Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-01

could not be lett to sink beneath the waves. In an
hour the news came that the still gained and in
a few nnntes. the gallant Schenck appeared in the
CABIN, and with hrm but serious face announced that
he could not get sufficient men to work. notwthsand-
ing the awful peril OF our condition. There
meht OF silence; and broke it by exclaimng that, if
he had not men in his service TO free his ship he had
passengers in his cabin, who ready to save her,
SIR, SAID he promptly, your service and example will
or twenty rushed up the companion way and scramb-
ing along the rocking deck we'll could, ad-
vanced towards The places where expected to find
the pumps in action Yet what was our surprise when
we learned that there least four feet water in
the hold, that there not pump in the chip fit tor
service at that moment and that the only mode of
cue was by drawing up the water by crank wheels, in
four copper buckets, designed in ordinary times, TO
vey the eInders and rubbish from the furnace room be-
neath The engine pumps could not work because the
fires were extinguished the hand pumps of
der, and the forward pump was repairing rapidly
possible
wrought at the crank of one of the cnder buckets for
about half hour, drawing up bucket full OF about
twenty-five gallons, on an average every four five
minutes. i remained on deck as long as could hold
and work The pitching and rolling OF the ship.
from side to side the dashing OF the spray and occa
sona gusts of rain poured into faces and over our
persons by the fierce Winds wearied and benumbed u.s.
We were soon drenched with water; and foodess as
we had been for two days, equal to so great
task. Yet none OF us thought OF death or danger Our
only idea OF work and only prayer for the con-
tnued capacity to work As clambered along the deck
back to the cabin holding on by every bolt and bar
rolling ship, stopped awhile to look at the sea- There
was something ferociousy grand in its aspect Above
was the cold, gray sky, like the lid Of eaden coffin
Aswe lay IN me trough or hollow, between the waves
two majestic mountains OF dark blue marble sreaked
with frothy veins, lowered on either SIDE For mo.
ment our huge hull reposed in the valley between them
and as the snowy crest OF the wndward wave combed
over ike cataract threatening to engult u.s. the gall
liant craft slowly raised her tall side and allowed the
surge to pass beneath her ieet But the wave had its re-
venge Tor the ships contempt for it rose to eeward
niInun
slope, until she sank to the momentary quiet
OF the watery valley With each of these sges while
on deck, trembled for the ships Safety when | saw
her completely at the seas mercy and thought of
the sundeng strain that must necessarily be produced
by the tall iron chimneys 10 her CENTER each one of
which, as it swung from right to left seemed to act like
gigantic lever thrust into the vessels midst striving
to wrench her in twain.
When got back to our cabin, i found that the ex-
perlence and admirable judgment of our brave towns
man, General Benjamin C. Howard, had suggested
and accomplished the perfect oga nization Of working
parties. The General went 10 work promptly with
paper and pencil:-pedged every signer to work un-
fnchney divided the men into sections OF twenty, five
OF which went TO work at each crank in baing out the
WATER and regulated the hours of each DIVISION as to
afford sufficient fepose and comfort to all. Schenck
rallied the spirits OF all by pronouncing the plan OF
confident success. The first division in mediaely re-
lleVed the watch on deck, and thus, throughout the
Whole day, we wound up the water from depth of
about nifty feet the hold, by the four ash buckets which
were replenished continually by a man below who
hlled them as they descended. il little while was
discovered that the organized labor OF the fresh respon
slbe, passengers told upon the 1t evidently de-
creased, and after due search, the leak was detected
and found to have occurred from the breaking of the
Hange from the supplyppe which fed the boilers from
the sea. The aperture reached with some dfcul-
" by craving In among the machinery, and was
closed by packing and mailing tarred across the
rent.
Meanwhile the divisions wrought increasingly and
cheeriully especially when they heard that the depth
OF water in the no Id decreased and that the engineer
reported his probable ability to rekinde the fires it we
only continued to work steadily. By this time, too,
the tore pump had been got into service, and for
awhile, small upper steam engine, called "the DOCTOR,
nag been set IN motion to aid in freeing the ship.
The doctor, however, was soon choaked or rendered
useless by the coal and cnders that aoat in the
hold, that were again reduced to the main rei-
ance on the ash buckets. In the course of the day
sail had been deserted and flag hoisted with the
Union down, but the stranger either did not see it as
drfted Hat to leeward thought it unless to approach
US IN SO tremendous
AT dark, on the 24h the water had. been greatly d.
minlshed, and the engineer was reported be good
spirits. Our gallant captain snatched moment now
ana then from the deck, to visit the cabin with q
cheering word or smile, and Howard circulated among
ms divisions, encouraging them as noby did his
brave ancestors on the battle fields Of the Revolution
Yet, when night closed in, and the cabin lamps were
lighted, there was scarcely being in the Saloons
who, tor while, was not made very silent, by the me-
mory ofthe day and hour. 1t was Christmas Eve =
Yet what contrast with the wonted scenes OF home
Wives, parents, friends resdes peace content-
ment rose before Merry little aces laughing gay
little gures dancing around the lighted branches OF the
Christmas tree! We thought OF the thousands OF
hearts that were beating with hope to be Reunited
the morrow with the sinking jewellers in that ship
we fe that those many eyes might behold us no more
forever and that a violent, a dreadful death, would
perhaps leave no single remnant the toundered ship
10 tell the tale OF her destruction. Fortunately how
ever, duty gave US respite for reflection broodng
moodiness. Probably no one failed to offer silent
prayer, but never was band OF struggling men more
nobly sustained by mutual confidence, courage, endu-
rance and sympathy
Scarcely had the when the gales, which last
ed with hardly an ntermssion, from the night of the
40 Degan TO abate their violence, and they fell the
sea Tell with them. The working parties continued
thelrabors all night long, and they wrought the wa
tiers decreased in the hold About midnight the chief
gneer was enabled to rekinde his fires and Use the
steam; tut when he set the machinery in motion at
day-daWn on the 25th, the engine found to make
only halt reyo luton and then stop! Here seemed
dence OF the sea and the appearance an approachne
cam Tor the vessel had been long strained and rack.
ed by the rolling, that now, with every MOTION her
mbers groaned and cracked as if another swell would
sunder them completely.
At six o'clock went on deck and found the day
lalr and promising. The tempest was over The sea
was comparatively smooth. A brisk breeze blew from
the south west and sail" doomed up on the horizo n
IN the momentary doubt to whether the engine could
again be made to work, our flag was hoised with the
Unlon down and signals OF distress repeatedly fired
Inc schooner soon perceived and began to beat to-
wards our Ship but before she got nearer than three
miles, our engineer had entirely cleared away all the
Goals and cndes thu choaked the action OF the engine
and had produced perfect revolution of the steamers
wheelsl
You may imagine the cheer that went up from
the crowded deck the Ohio on ce more shot over a
smooth sea and ceased crack and groan and labor
10 It's engulhng waves. Silence succeeded that cheer
LOT alllwere anxious to address their gratitude 10 God
anG t9sAenfeat continuance OF the promised mercy.
Sad as had been the Zee, the Day of Christmas 1850
was perhaps the most joyous that will ever passed by
mosl OF the voyagers on the Ohio. The sea contn-
ueo calm though the wind was fresh and fair Our Grip
pied and strained engine pushed but was aided
by althe canvass we could!crowd on the ship, which
wesnoW at our own selection, well as according to
me judgment OF our captain directed towards Norfolk
va An observation in the morning and at noon show
US to be about IS miles distant from Cape Henry but
by inc AID OF wind and we were before nightall