Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-08-02
ia Storm on TFE AGAllEMN0s.

very long letter from correspondent on board
the Agamemnon, detailing the proceedings of
that ship 'front.' the time Of her sailing from Ply
mouth, in company with the Niagara and the
other vessels of the Atlantic Telegraph squad
ron, on the morning of the 10th of June. The
early portion of the letter narrates the voyage,
which commenced under the most favorable
auspices, the weather on the first three days
being very mild and calm. A gale then COM
menced, however, and the difficulties and dan
gers to which the growing storm for many days
exposed the Agamelnnon are described at much
length. One ofthe most striking episodes of
the storm is thus described:
cat ten o'clock ION the goth June, the Aga
memnon was rolling and laboring tearfuliy,
with the sky getting darker, and both wind and
sea increasing every minute. at about half
past ten o'clock, three or four gigantic waves
were seen approaching the ship, coming heavi-
| " and slowly on through the mist, nearer and
nearer, rolling on like hills ofgreen water, with
a crown of foam that seemed to double their
/ hight. The Agamemnon rose heavily to the
| first, and then went down quickly into the deep
trough of the sea, falling over as she did so, so
as almost to capsize compile ely on the port side.
There was n fearful crashing as she lay over
this way, for everything broke adrift, whether.
secured or not, and the uproar and confusion
were terrific Tor minnte then back she came
again on the starbOard beam in the same man
ner, only quicker, and still deeper than before.
4 Again there was the same noise and crashing,
and the officers in the wardrooln who knew the
danger ofthe ship, struggled to their feet, and
opened the door leading to the main deck
Here, for an instant, the scene almost defies de-
scription. Amid loud shouts and efforts to
save themselves, confused mass Of sailors,
boys, and marines, with deck hatchets, ropes,
Il 4. 4. At.
which had fallen back again to the port side,
were being hurled again in n mass across the
ship to starboard. Dimly, and only for an in
slant, could this be seen, with groups of men
| clinging to the beams withall their might, with
a mass of water which had forced its way in
I through ports and decks surging about: and
/ then, with tremendous crash, as the ship fell
still deeper over, the Goals slowed on the main
deck broke loose, and smashing everything be
fore them, went over among the rest to lccward.
The coal dust hid everything on the main deck
in an instant, but the crashing could still be
heard going on in all directions, as the Jumps
and sacks of coal, with stanchions, ladders, and
mess-tins, went leaping about the decks, pour
4 ing down the hatchWays, crashing through the
glass skylights into the engine room below
Still it was not done, and, surging again over
another tremendous wave, the Agamemnon
dropped down still more to port, and the Goals
| on the starboard side of the lover deck gave
way also, and carried everything before them.
Matters now became most serious, for it was
evident that two OF three more such lurches
| and the maSts would go like reeds while half
the crew might be manned or killed below
1 Captain Preeedy was already on the poop, with
Lieutenant Gibson, and it was GLANDS, wear
shipl" at once; while Mr. Brown, the indefatiga-
bic chief engineer, was ordered to get up steam
Immediately. The crew gained the deck with
difficulty, and not till after lapse ofsomc min
utes, for all the ladders had been broken away,
and the men were grimed with coal dust and
many bore still more serious marks upon their
faces of how they had been knocked about be.
low. There was some confusion at first, for the
storm was fearful; the officers were quite maud
IDLE, and wild, dangerous sea, running noun
tain high heeled the great ship backwards ana
forwards so that the crew were unable to keep
their feet an instant, and in some cases were
/ thrown across the decks in dreadful manner:
two mariners went with rush head foremost in.
to the paying out machine, as ifthey meant to
butt it over the side vet strange to saw neither
the men nor the lnachine suffered. What made
matters worse, the ships barge, though dashed
down to the deck, had partly broken loose and
dropping from side to side as the vessel
lurched, it threatened to crush any who Yentur-
ed to pass it. The regular discipline of the ship
| however, soon prevailed, and the crew set to
work to wear round the ship on the starboarl
tack, while l4ieutenants Robinson and Murray
went below to see after those who had been
hurt, and about the number of whom extrava.
giant rumors prevailed among the men. There
were, however, unfortunately, but too many.
The marine sentry outside the wardroom door
on the main deck had not had time to escape.
and was completely buried under tho Goals
Some time elapsed before he could be got out,
for one ofthe beams used to shore up the sacks
which had crushed his arm very badly, stilllay
across the manged limb. jamming it up in such
a manner that it was found Impossible to move
it without risking the mans life Saws, there
fore, had to be sent for, and the timbers sawn
away ere the poor fellow could be extricated-
Another marine ofthe lower deck endeavored
to save himself by catching hold of what seem.
ed a ledge in the Planks, but unfortunately, it
was only caused by the beams straining apart,
and, of course, as the Agnmmemnon Tigfted,
they closed again and crushed his fingers fat
One of the assistant engineers Afr. Harvey was
also buried among the Goals on the lower deck,
and sustained some severe internal Injuries
The lurcl of the ship calculated at forty five
degrees each way for five times in rapid success
sion. The galley coppers were only half filed
with soup, yet, nevertheless, it nearly all pou.
red out, and scalded some of the poor fellows
who were extended on the decks holding on TO
anything in reach. These, with disIocation
were the chief casualties; but there were 9TH
ers of bruises and contusions, more or less Sc
we're and of cOurSn a fOno lief f1f accoyS,s -,