Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-02-20
TWO WEEKS LATER FROM EUROPE
Of the Steamship Africa, a
New York.
SAFETY OF THE ATLANTIC. 81

Arrival Of the Steamship Africa, al
+ New York. M
SAFETY OF THE ATLANTIC.
The Br Steamship Africa, Capt. Ryrie, arrived
at New York on Saturday evening, from Liver
pool, which port she left on the lst instant. SHE
BRINGS THE GRATIFYING INTELLIGENCE OF THE
! SAFETY OF THE STEAMSHIP ATLANTIC. This will
prove joyful news to the many having friends on
board and we may add that the passengers of the
Atlantic were brought out in the. Africa. 1t ap-
pears that the Atlantic, leaving Liverpool on the
25th December, proceeded on her voyage until the
9th January, when in the midst of fearful storm.
the main shaft of the engine was broken, and she
was completely disabled. The wind being from
the northwest, rendered it impossible to steer for
Halifax, as was Capt. Vests first intention, and
her course was set for Bermuda, but on the 18th,
the wind coming round to the southwest, Captain
w. determined to steer for European port, and
useless as We're her engines, and only slightly
adapted for sailing, he succeeded on the 22d In
reaching the port of Queentown in safety, after
sailing over 1900 miles. A meeting of the passen-
gers was held on board the steamer at which reso-
lutions were passed in testimony of the unwearred
care of Captain West and the other officers, in
bringing the ship safely into port. The following
detailed account of the accident to the Atlantic, is
fornished the New York Herald by the chief Off
Ger of the Africa
The Atlantic left Liverpool on the 2sth Decem-
Der, in fine steaming condition, and without any
apprehension on the part ofher officers in regard to
the voyage 1t was blowing strong gale at the
time of departure from W. S. W., SO much so as to
render it impossible to land her pilot. On the 29th
Dec, at 9 80 P NJ, she passed Cape Clear, and
fairly commenced her homeward passage by plung-
ing at once into heavy head sea, and steming
strong westerly gales, which continued without
ntermisson for the time following up to the day of
the accident On the 9th of January, at noon, she
was in latitude 46 IL, longitude Al W. it blowing
strong gales w. N. w. At 6 80 P. NJ, the
engines were stopped, as it was first supposed by
the engineer on account of the breaking of the
eccentric strap to the starboard engine-and, on
examination, it determined to go ahead again,
working that engine by hand; but another revolu-
ton of the wheels proved that the accident was of
much more serious nature-the main shaft was
found broken completely through, Gin diagonal
direction) the bearing of the starboard pillar block
and the additional turn after the first stoppage
caused, part of the shaft to lap the other
thus fracturing both pillar blocks, and rendering
the engines perfectly useless The ship was at
once hove to under storm canvass the wheels lash
ed and all hands employed during the night, and
for the following day, in sending up her square
yards, and stripping her wheels of the foats-a
task at once difficult and dangerous in gale of
wind and the decks covered with ice, but FORUM
ately accomplished without accident. On the 7th
and Sth laying-to, with the hope of an abatement
of the gale and change of wind as the captain
and all hands were extremely anxious to reach
some port on our own coast. On the 9th, the wind
hauled to the northwest, and became quite moder-
ate Immediately made sail, and shaped course
for Halifax, 697 miles distant, and ~ York 400
This weather continued until meridian of the 10TH /
when an observation placed the ship $50 miles
south and 10 miles west of her position at the time
of the accident. gale now sprung up again
from the southwest, and it became necessary to
heave the ship to; for with moderate weather
it evident to all that she could do nothing by
the wind under canvass. At 8 A. NJ. of the l1th,
large ship passed, bound to the Eastward /; but
she either did not took notice of our sg-
nal of distress At 10 P. NJ, after taking an ac-
curate account of stores on board and considering
the apparent impossibility of reaching home with
the ship in her disabled condition, the captain de-
termlned, with the assent of his officers and pas
sengers, to bear up for the coast of Europe-which
was accordingly done. From this time to the
twenty-second day nothing of Importance occurred
We had following gales and high seas and the !
ship made IN average distance of l50 miles per
day, and in that interval ran 1,400 miles At 8 |
p. M. of the 22d she anchored in Cork harbor, |
which fact alone, when considering the immense
size of the ship her small spars light canvass and
heavy machinery, is sufficient to prove her splen-
did seaboat, and must add in no small degree, to
the reputation already acquired by her commander
for prudence and seamanship. In regard to the |
conduct of her passengers under such trying cir
too much could scarcely be said Suf- |
flee it that they bore the misfortune with becom-
ing fortitude and cheerfulness, and testified, on
leaving her at Cork, as much sympathy as those !
who have permanent interest in the good old At |
lantic The Atlantic had on board $50 tons of |
freight, and considerable quantity of specie which
the Cambria was chartered to bring over and pro-
badly sailed from Cork on the 4th inst, direct for
New York. Before the Africa left, arrangements
were making to tow the Atlantic to Liverpool for
the purpose of being repaired. This will possibly
require three months
Changes i'm the Climate Of Europe.
Those who have read the ancients with atten-
ton, conclude that the degrees of cold are at this
time much less severe than they were formerly
The rivers In Gaul, namely, the Loire and the
Rhone, were regularly frozen over every year. so
of f1xy ybo1oo Al :