The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-30
Accident 10 the Steamship America.

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" mas already been mentioned that the Cunart
s'eamship Anerics, which sailed from Liverpoo
Isr Boston on the 9th instant with the mails and
large number Of passengers returned to the forme,
port on the llth, having been disabled in yiolen
gale. The Liverpool Times says:
Alter leaving the port fhe met with severe weather
nnt continued her course without interruption unit
tne morning Of Tuesday last the 9th inst She ther
LAY 10 ABOUT % miles west of CAPE Clear While n
.nis Poaton she was struck By tremendous Sea- the
gaze raging at the time with terrific violence The
decks were completely swept, and considerabIe
alarm was created on board more especially anon ps
the Panepgers The bulwarks were carried away a.
well a. three boats. The stewards pantry suffered
IN nmlar manner. great portion of the ccnte nj,
being destroyed, and the fore saloon eonpeteIy put
sea Inc vessel sustained other damage. though Of
minor Importance. One of the crew WA badly in
luFed, having received compound fracture OF both
his legs. Others of the men were more or len,
bruised. out not seriously The shock was 20 great
as TO Knock the furniture about in all directions to
the crest conformation Of the passengers some OF
whom sustsinsd slight bruises
II IN said that five seamen were carried off the yes
sei by tne sea- but most nraculously driven back by
arelurnlng wave-only one the man previously re-.
feneo TO, receiving sny serious iajury. Capt Lans
maintained the utmost coolpess and self.possesson
during the trying scene. Finding the vessel in such
disabled condition. he had alternative but to put
ner about, in order to the ship and
rms being done, he steamed direct for this port,
where ne arrived at an early hour Thursday morn
ing Inc America now lies in the Huskisson Dock
and will require to be laid up for some time for re
pairs
One of the second cabin passengers states that at
the time the steamer was struck, he va, living in
forward cabin BERTH when he heard the water gush-
Ing through the saloon deck and down the compan-
ION. and rushing forward. He thought at the time
the vessel was sinking and gave himself up for lost
lie lei his CO bin and waded up to bis ddle in wa
ter towards the stairs At this moment the yes ,el
PITCHED, and immediately he felt the water up TO
hls pits The bulk of the passengers were sit
ting In the saloon at the time of the acc dent and
they must have been inevitably swept overheard had
notthe mainrast STAYED up the wreck of the saloon
as break water 1t 10 the impression of some of the
hands On board that if another such sea had struck
her che must have gone down The engne.room
was filled with water, but the unipjured pumps be.
Ing get we'll to work 1t was kept under, although
considerable difficulty experienced in keeping
the bilgs from being choksd BY the spiuters which
closet forward at the time the sea struck the sip,
and some of the displaced timber falling asaipst the
door almost blocked him in. He, however, succeed.
ed with some difficulty In forcing his way out.
hir Ferguson, chief engineer, and his staff die
played the most praiseworthy cooness the hour Of
danger. remaining below when ths water was pour.
ing /" with force that might have terrified less
brave man. Their experience, however,, enabled
them to perceive that the water was all from above
and that the ship al right and taut. The shock
stopped the engines for moment but they resumed
great difficulty closed up the rents in the saloon dscs
and elsewhere with spars and canvas. an operation
attended with the greatest danger, it continued to
blow a hurricane. The chief officer, Mr.. Grace
while assisting in this peIilous work. neatly
washed overt board.
At the time the sea struck her some of tn. passeu.
gers were playing at cards in the fore cabin and it
is said that they Immediately fell on their suses i'm
pior1na this Almighty to sase them. When extrics-
ted they covered with bruises. 1t is asserted
that the America took 100 tons of water board
the sea which stuck her This s the first inst snce of
ary of the Cunard steamers being compelled to return
to port through stress of weather.