter but at
length we learned that accident had happened one
OF the engines which was being repaired Those who
were IN authority appeared 10 speak the sub
lect and returned short answers when addressed about
It. The impression left on my mind, however, from all
could learn was that the mishap was quite trivial.
and that ali would be well again. | did not,
however, go ashore till after dinner, and it was not
until then that became aware OF the fact that one
Of the steamers engines was entirely disabled but that
the only effect would be to make voyage longer for
which we would be supplied more amply with water
fuel, and food. Eight O'clock OF the next day fixed
for departure.
We passed another afternoon and evening in Havana
very pleasantly listening TO The charming music of the
military bands playing before the governors palace. while
the iashionables OF the city drove out in their polants
by moonlight, and formed listening circle around the
plaza. stroei gay crowds beneath the stately palm
trees with which il is planted
AT midnight again board; and, the
morning OF Thursday, the 10th, we went to sea abou
eleven O'Clock, our single engine moving easily il
the smooth water but dragging US very slowly from TIT
land
The remainder of the 10Th, the 2Oh, and the 2lsl De
cember were delightful days. and sped onward fairly
and prosperously, We had lett at Havana many OF on
companions from New Orleans yet our numbers had beeI
greatly increased by crowd OF Callfornans, recent,
arrived in the Chagre, steamer But few OF them wer,
broken in healh and almost ALL with their peaked hats
long Boards and torn or weatherbeaen garments, hat
the appearance of SO many Robinson Crusoes, re-
turning from their desolaie abode on the Pacific
We numbered, in ALL about four hundred.
SUNDAY, inc Tnnry. win smooth sea and
far wind iIQm The southwest AT IL o'clock our towns
man. Mr. John Gibson, read the service OF the Protesan
Episcopal Church. and nearly all The passengers, uniting
in worship closed II with psalm. In the afternoon tn
breeze ireshened, and observation at Shove,
that we were of Cape Hatleras, whose dreary wine
storms are proveIbia AT sunset the wind still con
tnued fair and freshsning but with every hour it in
creased, until ten o'clock, when we were forced L
scud before the gale, hoping to get round the Cape
whilst the ship was seadled BY the action OF I'M
engine alone. Thus we drove on before the storu
unul two O'Clock. By this time the tempest haC
raised the sea, and the waves swep, up like tai
hills before The steamer, stripped OF every rag o
canvass, climbed them CALAMITY while every one who
witnessed the hoped or believed that before
ing the gusts would abate and that the reduced wind
uling into fresh but favorable breeze, would wait u,
safely around the stormy cape into smoother water Sud
moment our immense vessel "bfosched to" with tre-
ndous shock Everything that loose in her cabins
state and saloons dashed to pieces and The
broken fragments OF furniture and crockey surging from
side TO side with every lurch added TO the irghnness
such at midnight the stormy amid cloods
and rain, and darn But our brave captain and b,
officers were alert as soon the power OF The en-
gineers longer available. Suaining every effort
they got whatever fore and aft rail they could th
ship, and hove her to-" whilst the single engine wa
fortunately set in motion. Blu, the battle between
the storm and human energy not ended. Scarce
had the been stretched when the after SAIL whIc
most important in seadying so large ship at such
moment, shivered to atoms and blown IN inland
from the bolt ropes, like much cambria. The beaiin
OF the loosened tackle the rolling OF the unmanayezbl
sbp the crashing OF the waves, the bowling oil The IN
creasng wind and rain. continued thus unnlerruped
until towards daylight when the alarmed and bewlldefe
passengers cep from their bertbs and rooms 10 learn tina
the barometer rising and that the sqnall
were not so violent Meanwhile the engine continue
10 act, and suged the hull forward sufficiently to pre-
stcerage and to keep The ship out OF the trough
the
The morning OF the 23d was dreary enough, even witt
the hopes that had been renewed by the lul NO break
fast served and scarcely servant or steward, OF al
the large number board appeared in the cabins TO oe
refreshment TO those who needed IT alter their panu
vigil. The u OF the wind from the southwest proved
however, to be only prelude 10 another storm OF equa
violence from the northwest As the day advanced In
wind rose again. and creating cross sea, rendered th
ship uneaser and more upmanageabe. Al nghtfail on
of the fac, that such sails possessed could do moth
ing for huge vessel the Ohio, and that our sol
| reliance the perfect uninterrupted action OF on
crippled machinery No cooking bad been done, and
slight ration OF crackers and tongue was all the refresh
men, obtained during the day. The impuden or COW