The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-19
U. s. STEAMER MASSACHUSETTS
r IN M i AvRIpn Sent d 1874

Rio DE JASsrRo, Sept 81, 1854.
The chussffs-Descyiption Of her Perlosas
Voyase-Swreys-- She Get 1r5und the
Ho,w, &c. &c.
The United States steamer Massachusetts, ssiled
fom Norfolk destined for the PAciac; OF the 24,h
Of July she arrived at Faysl; the 9th she sailed
for Rio de JaueiIo, and arrived here tie oh day
Of Sept. We have had othing but light winds aud
Gains from Norfolk to this port. On ths 21ss we
sailed in company with the sloop-ofws: Decstur,
(for we towed her to sea,) for Valparaiso Uia the
Straits Of Magellan; the whoe of that day We had
light breezes, during the night perfect calm. On
the morning Of the 22d, st halfpsst A. NJ, light
breeze sprung up, s. S. ". W., per CON. a.s, ard
gradua ly increased until meridian, when 1t blew
hard gale, the wind hauling gradually TO south, and
at P. N. to E. s. E.; at ii farled the topgslant
sails took the Third reef in toe topaails, double
reefed the courses, haul ID dow the ib and slowed
it, aud else reefed the to rails; a. 1 fu,lsa s.e
mizen topsai. donble reefsd the sakse All set IT,
set the main try ca and hsnlcd up the nailsa; ;.
the De 'ator in 81 ut on on. seashsr bel u; az
l5m. the D,snm4st weos ov r. The side Close 20 the
deck, srpsr n'iy from tie icon baud around tn.
ga-t hesc, TO .hcn the sigsiug vas attached nc %
srried swsy; ~ 2h BON. the m'z4n nas; ven,
nbsjnuIsst, and got clear Of 10, and secured the
mzsbma.t on the poo5; iehei the fr,s IA II. fur.
aces, ard commenced getting up steam hois.ei
the eD-ign uiier oosn, and fred minuts cues; Gu
adrit tie starboard quarter boat, IL having b.cn
smashed by the falling spsrs; cut away also ths
upJ or ,epafs, Wills towing them on the m yea
mast TO avoid ipjnrng the propeller, thu spars Of
the Diztn smathing the stern boat; discovered the
iron band around tae head Of the fofemast carving
awsy, got mp tackles and bawsers, and scared TIE
mast. The Decatur not Ia sight after losing masts
on account Of being obliged TO set the ship before
the wind, and thus running away from her; when
last en-, was under cl0ae reetd lore ard IN siatoo
sails, foretopnast stsyssil ard main tryssil at
started the engines, al AZ o 80 wore ship N the
foIe'opsail, the slip lsbcriDg he avy and leaking
badly; at 3b. Som. >. NJ. on the 23d discovered
light, (spparently ff"m ship btaicg N. Il } fred
gun, and wore ship 10 the ). aud f.; at On. 3Om
wore Ship took In al sail and got a., another Ia ~.
ser, the foremost being sr)ne, to secure 10 from
going ovtr the tide; st discovered land on the Ice
b. am, set the top ST f,rtss: az Oh. Ism land on
the s'arboard bow he ,riDg, per compass, Il. n f..
f.: at lob. Ism. SET the iorsiopsan, sonRdsd Ia rs
a'homs black sand took IN ali sail, and at set II
aes n; 1T DISCOVERED lard bearing N. N. w.,
low end hiy, With patcnta; at 5r. sem. break,
ers discovered close under our lee DO y tackled ard
stood CT; at rbs end bJe n. Il. NJ, all Of this
time We bad tfeuetd us heavy head sea from
.. r., the ~tLd f,om the ,eme point, and We with
our be sd 70 wird md fea, nnd du ing the whole
time could not make single fathom Off the land,
but gradually drifting IN shore, the breakers high
Or Cur matt es on eD iron bound c1ass, taking in
wsre' fTtm the tsavv rolling of the ship on both
sid<f, and he snip eahisg 20 inches per hour; al