Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-10-24

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the fog increased. We were now in st. Georges
channel, where vessels ARE constantly passing
to and fro, and the danger.o collision was great.
At 10 o'clock the watch cried "starboard," when
large merchant ship appeared upon our star
board with all sails set. She was almost upon
us and come near striking US. amid.ship but by
skillful management on both ships, we narrow
ly, escaped. so close did they come, that per-
sons could have jumped from one vessel to the
other. This occurred, notwithstanding our
steam whistle and bell, which were sounded and
rung from the commencement of the fog. BY
and by another ship IS discovered very near US I,
the watch cries "starboard strong" and we passed
her safely. Tn few minutes more steamer is
seen near on our starboard, but both steam off.
At about l l. o'clock another vessel is discovered
almost directly in our path The word "starboard
strong"-"stop the ship back" was given, but
too late. She was upon us, having broken our
yard.arm This caused considerable excitement
Some hundred passengers rushed upon deck.
Just as reached the deck, discovered the yes-
sci lodged against our Prov, with her yard-arms
and rigging apparently entangled in ours. After
striking our PROV, the vessel drifted round and
her stem, coming in contact with our starboard
wheel (Which had been reversed to back our
ship was partly carried away. As she drilled
past our wheel, our Captain in loud voice asked
if they were injured, Qor no one knew what in
jury was done, 80 dense was the fog). Fhe
answer was-"We are sinking" At that mo.
mcnt we heard female shrek on boardthe
sinking vessel. Ny God, it was an awful mo-
ment! Great excitement preyaied-but our
Captain, with a laundering voice ordered that
"no one should speak on board the ship" This
preserved silence and Immediately tho life.b boats
were lowered and sent out to the ill,fatcd vessel
The boats had just time to take off the crew.
The Captains daughter, a girl Of ls years, had
been reused from her slumbers by the water
rushing in upon her bed The vessel proved to
be brig, loaded with slate, bound from Bangor
to some other place. This accident occurred
without any fault of our ship. Captain CON-
STOCK had taken every precaution to avoid dam
ger. The steam whistle and bell were constantly
used. The briggs crew lost everything; but they
were amply repaid by our passengers, who made
up handsome sum Of money for them the next
day, and they were more than satisfied. After
this accident, we scarcely moved. Several other
vessels passed Us, but none very close-among
them the Asia, for which we had been on the
look out. Most Of the passengers continued
up during the night, and were much relieved by
the dawn Of day. But still the fog enshrouded
US, and so continued until 10 o'clock inthe day,
when it disappeared.
The mountainous coast of Wales then rose
up abruptly on our right. We skirted along the
shores for some time. The scenery was. beauti-
full; tho towering mountains mingled their sum-
mits with the clouds On their sides and in the
Wales, pretty little cottages appeared, surrounded
By highly cultivated fields. Upon the bosom of
the llersey, hundreds Of vessels are always to be
seen, Of every description. BY and by Liverpool
appeared in the distance. The dense forest Of
ship masts rose up conspicuously with their va.
rious colors flying. Among these the stars and
stripes were proudly floating here and there.
Ny heart was gladdened at the sight of some
thing so familiar in this land where all were
strangers to me. At length we reached the
fort our guns are fired; hundreds wave their
handkerchiefs in response and bid US welcome.
The Custom house officers were very polite, and
after hurried examination of the luggage
(Which they kindly made on board our ship2 the
passengers were taken to the landing, where
some two thousand persons awaited our coming.
Many were the anxious faces looking out to
greet their relations and friends. Here husband
and wife, brother and sister met; it was mo-
ment of thrilling joy. There was one scene of
peculiar interest; widowed mother had had
several children all were dead but one, who had
been away for several years in America. She
was at the landing 10 see if her only son had
come. She stood where she could see every
one as they came up from the boat, and anxiousy
did she scan every face. Presently middle
aged man, say 80 years old, ascends the steps.
She starts forward, frantic with joy. She stops,
she doubts. The son looks up; it is he. She
sprang forward with streaming eyes; he caught
her in his arms and she sank upon bis bosom and
sobbed aloud. After witnessing this scene,
placed nv foot upon the old world, ascended the
steps and made my way through the dense
crowd was soon beset by beggars, buttook
refuge in an omnibus which carried me to the
Adelphi hotel, where found females in attend
ance at the bar instead of men. The house is
very excellent one-and the beef is the very
best Having taken dinner, sailed forth with
some companions ofthe voyage to see something
of the Worlds great cotton mart. The build
ings are not pretty, but they impress you with
the idea of their substantialness. Some are very
fine and costly. St. Georges Hall is a fine, large
and very costly structure; and so also Is the
Sailors Home. Sunday is q day Of recreation
with the working classes in Liverpool, .and Of
these there were several thousands in the streets
We went 70 the pleasure grounds on the bank of
the Thames, where we saw some FIVE or six
thousand persons. The women are not at all
pretty. We visited the DOCKS, where hundreds
of vessels are wedged in as it were side by side,
and secured from storms The streets are ir-
regular and wind about in every direction. At
the corners of some, Ministers were preaching
in the open air to such small crowds as had the