The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-19
The Disaster TO the Mali Steamer Hermann
srHaMs'nP CiIY on WASHINGTON. /
Ar SEA, Jan. l6, 1857.

The Disaster to the Mali Steamer Hermann.
arHansnP ClrY or WASHINGTON. |
Ar SEA, Jan. l6, 1867.
TO rns EDxroR or TIE HERALD.
You hsve doupless heard some few particulars OF the
dssstsr 10 tho Ihited States mall steamer aermsun,
Capt Edward HtNns, which steamed from Southampton
for New York she I'd Of Dcoember perhaps however,
the following account Of the accident may not be unac
ceptable 10 /ou:-
The Her len Southampton under the moot favorA-
bic cncu Assances the Sd Of December After steam
Ing for sAous twenty four hours and whom she had
rived Early q me lands Eud and heavy gale
from ~ westward commenced blowing, which, accom-.
pan by hail. rain and lightning, lasted without inter
mis- don until late hour the evening OF the 9Th 80
fu tous tho storm towards It's termination that
any Of The most experienced sailors on board
Acught the vessel could not live through 1t.
The morning Of the eth opensd beautifully, the
storm had disappeared, and the passengers were be
ginning 70 assemble on the quarterback to congratulate
themselves that toeir troubles ana dangers hsd vanished
when the centre Of board side lever Of the
port engine broke close of the HOUNDS Of the bod plate
damaging the piston rod, which much bent derang
gng pump rods and other portions the machine
~, and rendering that engine comp ete, useless now
became necessary disco port from the
board engine by taking OF the connecting rot Of that
CINE, and thus discopnoctng from the main shaf Of
taking 70 the side lever by blocking
up and also kshing fss and snoring such other OF the
movable parts Of the engine necessary, and this
was accomplished in about az hours, e remarkably
short time and 10 q style which, elici'ea the warmest
dstions from Mr.. G. Mohrang This gentleman,
who H. understand, mechanical ensipeer AMI the d.
rector PRINCIPAL erog este bshme
oeOiAea that the Jnconn Gang process
was performed IA jeGs than ha the time no supposed
would have oeen necessary 70 accomplish H.
Alter ing tho enpns In order 70 oslsoce The
cracks she mormeo laIe wheel buckets wore taken OIL
a. TO overtaI Tue single working e1gine. may
here, thai roa the common ,smens aud throughout
tae gale and ito onssters, Capt Higgins manifested
cCoI utrepidity whicn, Whine IL esteem
and all the passengers, infused vlgor
deter NJ pauGs nto the Obcers and cre~, his
fore, hi AND ski navigator lees psuous than
h,u orxvery a. YOU will sec from. " nAt fulio "a
lhe aao weather which commenced with the go last.
cd for soou s~eivo hours ous Capt Hgsns having re-
ceived eng neers report with to tue damage
the engine, and apprebendDg that II she prose,oed
she would nc involved IN hurricane, under circuu,
Stances vch rendered her least OF ali abs 10 cope with
the ek n.ents ceemed IL expeJient 10 wear snip aud
tut back he nearest port 30 a. lot 10 nasxl the
lives his pasereers ana injury to the properly under
his chnge Fortunate 1t vas thai 40 Old 60 "A
ditiona caavas wded uDon tie vesse IN order
to assiat ,he erene and the Hermann thus proceeded
until the nns Of the Ilth from whicn time unul tho
vessel had rounGeo tho "IAhts kb" she encountered
storm Of the mort terrible dso'io,on III addition to The
exaof Jury OF the wind and the mountainous seas
which sweeping the hurricane dock tue ight-
ming garse a. intervals with awful vivdness, while tho
pitees rsp and Al, alno.t proven ted the men sseas
ard before The m wbio the Of the captain and
officers with difficulty heard IN this nerce elem nisl
warfare so eccentic too the coarse OF the Storm
that the position Of the fbip bad 10 Do changed several
times hourly order preserve her instant de,t'uc
ucD. Captain B,esips ourog nearly the whole of thus
feafal weather KEPT bis place on the oeck and bis ORDERS
may soy without afes alton carried by tho
0hcs and men With pfumputude and obedience such
position Of affairs, whicn could not be disguised from
The pasaeng. re, TOR soIe OF The oldest seafarng
men ON beard declared that they never say 30 vio-
lent . sorm,) Trey maintained their compoeure and
manifested the RTsAtes con3deIcc In the captain. Tos
feeling on the par Of the passengers enhancst by
lbe Assurances which geie given by Mr. kohranE that
thoroughly 1erslood their business and who were
humanity equa 10 emergency. So keen 81 mpainy
In tact cid Mr.. Monrsng feel with the chief nsioeer
Aibeft Iepbe) and bis stan, that he himself oiofed
his services hat department In order
AFduoua laboJr St the brave vceeci .olled On, and
spen' sea boat she crany must have been TO have
outived furious a tempest. No cessation exps-
enoed OF the dreadful weather described sbovo until the
Hermann entered Falmouth Bay, when she WAS In
pros, cted from the violefce Of the Wind
nom heavy secs by the hlga which forms the
western boundary of the bay She reached Falmouth
Bay the mag OF sstufc ay, tho 18Th OF december,
and here Captain Hgaps rcrnsIred for few hours ia
order 10 relui the eNnawted strength oil himself his
officers anc crow.
The steamer ,h,n proceeded to Southampton where
she arrived tho following day, Sunca rne passen
strI In order express their bah seuse Of the Intrepid
~ and bki v hch Captain Higgins had csted under
the most trying circumstances unanimously agreed 10
address IN whisb, while they expressed their high
admiration Of The conduct Of the captain, they also paid
tribute TO tho manner which the officers ana crex OF
the Hermann had carried ont the directions OF their
mander They recognised, too the hand Of Providence
In Iescupg them from circumstances which had u
been for the admirable qualities OF the captain, backed
he by Toe zesl and votion OF thoee nim
poud Rave terminated In the destruction OF tho vessel
aud ell on beard of her The address which beauu
fully crossed, Wa presented by Mr.. Honrsng and
Afterwards published ia the Londoa Tuna and ,tner
newspapers.
ne mahs and passengers Of the Hermann as you are
doubtless artaoy aware were orwarded by tue Fiton
and spee0y arrangements made for tire transfer OF
the height 10 little detention possible
Before cosing this letser may draw attention
the IRular Incidence, hat The very day
which The dnaSer which have ,ecorded (the breaking
Of the oneinc) occurred 10 the Hermann, within Q
quarter OF hour OF the time the Cdntrd steamer
America while on her voyage rom Liverpool TO hcson
w@ struck by auemtndous sea, which disabled her and
compelled her to return 70 Liverpool. Tho steamship
inward, and with which excansed signals also
compelled TO return damaged by the burr zane and
understand that several veeseis met With similar fate
In CONNECTION wnn this voyage OF the Hermann may
tom, and INN edaiey after the ship locked, three
Of the empio e Of the deck company WHO very impru
IDENTIFY vchsurcd upon tie rspgwsy before IL lasned
10 the guard precir Hated into the dock Mr. John
OCoDnor, third officer, than whom man 10
pl ysicay brave, saw these poor follows struggling In
the water web nigh exhausted, and he, With bis usual
preparation (ior not second oe lost) caped
overheard AND from position which he upied
the trne the fall must have been thirty Feet the
tide receeding fast He oy extraordinary enort
until Captain Higgins order to lower life boa,
complained Thus Mr. OCoruor's gallant conduct WAS
rewarded In savtns At The time the lives OF three
OF bi. fellow creatures.
Wyhe, has arrived with dates TO the OILS; ultmo She
brings $50 tons OF the Her mann freight Re,pecfaly
JOHN MELLfNs
Purser Y. 3 " steamer Hermann.