Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-03


osth nit The Ohio was bound from New Orleans
and Havana to New York, with large number OF
passengers. She put into Norfolk on Thursday,
Goth ultimo
..Thc Ohio prepared to start from Havana on the
18TH with 400 passengers, $50 of whom were from
California but on the first evolution OF her engines
she blew out the head of one OF her cylinders. her
departure was then deferred to the 18th, when she
eot under weigh, with one engine, and made good
time till Sunday evening, the 22d, when she was
struck bv a severe gale. She, however, continued
under steam until II o'clock that night, when she
laid to and remained until Monday evening, having
been greatly racked by the storm.
On Monday evening she again got under weigh
and continued to breast the storm until clock on
Tuesday morning when she sprung leak. The
crew went to work at the pumps but soon found the
water gaining on them, it having risen TO SUCH
height that the fires in the furnaces were e2ungsh-
ed. .
The passengers were then aroused and called on
to assist in freeing the vessel from water, and they
turned out manfully to the work. There was found
to be ten feet of water in the hold and all the pumps
were immediately put in operation, and balng re-
sorted to from every point that access could be OBJ
tanned to the water.
The passengers thus worked from Tuesday morn
ing until Wednesday at noon before they had lower
ed the water sufficiently to enable the to re-kin
die the fires.
About one o'clock on Wednesday afternoon steam
was again got up but it required the constant assis-
to Norfolk to keep the water from gaining to such
an extent to extinguish the fires.
She reached Norfolk at o'clock on Thursday af-
ternoon, and is considerably damaged in her hull
three of the iron hogs braces that support her
frame, having snapped asunder. Her furniture was
also broken, with everything that was breakable on
board"
The damage to the vessel is supposed to be not
less than $780, 000 and will probably have to go into
the drydock to be repaired, before she proceed
to New York.
FURTHE PARTICULARS.
We arc indebted to Brantz Mayer, Esq, of this
city, who passenger in the Ohio, for the fol-
lowing account of the perous passage of the Ohio.
and her arrival at Norfolk =:
The u S. Mail Steamer Ohio arrived at Norfolk
yesterday, after most perilous voyage from Hava.
ma. On leaving that port last w cdnesday week, an
accident happened to her machinery. which detained
her day in the harbor, whence she departed
Thursday, with the perfect use of only one of her
engines. She was full of passengers and among
them was the Hon. .Revcredy Johnson, and number
of other gentlemen we'll known in the country.
On quitting the port of Havana it soon noticed
by those skilled in marine lifc that the Ohio
but bodily prepared to encounter the risk of winter
approach to Northern shores. Her single OPP
erative engine was, in all likelihood unequal to the
task of cncountering the violent storms along those
coasts and her fail masts and light sales could af
ford but slender she forced to lay
to- or if her engine proved useless on lee shore OF
in the open
last Sunday night, when the Breeze, which had all
day been freshening rose to violent gale. in the
midst of which the engine stopped its center, and
the ship broached to in the midst of the tremendous
sea that had been already raised by the violent wind
Skilful seamanship Immediately rescued her for the
moment but from that hour until tho morning ofthe
25h December, the Ohio was forced to LAY to-
under the test SAIL and to bear the brunt of the
hurricane.
! Her immense size made her unmana geable by can
vas. She lay like log in the trough of the
rolling between the walls of waves that lowered
either side Of her, and threatened her immediate de-
structon.
Sad as was the plight of the gallant ship from
these events she destined to encounter another
danger. On Tuesday morning it announced
that she had sprung leak and that the rising wa
ter had extnguishcd the fires beneath the boilers =
| This dreadful announcement at once aroused the
energies Of the passengers, who manfully organized
| in bands under the charge of General Benjam c.
! Howard, of Baltimore, and from that moment until
she passed Cape Henry, the Ohio was, under Provi-
dence, freed by their nccssant, but patient abors,
together with those of the officers and crew. and
abled to recover the of her engines since the
morning of the 25th.
! This is but brief and hasty summary of the dan
gers encountered by this noble ship, and is intended
on Introductory to the following correspondence
between the passengers and gallant FRIEND Capt.
J. T. Schenck, of the U. S. Navy, who commands
| her.
There were several lady passengers on board the
Ohio but throug hout the pers, their noble fortude
encouraged and neryed all who were in condition
to labor for the vessels safety.
To Lieut.. Schenck U. s. Narn commanding the u s.
Mail Steamship OHIO:
WEDNESDAY, Dec 25, 1850,
at sea, II o'clock, M.
Sir.-The undersigned passengers on board your
ship, have labored hard for the last two DAYS and
and have contributed their best exertions both
by night and by day, to aid you in saving the ship
under circumstances of extreme peril. They con-
celve that this gives them some claim upon YOU to
be heard when the vessel is once more upon her
way, her engine at work and the prospects of ulti-
mate safety more favorable.
BY this claim upon you by partnership in the
common danger, and in the name of common human
lty. we respectfully but most earnestly urge you to
land US at Norfolk, the nearest port and distant
scarce one hundred miles, instead of prosecuting the
voyage to New York, = port distant between three
and four hundred. You have now the of but
engine and even that has for the last three days,
VIZ since Sunday nj ght, been totally useless until
within the last hour, and sails are rent and torn
partly from the masts. The labor and great exer-
tlons Of the passengers in aiding you your officers
and men to free the ship from water is continued
even while we are penning this address it has
y exhausted their strength, and cannot be expected
! to continue much longer. Such of us as are men,
bers OF the bar and known by you to be would al
SO suggest, as consideration which for the interests
OF your owners you should by meanslo lose sight Of
their distinct and unanimous opinion that your ma
king tor any other than the nearest port under the
present circumstances will not forfeit any insurance
on the vessel in case of loss
We do not, however, make this suggestion from
FarnI>r 4I,oA,