Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-17

The Missing Steamship Pacffic.
The British government sent out, on the 18th
ult., an expedition, consisting of two steam
vessels of war, to search for the steamship
Pacific. The origin of the movement, in the
first place, was the following letter, published
in the London Times of the 22d March, from
Mr. ]. S. Oakford, of the firm of Croskey, d Co.,
of London and Southampton, agents of the
Bremen and Havre line:
No good reason exists for the popular belief
that this unfortunate ship persisted with her
passengers and crew. Those most competent
to form an opinion upon the dangers and diff
culties of an Atlantic steam voyage, especially
the commanders Of steamships traversing the
same route, and exposed to the same difficulties
as the missing ship confidently believe that she
is still afoat with disabled machinery, and that
she may yet reach port to them her long
absence is satisfactorily accounted for by the
fact that the lately prevailing winds on the
coasts of Europe and America effectually barred
her approach to either shore.
Of all disasters likely to occur to such ship,
breakage of machinery is most probable; the
history Of Atlantic steam navigation records
scores of accidents" to machinery, some seri-
Gus enough to destroy the steam power, others
of less Importance, causing only trihing delay.
1t is reasonable to assume that the Pacific
may have broken some important part of her
machinery (perhaps in the ice feld) on or near
the Banks of Newfoundland; if so her COM
mander would have turned back and attempted
to regain the coast of Ireland, las the Atlantic
did in 1851; he would not for ansinstant have
attempted to work to the American coast under
canvass against the strong westerly gales that
almost increasingly sweep the American seas
| in midwinter.
| If her steam power failed on the Banks, she
might have regained the coast of Ireland by the
10th to the 18th of February, provided she had
westerly winds all the way, as the Atlantic had
on her return passage. Against head winds
the Pacific could make no progress. Rely
ing upon her steam power, she spreads very
little canvass. She has no bowsprit, and
scarcely any head or after sail. With an i'm
mense hull high out of water, and large paddle
boxes and deck houses, she must drift to lee
| ward as fast or faster than she could reach
ahead.
Throughout the month of February strong
southerly winds blew constantly between long.
| Is deg. and 40 deg. west On this coast, ex-
| tending SO far west as Is deg, we have had
| easterly winds, with occasional gales almost
without intermisson, since the 10th Of Febru-
airy. mOT6 tuaH tHTee HuHuTeu SulpS are over
due from the westward at the port of Great
| Britain and the channel ports of the con-
| tinent, though few, and among them are
some Of the best appointed packet ships that
have recently arrived from New York came
rapidly over with the westerly and southerly
winds Until they struck soundings, thence
they have battled for weeks against, easterly
winds A ship arrived yesterday, fifty days
from New York, more than thirty Of them used
on soundings at the chops of the Channel. If
such ships are held in check for month, what
is the fate of the disabled steamer, with her re-
treat cut off by opposing winds? In retracing
her course across the Atlantic, the south winds
must have drifted her to leeward, north of the
route of passing vessels. On reaching the me-
redian of l5 deg. her progress eastward was
effectuay barred; she could not get to the
eastward or southwark. In such an emergen-
cy she would have held on as well as she could,
drifting slowly norhwards on the western
margin Of the easterly Winds if ahoat-and
no good reason exists for doubling that she is
she is probably within 800 to 600 miles w.
N. w. of Ireland, where she can be found and
rescued by searching squadron of two or
three, or even one steamer sent from these
shores.
Urgent reasons exist for sending relief to her
without delay. Her canvass scanty and insult
fcient at all times, has now been exposed to
the storms of the North Atlantic for fifty days,
and may be entirely worn out or blown away;
the stock of provisions on board is fast dimin.
ishing and it is not impossible that her unfor-
tunate passengers and crew [lS6 in all may
perish by famine unless reliefis sent to them.
The ship may be staunch and strong, but with
out propelling power she is helpless hulk
upon the waters, and, out of the usual track
of ships crossing the Atlantic, she may drift for
months. NEVER DESPAIR.
To give additional effect to the appeal thus
made, Mr.. Oakford had long personal inter.
view with Lord Palmerston, the English pre-
mier, who seemed to take great interest in the
subject, expressed his desire to do everything
that could possibly be done TO search for and
relieve the missing steamer Lord Palmers-
ton received Mr.. 0akford with the greatest
kindness and urbanity discussed with him
most particularly and at great length the whole
Of the circumstances relating TO the Pacific,
and finally gave him order to the First
Lord Of the Admiralty, directing an expedition
to be sent out at once
Armed with this authority Mr. Oakford had
an interview with the Admiralty authorities,
and subsequently received the following official
despatch from the Secretary Of the Admiralty:
Immediate. ADMIRALTY, March "a, 1856.
With reference to your suggestions as 10
search for the missing United States steamer
Pacific, am commanded by my Lords Com.
missioners Of the Admiralty TO acquaint you |
that orders have been given to Her Maesiy's |
ships Tartar and Desperate to cruise to the |
westward on this service, and in the event Of |
their falling in with the steamer in question TO |
render her every assistance in their power. |
an air your most obpdipnt Rpryant.
TH0S. PHERIN.
To 7. OAKLEY, esq, Messrs. Croskey a Co.,
CT Gracechurch street, London.
From the London Times, March 22l
There is still a very remote chance that the
Pacific may not be lost, although the delay of
her appearance on one side Of the Atlantic or
the other gives too much ground for apprehen.
sion as to her fate. A correspondent whose
letter appeared in our columns on Saturday
last, therefore argues that we have not at pres.
ent any right to assume the fact Of fatal re.