Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-08-07
the Ae.MsMNoN IN A STORM.


who accompanied the Telegraph feet gives
graphic aud thrilling account OF the Storm
which almost made u wreck of the AgAmem-
non a scene on board is thus described
Daybreak on Mondsy ushered IN az fierce
o gale as ever swept over the Atlantic. The
ship was almost MS wet inside as out, and go
things wore on till 8 or 3 o'clock, everything
getting adrIt and being smashed, and every
one on board jamming themselves up in cor
ners or holding on TO beams TO prevent their
going adrift likewise. At 10 o'clock, the
Agamemnon was rolling and lsboring fear
fully with the sky getting darker, ard both
wind and SEQ increasing every minute. AT
about half past 10 o'clock. three or four gi.
gantic waves were seen approaching the ship
coming heavily and slowly on through the
mist, nearer and rcarer, rolling on like hills
of green water. with a crown Of foam that
seemed TO double their height Tine Aga
memnon rose heavily to the first, aud then
went down quickly into the deep trough of
the sea falling over Us she did, so MS almost
10 capsizo on the port side. There was
fearful crashing as she lay over this way, for
everything broke ndri!t, whether secured or
not, and the uproar and confusion was terrific
for minute then back she came again on
the starboard beam in the same manner, only
quicker, and still deeper thnn before. Again
there was the same noise and crashing, and
the officers in the ward room, who knew the
danger oil the ship, struggled TO their feet
and opened the door leading 10 the main deck.
Here, Tor all instant, the scene almost dehed
description. Amid loud shouts aud efforts
TO save themselves, Ii confused mass Of sailors
boys and marines, with deck buckets, ropes,
ladders, aud everything that could get loose,
and which had fallen back again TO the port
side, were being hurled again in mass across
the ship to starboard. Dimly, and only for
an instant, could this be seen, with groups Of
men clinglng TO the beams with all their
might, with n mass Of water, which bad fore
ed Its way iu through ports and decks, sugng
about; and then, with u tremendous crash,
as the ship fell still deeper over. the Goals
slowed on tho main deck broke loose and
smashing everything before them, went over
among the rest, to lee.wurd The coai.dust
hid everything on the main deck in an instant
but the crashing could still be heard in all
directions, us the Jumps and sacks Of coal,
with stanchions ladders aud messtins, went
leaping about the decks, pouring down the
hatchways, and crashitg & through tho glass
sky lights into the engine room below. Sull
1t vas not done, and sugng again over anoth-
er Tremendous wave, the AgaGiemnon drop
ped down still more TO port, and tho Goals on
the starbourd side or the lower deck gave
way, also, aud carried everything before them
Matters now became most serious, for il was
evident that two or three more such lurches,
and the mass would so like reeds, while bali
OF the crew might be manned or killed below
Captain Preedy was already on tho poop,
with Lieutenant Gibson, und it was Hands,
wearshIp" at once, while Mr. Brown, the in
delatgable engineer, was ordered to get
steam up Immediately. The crew gained the
deck with difficulty, and not till after lapse
of some minutes, Tor ali the ladders had been
broken away, aud the men were grImsd with
cUul dust, aud many more serious marks upon
their faces OF how they had been Knocked
about below. There was some confusion at
first, for the storm was fearful; the officers
were quite naudlblr, and wild, dangerous
sea, ruuLing mountain high, heuyed the great
ship backwards and forwards, so that the
crew were unable TO keep their feet, even for
au instant, and IN some cases were thrown
across the deck in dreadful manner; two
marines went with rush head foremost into
the payinS.out machine, as if they meant to
butt IL over the side, yet strange to say, nci.
thpr the men nor the muchiue suffered
What made matters worse, the ships barge,
though lushed down to the deck, had partly
, broken loose, and dropping side 10 side, US
| the vessel lurchrd, it threatened to crush any
ehO yentured 10 pass it. The regular diScI-
pllne O! the ship, however soon prevailed
! and the crew set to work 10 were round the
ship on the slarboard tack, while Lieutenant
Robinson aud Murry went below to STE after
/ those who had been hurt, and about the num-
I Der OF whom eXtravagant rumors prevailed
! among the men. There were, however uu.
! fortunately, but too many. The marine sen.
I try outside tho wardrOom door on the main
deck had not time TO escape. and was com-
pletcly buried under the Goals Some time
| elapsed before he could 20 out, for ono of
! the beams used to shore up the sacks. which
had crushed his arm very badly, still lay
/ across the mangled limb, jammirg it in sucl
a manner that 1t was found impossible tC
/ move il without risking the mans life. Saw!
! therefore had TO be sent for, aud the timber
sawn away before the poor fellow could b,
extrlcated.
Another marine on tho lower deck endeav
ored to save himself by catching bold Of wha
seemed ledge in the planks, but, untortu
nately, 1t was only caused by the beams
stralnlng apart, and OF course, US the Aga
memnon rlghted they closed again, an,
crushed his fingers fiat. One Of the assstan
engineers (Mr. Harvey was also bure'
hIhuHS tue COulh ou tue iONtT utCh, huu sls
tanned some severe internal injuries. Th
lurch Of the ship was calculated ut I5 degree
each way for five times in rapid succession
The galley coppers we're only half filled wit
soup, yet, nevertheless, it nearly all poure
out, and scalled some Of the poor fellow
who were extended on The decks, holding o
10 anything in reach. These, with disloca
ton, were the chief casualties but ther
we're others of bruises and contusions, NOR
or less severe, and OF course u long list {
escapes moro marvellous than any injuri
One poor fellow went head first from tn
main deck into the hold, without being hur
and one on the orlOp deck was "cheyed
about for some ten minutes by three larG
casks OF oil which had got adri:t, and any on
Of which would have hattened him like PAT
cake had il overiaken him.
AS soon us we had gone round on tho otl
or deck. the Niagara wore also, and boz
down, as if to render assistance She ha
witnessed our danger, aud. as We aiterwart
( learned imagined that the upper deck co
hAf broken loose. and that We we're sinkinl
= Things, however were not so bad us thn
though they were bad enough, Heaven know
for everything seemed to go wrong that dn
I