The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-16
THE SHIP GREAT REPUBLIC.
Account Of the Late Dssaster- and Pro-
gHoss or the Storm-Sccne~ on Board-Mak-
ing Port-Conditi0n or the Vessel.


Account Of the Late Dssaster-Rase and Pro- |
Gless or the StOrm-Scene- on Board-Mak- |
ing Port-C0ndition or the Vessel.
OUR FALKLAND ISLAND CORRESPONDENCE
STANLEY, EAST FALKLAND, Sept. l6, 1857
send YOU an account of the disaster the clipper ship
Great Republic loaded with guano from the Chinchas
bound to London direct and will give few days report
Of theio as kept in our book previous
the accident.
We sailed from the Chinchas August 18th; had very
moderate weather, light head winds and Gains until Aug
90 in lat AZ deg south, when heavy sea set in with
squalls from the southwest not very heavy, making run
Of 233 miles past twenty four hours
AUG 3O-Wind the same direction but increasing Took
in lightest sails Run 294 miles.
Aug 3l-wind northwest blowing hard, rain and hail
Running before tho wind very heavy sea- Single reef in
mainsail. Run 295 miles
SEPT Wind west, continues strong, hail squalls,
bowed away mzzcn topsoil took in topgalant sails sea
still being heavy, which nterferes with Roadway; in
latitude So degrees SO minutes; made $50 miles.
SEPT 2-wnd southwest heavy squalls, hail and snow,
increasing; saw sail to wlndward laboring very
heavy with doubled reefed courses in two hours passed
her and out Of sight, shipped sea poop deck,
which stove in three cabin windows and flooded the outer
cabin with water; latitude IS degrees longitude rs
degrees; distance sailed 294 miles,
this morning the appears stll higher if possble
heavy squalls Of hail, rain and snow, but the ship,
although shipping constantly and drawing
twenty five feet six inches, rides like cork.
At six A. NJ made the Diego Ramcres Island
and run to the south Of it, Passed the latitude Of
Cape Horn at IL NJ Saw sail to leeward lying to;
decks full of water all day, notwthsa ndng the prccau
tons the captain had taken previously to cut two large
ports in the buwarks to free the decks in heavy weather.
and the height Of the ship out of water Sailed 295 miles
This afternoon the squalls in gales and tho surface
amdship which carried away long side steps and three
spars that were dashed on the top of the galley and engine
house; washed one overheard with Them but iortu
naey the returning the eeward washed him on deck
again At p the gale is increasing glass going down TO
2S 60 At4P the gale constant, and nothing but one
continual howl and cracking of ropes; boarding
with great force. At r. III the crotchet blew away;
still heading her course northeast; So p. NJ. foresai
blew 10 pieces and now the howg OF the wind cracking
Of ropes and Shaping Of attered sails and blocks against
the rigging and the hollow monotonous sound of the
tumbhng on deck frghtful. AT the time the
fore royal was blown from the askets and the gale APP
pearng to increase until "a A. NJ.
Friday morning, Sept, A the men on watch saw
topping from the height OF the main yard (as
they relate it which they called sugar loaf II APP
peared to come over, without touching the buwars,
the deck amdshps and by the side of the main hatch
the port and weather side it'll tremendous crash
that made the whole ship tremble.
wild hoarsc scream seemed next moment to be blown
over the whole Ship there was sudden sensation as IL
the succeeding wave were too light to bear up the noble
ship and she were going down, when mighty shock,
like that OF earthquake came on She tumbled and
buoyed herself above the water again. fierce burst Of
water and gurgng sound was heard TO rush down be-
tween decks The deck fell the size OF the main hatch
pressing down side with it, which is fourteen feet
square, and rush OF water that shipped at each
succeeding sea- The ond mate rushed into the cabin
and said the decks were stove in and the ship filling
with water. We pulled on our boots and overcoats
and went on deck, and soon found i to be
for Gods sake" cried the mate, Tor the ship will
sink "keep her before the wind" was the common
shout sKeep her before the wind ii is, sir answered
the Quarermaser at the wheel: but the boarded
hor aft and on each sde which kept the deck full of
water.
ssKeep her sharp on the wind and obey my ORDERS"
shouted the captain the ship will down This order
obeyed and the did not board her frequently
To render the period still doefu the ansai gave
way and was blowing TO pieces, which, with the gale,
caused much noise that orders could scarcely be heard
from the officers The awful Some of the
were crying some Planning many running to and fro, All
talking and conjecturing.
Orders were given for a spar to be dashed fore
and aft over the break, and sails to be placed
over II two or three thcknesses and tackled down to
the deck which kept out much of the water that
shipped for she shipping seas fearfuy yet five
six men with buckets stood by the place to bail the
OF that settled the sail the ship appearing high
the crest OF then diving again nt9 the watery
abyss her tmbers creakng heaved 10 bic force Of
the each would drive over her tilted weather
bulwarks.
Long and anxously did peer FORTH every minute ex
pectng TO feel the ship down under The upper be
decks about half full Of guano, piled combed
the centre TO the deck tapcrng down nearly To the
floor Of the between decks and bulk head made OF bags
filed with guano in front Of the after hatch The
aft of this reserved for stores lumber spars sails,
hawscrs coils OF rope and variety OF other things In
the centre Of the ship under the engine house. large
coal box containing is tons Of coal The in with
such force and quantity that broke down the bulk head
set the stores adrfi barrels Of beef pork rosn tar bread
meat &C, rushing fore and aft, from side to side az the
ship was tossed by the waves; the coal box
washed down and the barrels and boxes stoves and their
contents washing about with the floating There
found 20 be four feet Of water in the store II
impossible to save scarcely Of the stores every
thing rushing from side to side with such force that
It dangerous 10 venture down between decks. The
pumps were manned, but soon chockcd the men were
kept by the break in the deck bang constantly There
was now only one pump that would work which was kept
going Nothing could be done below by bang until the
and gale ceased sufficient for the hatch 10 b. taken of with
safety We all expected the ship would down she
taking in water by the deck II II could not be ascertaned
how much she was making from below the floating
IN the between decks.
The seas we're stll boarding the ship by the storm and
amid ships and began to prepare FOR the worst Demi
Johns Of water bags OF hard bread, blankets &C.
packed and ready Tho captains Wife niece and two chill
drcn were on board with the men sxty.t souls, all
told Veal dressed for the occasion possible
and were ready for the boats The youngest child bont
three years od) when wrapping him up was happy and
playful, and asked his ma II they were going to
take n ride in the boat they were accustomed
70 take him with them when visiting the shipping at the
islands which he very fond Of. We found the
that belonged TO the boats all below this confused
mas Of floating stores, crushed 10 pieces. except four
small ones that belonged TO the small quarter boat.
We think the boais would have been of little use. in
this heavy sea and gale they would doubtless have
been swampcd In putting them over the side OF the
ship Never was daylight, looked for more earnestly
and the time never appeared longer; but, Fortunate
ly, little before daylight tho gale began to oae;
small hatch that connects with the store aft the
poop deck taken or lamps hung TO light H. and
al the men tina, could be spared from the pumps and hole
IN the deck set 10 work with buckets to bail out the
water (or guano mortar) which the conscience
az mortan
Ats NJ the gale had lucd sufficient 10 head the ship
for the Falkland Islands and under the leo Of staten
land IN order 10 break OF the heavy al daylight they
took on the after hatch and hooked everything they
could reach coils Of rope light sails &c. hosted
deck and placed all TO the wndward in order 70 trim the
ship as much as possible for everything between decks
the lecward pounding and beating the side Of the
ship, and causing her 10 list very much The ship
looked horribe the decks and ropes covered with
wet guano, and II almost impossible for the men 10
stand or walk To renew the excitement, the all
rushed from the store and said the water rush.
ing through the after port The ship put the other
tack TO examine the port and loose 10 lash but
the ship had such list and the running heavy,
that nothing could be done with ~ The went below
again 10 bale and work all day and night and the
poor fellows wet hungry and exhausted they would
fall asleep standing nj their post
Saturday morning found a, work the same, the wea