New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-28
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
Accident 20 the steamship Brother Jonathan.
Correspondents Of The Tribune
SrgANEK BROTHER JONATHAN,
Orr NoRFoLK Wednesday, March e.

Accident 10 the steamship bretser Jcnatnan'
Correspondents Of The Tnbune
srgAMER BROTHER JONATHAN,
Orr NoRFoLK, Wednesday, March Is. )
GENTLEMEN: The result of the first voyage OF
this ste amship has thus far proved disastrous.
We are now about entering the harbor Of Norfolk
IN disabled condition, having met with an acct
dent to the machinery on the second day from
New York, and on the third day the misfortune 70
lose the use OF the larboRrd wheel
The Brother Jonathan left New YORK on
Wednesday the 18th inst, at 10 O'clock win
fair wind good head Of steam, the engine Ia ap
parent admirable working order ana Win every
Indication Of speedy run TO Ons5Ies. va Tue
morning Of the Goth it was discovered pipe ieau-
ing from the boiler performed It's duty In man
ney .o imDerfect "a 10 create serious fears for the
safety of the boiler and to require at the hands OF
The engineer a thorough examination; to COM
plete this inspection the fires were put out up
vard of twenty-five tuns OF coal removed and
after detention of nine hours-exposed the while
10 the tossing and rolling OF rough sea-several
articles were recovered from the boiler, and
large lump fron the blowof pipe into whicht had
been forced when blowing off the water from the
boiler. During this detention the cap OF the cyl
inder became also broken, which added TO the
troubles of the engineer and the inquietude OF
the passengers, the latter, particularly, viewing
with ready alarm whatever affected their Only re-
lance In the event Of further danger threatening
Ws
enabled a temporary repair OF the latter damage
and toward evening OF the same day the engine
was sgsn in working condition, the steamer max
ing fine Roadway, through the Gulf Stream
The engine continued to perform throughout the
night Of Thursday the Goth, and also on the 2lst
without accident. On the morning OF Saturday,
the 22d. il was observed the larboard wheel had
become disengaged from its fastenings to the
sbaft and threatened TO free itself entirely from
the wheel house. within which IL was sorging 70
and fro with much violence it now became me-
cessary TO remove the buckets and secure the
wheel, as 1t was not in the power OF those on
board to render it efficient. In this service the
officers and crew were employed throughout the
day and night Of Saturday. duty attended with
difficulty and danger from the constant and some.
times heavy rolling OF the vessel meeting OF
the passengers took place on Saturday afternoon,
ut which the condition Of the steamer was formal
" communicated by Captain Hows. The Cap
tain stated his belief in the ability OF the steamer
TO make the run to Kingston, Jamaica, distant
about 500 miles, with more ease than she could
recross the Gulf Stream and make an Atlantic
port although about half the sailing distance, an
opinion, however, which circumstances subse-
quently altered, and which caused the course Of
the stesmerto be changed at noon on Sunday, the
Esd, for Norfolk.
Steam was ultimately raised again on Sunday
morning and the starbOard wheel kept ia motion,
with occasional interruptions to the present time.
At Norfolk the steamer will undergo thorough re-
Pairs and sail again probably in the course Of a
week The performance OF the Brother Jonathan,
with defective machinery, and with bat the use of
one wheel entities her to much praise, frequently
attaining the speed Of seven miles per hour. Our
position during the period referred to, was by no
means alarming, as the weather fortunately
proved fine, although sometimes attended with
rough sea, particularly when crossing the Gull
stream.
Had the elements been unpropitious, our con-
dition would have been critical In the extreme;
there can be hardly doubt but that gale would
have at once deprived as Of the use Of the remain
ing whesl, as everything Indicated haste In the
arrangement Of her machinery.
Captain Hows, the Engineer, and officers gen.
orally, exerted themselves in manner as to Sc
cure the confidence and admiration Of the passen
gers, with neither of whom can be any blame at
tached for the disasters which have attended this
TIP D.. IN.
BALTIMORE, Thursday, March, u.
Since writing the foregoing, Capt. Hows from
considerations lelating TO the more speedy reht
ting Ofthe steamer, deemed it advisable to make
this port in preference to Norfolk. Itis supposed
the vessel will be ready for sea again In seven
DAYS at the most. d. JIM.