New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-29
Letter from the Purser of the Empire City.
NORFOLK, VA, Sept. l;

NORFOLK, VA, Sept 10, 1857.
We arrived at this port yesterday morning at sum
rise-seven days out from Havana-having encoun
tered terrible storm, which exceeded that Of
last January. The steamship Central America-our
consort from Aspinwall-with the California passen
gers mails and treasure, had arrived at Havana the
day previous to u.s. and eit for New York at O'Clock
on the morning Of the 18th, followed by the Empire
City at 10 o'cock-one hour later. Some little blust
ering had passed between the officers of the respect
i've ships as to their speed, and our friends on the
other ship promised to report us.
at sunset on the Sth-same day-her smoke was
only visible ahead the horizon, and next morning
she was out of sight altogether. On the 9th, the
wind blew fresh from northeast; on the 10th, during
the day. the wind continued blowing hard and ncreas
ing all dayat night increased to an ordinary gale;
next day, the llth) the wind increasing all the
time, blew tremendously, with heavy sea running;
on the II it blew hurricane lung at intervals only
to blow harder. The force of the gale at this tie
ceeded anything in my previous experience. can
compare it only to the roar of steam from an escape
pipe. During all this time low, gloomy, cloudy sky
shut out both sun and Stars the sea did not rise in
heavy waves, but was one plane of foam over which
was driven by the force Of the wind heavy mist of
spray.
Our ship behaved well, but rolled at times very
heavily, and the passengers were most heartily fright
ened On the 18th, the gale not abatng, got out of
the Gulf stream and slowly made our way toward the
land, as our coal by this time began to give evidence
of exhaustion, and we found we could not make New
York without further supply. Not knowing where
we WeFe, SapI MCJ0Wdl uau 10 BTopt HIS way aiOuS,
and finally the afternoon Of the l4th, in the midst
of heavy rain storm, which shut in the horizon to
within few ships lengths ahead, and frightful sea
running, as the wind had partially abated, we found
ourselves just about to the wreck of bark,
with her mizzenmast only standing, and cast of the
lead gave us ten fathoms. .. .-
The crew Of the bark we could plainly see on her
decks but could not help the poor fellows, for
were running on shoal off Cape Lookout, ten miles
from the land, and only boat left would not have
lived moment. OF course the first thing to go
about, and in doing So at the risk of having decks
swept, We lay with our deck actually nearly perpen
dicular up and down. and with two frghtful rolls she
came bout against wind and sea.
At this time blew out small hole in the head Of
one Of the boilers which filled the cabins with steam,
and frightened the few courageous ones left. After
this passed an anxious night, feeling our way with
the lead, not wishing to far from shore, our
coal was nearly expended, and yet afraid to run in
for fear of being lost If we had touched the beach
not soul would have been saved in the tremendous
surf.
Cropping along, at 10 o'clock at night made out at
last Cape Hatteras light, and for the first time knew
where were. Wet, bruised and exhausted, we felt
like giving three hearty cheers Next morning COM
menced tearing up berths in the steerage bukheads,
crates, berth STATS ladders, boats, ETC., burning
! them with our coal to exc it out, and were about
to commence on our cabins as we reached this port,
but fortunately saved them
| TESTIMONIALS TO CAPTAIN MCGOWAN. OF THE
EMPIRE CITY
Shortly before the arrival of the Empire City at
Norfolk, the passengers on board of her made col
lection in order to present some token to the officers
and in recognition of their exertons during the
| gale Three hundred dollars were collected, of which
one hundred given to the first officer, one hun
dred to the engineer and remeu, and one hundred to
| the seamen.
Besides this separate subscription was made fol
the purpose of presenting to Capt. MCGOWAN a test
monial of their gratitude for the attention and
he displayed in their behalf.
Mr.. j. L. Huertas, editor of the Matanzas aurora
one Of the passengers by the Empire City, has pur
chased and will present to Capt. MCGOWAN beauti
full silver speaking trumpet costing $40, token
OF mis- personal recognition of the skill and courage
that brought himself and safe into
port The truYpet can be seen at E. Haughwout &
Co.'S, No. 400 Broadway. 1t is inscribed
| TO CAPTAIN j. MCGOWAN,
|