Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-01
From the Baltimore Sun
THE DISASTROUS VOYAGE OF THE U. S.
MAIL STEAMER OHIO.


York-Engine Crippled-Return TO port-Auother
evening in Haysna-Second Departure-Returned
Caltornians-Regious service at Sea-Commence
ment OF the Stor m-Masts stripped of Canvass En-
CINE stopped--1remendous Shock-Crash of Fur
nture-Lull and renewal of the Storm-NegIect of
the Servants--No Observation-Disclosures OF the La
des-Vessel Buried in the Trough Of the Sea--Anx-
ious Suspense--Fire Extingu shed-Dauger an
bounced by Capt. Schenck-Assistance OF Passen-
gers younteered- out Of order--Bailing re-
sorted to-Terri6c aspect of the Sea-Prompt Action
ofGen. MISUNDERSTANDING Parties Organised-A
Sad Christmas Eve-Home Thoughts--Fires Re-
Elndled-Eogne again in Operaton-Prospects
Observation-Disclosures of O7yners-Trling with the
Lives OF the Passengers-Honor to Capt. Schenck,
&c.
BALTIMORE, Saturday, Dec. 2sth 1850.
To the Editors Of the Baltimore Sun:
GENTLEMEN-I promised you at the moment of nv
arrival yesterday, give fuller details of our recent
disastrous voyage than could then offer ou and pro-
coed now to fulfil my pledge, with deep gratitude for
our delverance from peril, and sincere hope that the
recital Will awaken the attention of all concerned in
steam navigation TO the necessity of guarding more
carefully the lives and property of who entrust
themselves TO the elements 10 such vessels, on the
ocean.
;. Our voyage from New Orleans to Havana was de.
ileous pleasure trip The sea smooth; the breeze
fresh, and the engines worked admirably On Monday
evening, the 10th OF December we made the light on
the Moro Castle Just alter sunset; but the rigid rules
OF the port deny entrance to vessels after that hour
were Obliged to remain outside the harbor until the next
morning. AT day break the engines put in notion
and as the sun entered the magnificent port of
TINS beautiful island, between the frownng batteries
which protect on both sides OF the strait and from
every emlnence commanding the roadstead. About
eleven O'Clock all the official visits OF the custom house
and police had been paid to the Ohio, and were al
lowed 10 land Tor the day. without passports personal
Inspection AS soon as we reached shore the passen
gers distributed themselves in parties improve
their short time most advantageously in seeing much
DIS possible OF the city and its envrons. Some devoted
themselves to the purchase OF cigars and sweameas tor
enas at home Others were presented to the new Cap.
tam General and Governor, Concha whom they found
to be pleasant young and Intelligent gentleman; while
many srolled through the Streets and did not fail to
pay visit TO the tablet in the Cathedral behand which
the bones OF Columbus said to repose After dinner
nearly all the passengers, and many Calitornians who
had meanwhile arrived in another from Chagres
mounted o0tdntes and drove the beautiful pdsoes
the Cerro and the Castles. encounterng, in the
OF their drive hundreds of fair Havaneras whose gay
costumes and sparkling eyes accorded we'll with the
splended tropical scenery of palms, planans and gor-
geous flowers and foliage which spread on every side
The delightful evening, the bamy air, and the splendid
moonlight induced almost all 10 prcong their ride until
alter dark, and 1t was not until midnight that we
were on board the Ohio again, after enjoying couple
OF hours at the Opera the Tacon theatre, where we
saw crowded assembage Of the beauty and fashion
OF Havana.
Wednesday, the 18TH was pleasant sunny day, and
at O'Clock we got up anchors and proceeded on
our voyage to New Y ork. Scarcely, however, had we
gone halthe length OF the harbor towards the Moro
Castle when sudden tremor was experienced through
out the steamer She stopped once and the anchor
was again thrown out Formore than hour one
| among the Passengers could discover what the
mater; nut al length we learned that an accident had
happened 10 one oil the engines wnlcn was beng repair
| ed. Those who were in authority appeared to
speak on the subject and returned short when
addressed ABOUT u. Inc impression eit on my mind,
however, from all could learn, was that the mishap
was quite trivial and that all would soon be well again.
ola not' neWeVer go ashore I'LL after dinner. and 1t
was not until lnen that became aware ofthe tact that
one OF the steamers engines entirely disabled but that
the only effect would be to make voyage longer,
tor which we would be supplied more amply with wa
yer, ae aeo 1000. Eight O'CLOCK, 1.-THE next day was
We passed another afternoon and evening in Haxo.
ma yerv pleasantly isteoins to the charmng music Of
the military band paypp betore The Governors naace
while the fashot of the citv drove ont in their M
lantes, by moonlight and formed a listening c;cIe
around the plaza or sroed in pay crowds benesh The
stately palm trees with which it is planted
A,n,;an;,s. ,,o ,,.xo ozot, ~ r-' 49,. u,
al nllulgnt Ws were again on ooaro; ana on the
ia o I've i.ia, we wen. 70 sea ABOUT
,h , o g slk'e onEiuo vi osius easily "a lle
ehooo "a'er' alagsius uaVery slowly from theland.
The remainder OF the 18Th the Goth, and the 2ist
December were delightful days, and we sped onward
larry and prosperously We had lett at Havana many
OF our companions from New Orleans, yet our num-
beers had been greatly increased by crowd of Cafor.
mans. recently arrived in the Chagres steamer. But
lew ofthem were returning with fortunes; many were
utterly destitute or broken in health; and almost ALL
win Their peaked hats long boards, and torn or wealth
er- beaten garments, had the appearance OF many
Robinson Crusoes returning from their desolae abode
IN the Pacific. We numbered in all, about four hum
dred.
Sunday, the 22d, rose fairly, with smooth sea and
TAR wind from the southwest. At IL O'Clock, our
tow snan, Mr. John Gibson, read the service Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, and neatly all the pas
sengers, uniting in worship, closed it with psalm.
In the afternoon the breeze ieshened and obse
walton at noon showed that we were off Cape Hate
ras, whose dreary winter storms proverbial, AT
sunset the wind s.l continued fair and freshenng; but
with every hour, 1t increased, until ten o'clock, when
we were forced to scud before the gale, hoping 10 get
around the Cape, whilst the ship steaded by the
action OF the engine alone Thus we drove on before
the storm until two o'clock. BY this time the tempest
had raised Tue sea- and Cha waves swept up like tall
NUS before u.s. ne steamer, stripped OF every rag OF
canvass clmoed them CALAMITY, while every one who
witnessed the scene hoped or believed that before NOR