The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-21
THE STEAMER INDIAN EMPIRE.


The passengers of the Indian Empire arrived on
Tuesday by train at Dublin. The following is the
narrative of most intelligent English gentleman,
who was on board and who has crossed the Allan
tic five times within the last Is months. He says
that an hour after the vessel left New York. ire
mendous gale arose. which blew five days incessant-
ly, obiging the pilot to remain on board till she ar
rived at Halifax. The vessel arrived at Halifax in
good trim notwithstanding, and left on the 3lst OF
Oct. The coast round Halifax strewn with
wrecks. She made an excellent run to Cape Race,
about A hours (430 miles, On the Monday morn
ing she got into dense fog. Before escaping from
this the wind shifted dead ahead, and continued
increasing till it became hurricane, and the ship
made only 3 - knots against it. This continued till
Nov. H. with slight intervals in point of fury, when
the captain left off steamng, for fear of being short
of COAL although only about $50 miles from Galway.
On the 18th we lost our foretopsail and yard, the
former being torn to ribbons.
Sunday, the 18th, it blew fearful hurricane
when we began burning cotton to keep her head to
the wind. Divine service was read by Mr.. Berry,
the first officer. We had all the boats got ready,
in of any thing happening, to be lowered with
sails and stores, at a moments notice. Thursday,
the 18th, all anxious about provisions, the ship
drifting out to The captain promised, should
the weather not mend, to break up the fittings of
the ship for engine fuel. The following Sunday,
(2lst,) there was change. Divine service was
performed, after which consultation was held In
the captains cabin, when it was determined to cut
away her spars for fuel This was accordingly done
by all hands From the lst to the 2ls We had not seen
a sail On the 22d sgnalled vessel, the Silistria,
lis days out from Callao, and short Of provisions
On Tuesday, the 3d. the captain expected to make
land the next day, but on Wednesday evening a
hurricane blew us out to sea some 20 miles. Next
morning, CThursday,) all hands set to, the wind
having abated, and we succeeded in dropping an
Choir in Broadhaven Bay the next morning about
eight O'Clock. Three hearty cheers were given by
every one on board.
During this trying voyage Captain COurtenay and
the officers of the ship behaved admirably, and show
ed the utmost GOODNESS, fortitude and Judgment The
chief officer, Mr.. Berry, won golden opinions, to-
gether with the first and second engineers. 1t is
worthy ofremark that not passenger has received
any injury, although four of the officers received
some slight hurt
On the arrival of the passengers at Dublin, they
were met by Mr.. Lever, who happened to be at
Dublin, and every possible attention was shown to
them by that gentleman and the agents of the line.
A supper was provided by the orders of Mr.. Lever,
and his kindness was heartily acknowledged by his
weatherbeaten guests.
The Dublin Freeman Journal says:
1t is gratifying to be able to state thatat no time
even during the greatest violence of the gale did
the passengers manifest the slightest alarm or APP
prehension. Their confidence in the captain, of
GERS and crew, never for moment failed, and they
took frequent occasion during the voyage to give
expression to this feeling. They knew that every
thing which skill and judgment could do would be
effected to bring the vessel in; and their confidence
was increased by the good qualities displayed by
the ship, which excited the admiration alike of the
experienced and the inexperienced. The manner
in which the Indian Empire stood the test tC
which she was subjected, proves her to be an excel
lent sea boat, well adapted for Atlantic navigation
No more convincing proof of this could be afforded
than the fact that she shipped one only during
the whole passage, Captain Courtenay, who ha:
had large experience as an Atlantic navigator
sta es that the weather was unprecedented in it,
combination of violence and duration. Several
wrecks have already been reported, and it is greatly
to be feared that large number of casualtses mus
have occurred in the Atlantic as well as along ou
own coasts. The Indian Empire fell in with largt
quantities of floating wreck during her voyage.