The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-14

bic TO enter I'LL the following morning, on account OF
the difficulty of procuring pilot. She experienced
very heavy weather during the greater part Of the
passage, and never did she display her splendid
qualities TO better ship From the 9th inst, to the
10th it was unplessantly rough and on the 18th,
l4th and 18th it blew perfect gale. There is no
doubt that this the equinoctial, and it did full
justice to itself so far heavy blowing is concerned
Those who have crossed the Atlantic in the months
Of March and September can form some idea of the
nature of equnoctia gales and of the terrific force
with which they sweep over that ocean. Under the
heaviest stress of weather, however, the Niagara
behaved magnificently, and went through the storm
at the rate of ten and eleven knots an hour, and
| this, too, while other ships were hove-to. Her
| quickest days 304 miles, and there is no
doubt that she would have accomplished the passage
in ten days but for the head winds which prevailed
| from the 18th to the ODD. During the gale she had
the wind from the south and southeast, from which
il changed to the east and stuck there with the most
| dogged obstinacy. While blowing from this
! quarter we had, however, no complaints to
| make in regard TO the quality of the wea-
| ther, which, with one exception, was as fine
as could be desired. But there was another diff
entity besides the head wind which it would be
just to the vessel not to mention. For the last two
three days the Engineer was obliged, by an order
from the Chief Naval Constructor, to burn some
seventyive tons of coal which the ship had brought
with her from England on her return home last No
vember. This was not the coal which had been pro-
cured for her. but was portion of the stuff that
| had been shipped TO and reshipped from the Cri-
| mea during the siege of Sebastopo, and was taken
| simply because no better could be procured at the
| time of her departure. The kind that was intended
for her and which was best adapted to her furnaces
| from its resemblance to the American anthracite,
| was the Welsh coal several hundred tons of which
| had been purchased for her consumption. Unfor-
| tunately however, the vessel which was employed
TO convey this Goa, to Plymouth fouDdered at sea,
and So as has been stated the Crimean stuff had to
he used in lien of anything better at the time. New
this coal was ordered to be put board the ship at
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, although understand it
had been condemned by the engineers some time
before. The result of all this was a marked dimi-
mutton in the speed of the ship, which exceed
ed five miles an hour, about onehalf the distance
accomplished by burning the anthracite. Had it not
been for what, under other circumstances, might
have been a cornnendabe spirit OF economy, there
is no doubt that the ship would have reached her
destination at least day and half sooner.
A rather melancholy circumstance occurred while
the ship was three days out from port. A sailor,
named William Wilson. fell from the maintop and
was instantly killed. 1t is supposed that he was
struck on the head with boom, and was thus thrown
from the yard. He was engaged at the time in
chewing the yard down. And death took place
later in the passage, but it from protracted
sickness. The name of the deceased was Samuel
Scudder and the disease of which he died pleurisy.
They were both buried in a seamans grave, and had
the funeral service read over their remains.
Poor fellows. whatever pleasing prospects
they may have had when they entered this
special service were doomed TO fearful disappoint
ment One nan fell over the foretopsai yard, but
fortunately was caught by another who was on the
same yard and held there till he was relieved from
his perilous position.
The Niagara as have said. arrived in the channel
opposite Plymouth on the night of the 22d inst, and
entered the Sound the following morning. Hardly
had she anchored before number Of the officials of
the place made their appearance on board, and
among these, strange TO say, two revenue officers
What their object could have been in thus thrusting
themselves on national vessel of another country
and outaging the rules of international courtesy il
is impossible 10 say but it is to be presumed that
their conduct in this instance is attributable
10 ignorance-certainly the only reasonable ex-
of all the rules of international Ell uette.
After making their abode the ship
for about two days they took their departure,
and that is the last that has been Of them. The
Niagara lay in the Sound till the oath inst. when
she weighed anchor and proceeded up the harbor.
preparatory 10 going into dock Tor the reception OF
the cable. Since her arrival the numerous friends
which the officers made during their stay here last
year paid welcome visit, and again rendered their
Inequalities. Invitations have already been ten.
dered by nearly all the regiments stationed at this
xt .
dinner and II they accept onehalf Of them they
will have enough on their hands for the next two
three weeks should state here that as an evidence
OF the friendly feelings which have been manifested
towards them since their arrival all, nearly all,
the vessels lying in the harbor cheered them the
ship passed up 10 her anchorage. The rig
ging OF the 1mpregnable and other vessels
were manned by their crews, who gave
three cheers that walked all the slumbering
echoes Of the surrounding hills. need hardly add
that the welcome was responded 10 with an enthu-
siasn on the part Of the Nagaras men which proved
that they determined not 20 be outdonc in this
demonstration OF friendly feeling
The coiling Of the cable on the Agamemnon has
commenced, and about one hundred miles OF IL have
already been placed on board Of that ship They have
abandoned the idea Of putting the whole lj0 miles
which TO constitute her half Of the deep line
in one coil and for good reasons. On the last expe
dition $50 miles were placed in one part Of the
hold and this weight. although Il did not seriously
inure the ship. strained her that IL feared at
one time she would be hogged, and some apprehen-
sions were entertained in regard to her WORTH
ness The division OF the cable into three coils this
time will prevent the possibility OF any accident
arising from such cause, and will make the vessel
much steadier in a seaway than she was before. The
importance Of steadness ia the laying Of the cable
can hardly be over estimated. and the change in this
respect will 90 far 20 the Of the under
taking. II is not known who will be appointed 20 the
command Of the Agamemnon, In place OF master
Commander Woddall who went on the last expedition.
and who IL Is TO be regretted has not been detailed
for the same work this wear. Rumor says that Lieut..
Dayman of the surveying steamer Cyclops, viii be
assigned the position: and his knowledge Of the
oceanic telegraph route would certainly be strong
recommendation in favor Of his appointment. This
j. the gentleman who surveyed the great plateau
which the cable Is 90 rest, and whose soundings
roborated those made 10y Lieut. Bergman under the
order Of the United states government Then i 4
I......rl will haxa .a..ria..L The