The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-10-25
Frnm the New York Tribune.
From the New York Tribune.
Full Particulars Of the Loss Of
the Iron Steamship City Of Phil
adeiphia.
NARRATIVE OF A PASSENGER.

has been from Halifax. This morning we
are enabled to lay before our readers the full
particulars of this sad catastrophe.
It appears that the cause ofthe disaster is
solely attributed to the fact that the ccmpas-
ses, of which the ship was provided with
six, were almost useless, owing to the at
traction of the material of which the vessel
was composed. These compasses were ad
justed in Glasgow and liverpool, but by some
inexpfcable fatality no two them agreed
Capt Leitch, il is said, was unremittiug in
his vigilance, scarcely leaving his post for
an hour from the time that his ship left Liv-
erpool until it struck the rock, off Cape Race
But for some 40 hours prior to that event,
owing to the fog and heavy weather whc1
prevailed, he was unable to obtain an obser-
vation
The vessel was built in compartments,
but so great was the shock that the bulk
heads we've started, and she speedily filed,
and would havesunk had the beaching been
longer delayed. That she dill not immedi-
atcly so down in deep water, with all on
board, when she struck, is solely attributed
to the fact that sfe was built water.tght
sections or chambers.
Ia his extremity, Capt. Leitch did all that
a thorough seaman could do for his passen
gers and owners; and those who saw him
through the whole of the trying circumst.n-
ces acquit him Of all blame, AMI accord to-
him high praise for his humanity and deyo.
ton to duty.
As the facts are set forth in the narrative
Of our informant, Mr.. G4daby OF Brooklyn,
herewith arpe1ded, we submit it, nearly as
related by him.
NARRATIVE OF Nm. J. w GADsBr.-The
City of Philadelphia sailed from Liverpool
on her first trip for Philadelphia, favored by
wind and tide, at noon, on Wednesday, the
29th of August. The day was fine, and
scare Iy single individual of 600 passen-
ger but appeared as happy as though bound
upon some pleasure excursion, rather than
as in most cases leaving home and country
to seek shelter and subsistence in another
lane. The day following our cmbarka,op
we took last look at the dim cliffs of Old
! England, and turn6d our faces toward our
western haven. For six days we were fa-
yored with fine weather, clear skies, and
smooth seas, and everything bid fair for a
prosperous voyage. Our ship sailed and
steamed right galantly along, and we en-
joyed all the pleasure with none of the usual
discomforts ofan Atlantic voyage.
But | could not help observing that, a.
mid the general hilality. our commander,
though prompt and unceasng in his atten-
ton to his onerous duties, was evidently
troubled about some matter of grave mo-
ment. lie rarely retired to bis stateroom,
even for an hours repose, but paced to deck
isht and day, ever and anon peering into
tle compass boxes, aud then consulting with
lis officers. Al length closely examined
these objects of his particular solicitpde,
the compas,es. We had six Of them on
board, all of which it is said we're duly ad-
justed in Glasgow and Liverpool; but dis
covered that no two OF them agreed; some
Of them varied between FIVE and six points,
and the two steering compasses in the wheel
house differed from point to point and
a half.
This sad state Of things was undoubtedly
to be attributed to the person pretendingto
regulate the compasses, for, in my opinion
with properly isolated composses, an iron
vessel is as easily worked as would be one
of wood. On the morning of the 9Th Of
September heavy rain began to fall, and
the atmosphere became so densely clouded
that no observation could be taken shat day.
The same kind of fweather prevailed through.
out the next day, and again no observation
was practicable, About A clock in the af
ternoon, if recollect Alright, on casting the
log, the steamer was said to be making / Q
knots AN hour, WD
About u, p. M, when nearly all the
pass engers were in their berths, and the
ship was goinng at the rate Of over ten knots
an hour, she ran against sunken rock, with
f.ightful concussion. Instantly the ship
was alive; from every hatchway the passen
aers-men, women, and children--poured
over the deck, in the widest confusion and
Distress. and many of them in an almost
primitive state of nudity, rending the air
with their shrisks, and manilestirg every
symptom Of mortal terror. haeta a
Now the seamanship of our captain, and
the discipline of.the crew came into requi-
stion. The engine was reversed, and on
taking soundings it was found that the ship
was in deep water on both sides, and that
she had struck rock on her port side near
the cutwater. A man was stationed at the
well TO see how fast the water gained, while
the carpenter and his crew with oakum and
blankets sought to stopthe hole But the
latter was found to be impossible, as the
oriEc was some six feet long by four broad