The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-02-19
The Disaster to the "Arisl."

Letter from one uAo was on Bosrd-Tn-
mendous Norm - Nyro,o Escaps-Hoss
the Paddle Wheel s0ds WreneAed of.
STEAMSHIP ARixL, COVE OF ooKx, Jan. l6.
The good ship Ariel, after getting al least
1000 miles from the English shore, in lat.
sos IL N. and long. 290 81 w, fell in
with series Of tremendous gales as to well
nigh bring her and all on board to instant
destruction. In nautical phrase il was Q
gale, but It beat everything Of the tempes-
tuous that have witnessed in over eighty
voyages. On deck 1t was almost impossible
for man to keep his feet without being
lasbed The seas rs they came against the
vessel sounded like large cannon shot, or
immense timber not like water. The shaft
on which the paddle wheels revolve 70 round
axle Of wrought iron. IL inches in diane.
ter y was broken square Of, just outside the
ship, leaving the starboard wheel hanging
by the gills, as 1t were, the upper edge lean
ing hard against the vessels side, and the
outer pinion resting in the socket On the
outer side Of the wheolhouse. IL seems Q
miracle that the wbeel-weighing over %
tons-did not drop in the ocean. Had that
taken place We should have been inevitably
lost, for the great weight Of the other wheel
would have completely capsired the vessel,
when she must have foundered. This was
at Q O'Clock, p. NJ. Wednesday, Jan. o.
TIE newt morning the captain had heavy
chains and cables passed over the arms OF
the wheel and securely fastened On that
morning the captain announced to the pas.
sengers that his machinery was 30 disabled
that he should consult the safety OF the wee
sci and passengers by returning to Great
Britain. But the storm was 10 violent that
he had to lay to for nearly "a hours. The
helm was dashed, and the ship was in the
trough Of the sen, drifting TO leeward, with
now and then a sea going clean over her
One wave that struck the vessel like q broad
side Of cannon shot. broke two OF the stern
windows in-glass one inch thick--ecnding
the sea like an avalanche the whole length
Of the cabin. In short time another wave
dashed in one Of the skylight windows. and
another river oil salt water came pouring IN
10 the cabin OF course each such maniies.
tation OF power from Old Neptune produced
a shrek, particularly from the children, oil
whom there were good many. This was
in the first cabin. In the forward cabin II
was much more disastrous those Of US
who were in the main cabin did not know
the condition of the second cabin till the
worst was over. Beth Of these cabin doors
were stove in. and the water filled the lore
cabin aJout two feet deep. Trunks, port
mantaus, and other articles h,ated about
the cabin. The water, however, was soon
bailed out. The next disaster that happen
cd was to the foreyard, which was broken
short of in the middle. The wind was 30
terrific "a tn blow one sale into ribbons
During the violence Of the gales-ior no
sooner was was one gale exhausted than an
other set in-the engineer did not think 1t
prudent to keep the remaining wheel gong.
and as we should carry very little SAIL OF
course we had no Storage way.
How the wind, for about thirty-six hours
tore round our poor shattered vessel 1
pealed, sighed, whistled, raved, roared,
shriekcd, and howled, and the passengers
seated about the cabin, held on TO SOFAS
posts and doors, looked in one anothers lac
es, and drew long breaths. Some spent
more than half the time in bed. There was
not night that did get my usual quanti-
ty OF sleep, though l was occasionally wax wax
ened Dy the vlOlence VI tuo 'o
Nv berth was across and not lengthwlse Oh
the ship. and in bad lurch one way was
put nearly upright on my feet, ana NJ inc
next turn | stood on my head.
Our passage back to this place took us
one w,ek-the same that il did TO get 10
Longitude $50 that we find ourselves SUI
in Europe after two week stormy voyag,na'
After lying to between one and TWO uays
we set the one paddle wheel to work. ana
like gull with one wing and shattered
flpper dangling by her side, came slowly 10
this port, at the rate Of four or i've miles an
hour With all the bufieting OF the snip,
not a timber started nor was there drop Oh
eaking.
During oil the storm and danger, Capt.
Ludlow and his officers and men were unnr-
ING in their efforts to keep the ship afoat'
Two sailors was sick, leaving the vessel rath-
err short handed. The captain for four days
and nights only got one hour sleep: Inc
meeting of the passengers on arriving IN
port aud the unanimous address OF thanks
to the captain, showed the appreciation Oh
the passengers in the management ana con-
duct of the officers and hands employed.
Boston Post