The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-01

o-xhe Fortcdrd CGOtn nay -VHed tc1H ~ 1o
Fears Of Shipwreck- Coaldue. Of the
Lady Possengers-.i German Gentleman Fright
sned-1he Enosmity Of the Wares-1he Seaman
like Qualities Of Captain Ludioo and his Cre,1-
The Ship not Strained -Liberality Of the Caadrd
Line and Of the agents Of Commodore Vanderbilt
The Ariei to go to Liverpool for Repairs and to
be Laid Up for Sir H'eeks-7Ae Passengers
Testimoniat to the Cre,u, SC.
left Southampton ia the Ariel December 81, and
proceeded in that good ship far as to arrive at
latitude so deg. IL min. N, and longitude 20 deg.
81 min. W., when one of the severest gales ever
known in the Atlantic broke the shaft square of and
totally crippled the ship For about twenty+four
hours We lay to without sail or steam power, in the
trough OF the sea, at the mercy Of the elements.
Our fore yard had been carried away and the fore
sail split into ribbons. The violence of the waves
stove in our stern lights, carrying a torrent of water
into the cabin, and few hours after a wave swept
the deck and burst in one of the sky lights. The
fore cabin Jared still worse. Both doors were
stove in, and the cabin nearly half filed with
water. Trunks, carpet bags, luggage and
furniture. Hoated about, and the passengers
were obliged TO retreat to the main cabin. The
cabin was soon cleared of water by baleng and the
wind blew so fearfully that it was impossible to
stand on deck without being lashed This was
Wednesday and Thursday, the 9Th and 7th of JAN
uary. The shaft gave way at p NJ, the 9Th. The
next morning Captain Ludlow told the passengers
be should make the best of his way to the nearest
port but for nearly thirty six hours did little but
drift before the wind The storm mizzen was set,
10 keep the head TO the wind until the drag could be
prepared. The drag put out on the night Of the
7h but the hawser Ca rope nine inches in circnm-
ference) parted, and the drag was lost. OF course
We had no steerage way, having neither steam
power or sails The engineer fearful Of the
otEer wheel giving way-the shaft parted just out
side the vessel the starboard sideand he saved his
steam power till the wind slackened During Thursday
a table could not be set nothing could be kept on
il. The passengers too, did not feel much like eat
ing. When the broke in the stern windows there
was considerable CONSERVATION among the passen-
gers: children screamed, and male passenger,
a German gentleman, made fearful lamentations.
The ladies all behaved with remarkable beroism and
that the ship would go to pieces or founder, we
bided our time. and there were murmurs. The
captain and all the officers and crew labored man.
fully and though several sailors were laid up sick
making the ship short handed, there was cessa
tion of efforts till the weather became more calm.
The captain had but one hours sleep during four
days and nights. The officers and crew Jared very
little better Ny berth lay across the ship, and as
the vessel rolled half of the time stood up nearly
straight and the other half was standing on my
head. l have been nearly one hundred VOYAGES in
various parts of the world and never knew anything
like the severity Of these gales. When wave came
against tha ship IL sounded like shot weigh
ing one hundred pounds, or If the steamer bad
struck rock. Had the starboard wheel dropped
intotbe ocean the weight of the other wheel must
have nearly capsized her, and she would inevitably
kax. Igxv tkn sIAN NSl
the next morning, the captain had heavy chains
over the arms of the wheel "a wen large hawsers
and with these II was securely fastened. Nothing
could exceed the courage and untiring efforts of Cap
tain Ludlow, his first officer, Mr. Spenser and all the
crew. After some 36 hours the gales abated some
what in violence, and our remaining wheel was set
in motion. The foreyard was 'fshed," and prepared
for putting up, but the wind was too strong
not raised till We arrived nearly in port. The cap
tain kept two points under the lee and steamng from
four and bsfto live knots hour arrived at Queens
town harbor at r. NJ yesterday the 18th. Though the
Ariel was terribly Knocked about, the no on deck
badly shattered, the rigging rent and the machinery
crippled not particle OF strain, leaking starting of
tmbers occurred, and not a butt started or a
opened in her hull 1t is impossible to oooeevo
anyp ng moe substantial than the hull of the ARIEL
II were to be ont in another storm, and that har
rcaue far strength could ensure safety, would
rather be on the Ariel than on any new vessel. As
Commodore Vanderbilt insures his own vessels, he
has the highest inducement To- make them secure,
vessels have their value covered by the underwriters,
the owners are not going to extra expense either in
their build equipments or management, lbeNeve II IL
historical fact worth noting, that no passenger ever
Mr. VaDderbts steamers. We are safe In Q1eens-
town harbor the Cunard line has ielegraphedto
at Liverpool, and about two-thirds n Ir passengers
all that wish 10 go-are going down the harbor in
tug onight, with the mails. to 90 on board the
Canada interccpting her she passes The captain,
consulting ~ith his agents offered 20 transfer all
the passengers that desired 10 go 10 the Cunard
steamer, paying their fares. and the Cunard line
met this with an equally liberal spirit by receiving
them nj the prices originally paid to the Ariel,
though little lower than the Cunard fares. Nothing
could be more hberal-itwas more than honorable
than this towards the passengers detained by
this disaster They could have been kept for the
North Star tthe 26th) or their money returned 10
them-by the first course losing their time, aud the
last putting them to expense. Neither Of these were
done. These acts rebound greatly 20 the credit of
Mr. Vanderbilt and his agents. mention this more
particularly, as there are great many people in the
world who will make terrible outcry II the milk
for The coffee on long voyage becomes
q little curdled or any unavoidable accident throws
dust on their broadcloth. BY this storm and
disaster, which no human power could foresec or
avert, the passengers get detained two weeks, and
that Il all. Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt loses thirty
thousand dollars at least. The steamer goes 10 IL
veooI for repairs and will probably be laid up for
-iN weeks. IT II very satisfactory 10 the patriotism
Of the American people to see Mr.. Collins, Mr.. Van
derblt, Brown Brothers, w. II. Aspinwall and some
other capitalists carry of laurels on the ocean in
mining steamers alongside Of the vessels of the
first maritime nation in the world; but IL is rather
sn expensive amusement for these shipowners par
ticuarly when, like Mr.. Vanderbilt. they build ft
out and run ono Of the largest steamers in the
world at lower fares than II has been done be-
fore In a first class steamer, and all this In
the face OF two powerful lines that get nearly
million dollars year each for mail service. I'm
les Congress puts our great steamship proprietora
"A a. will Rift q, tar
lines OF ocean steamers, ] hope they will consult
their interest in selling their ships and letting Great
Britain have ell the mail service as well a. all the
traffic.
to which nearly all contributed, aud very hand.
some sum made mp and presented 90 the crew; and
now, after their severe labors they have something
TO get them some few extra comforts. Such has
been the termination Of our trip. About sixty Of
our passengers (there are about one hundred in alD
90 20 boston on the Canada