The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-09-30
FROM the Neso York Da7y Tribune.
The Pa Ssage of the Persfa--In.
cidents and Accidents.

The steamer Persia left Liverpool at
about 100 p. NJ. on Saturday, September
3, with 232 passengers and verv full
and valuable cargo. The weather at the
start was fair, and none of those on board
had any reason to anticipate the scenes of
peril through which the gallant ship had
afterwards to struggle. Monday, Sept 5,
opened fair, and so continued until 5 p. NJ,
when the sea roughened and brisk head
winds came, soon increasing to a gale.
Still no alarm was felt until, at about 10
z. NJ, the Persia suddenly iurched, and
rolled heavily to one side By this time
many ofthe passengers had retired, salts
he'd that the voyage, although slow, was
being successfully prosecuted. The sud-
denness of the steamers pitch, however,
created an excitement. Some of the pas
sengers were thrown out of their berthsx
one or two ladies suffered Commissions and
there was considerable CONSERVATION ors
board To calm the agitation, the officers
OF the ship announced that I" little pin in
the machinery had got heated and had
broken, but that the damage would be re-
paired in a few minutes"
1t was soon ascertaine1, however, that
the disaster was too serious to admit of
hasty repair. The broken pin was found
to be the port crank pin of the engine, the
loss OF which had entirely disabled the
port paddle-wheel, and rendered the ma
chlnery nearly useless. Upon ascertaining
this tact, the passengers experienced va
riety of unpleasant sensations. The gale
still blew dead ahead, the sea was Yery
| Of
were i'll, and the machinery on board be-
came useless, but the head winds prevent
ed the use of the sails to steady the vessel.
In this emergency, Capt. Judkins exert
ed his mas;er y powers of seamanship in a
manner which won him the regards of all
on board. Finding that it was useless to
attempt TO make Roadway against the storm
with the disabled machinery, he immedi-
ately set to work to repair the damages.
This proved to be formidable undertak-
ING. The broken crank-pin weighing Is
or ~ cwt., and having a diameter of II
inches, had been fractured near the point
Of junction with the crank; and although
an extra pin, provided for such contngen-
cles, remained available, it was matter of
no small difficulty to devise method of
extracting the fractured stump.
Capt Judkins saw that the only chance
of saving the Persia lay in prompt action,
and he IS not the man to finch After
several attempts, the steamer was brought
to obey her rudder, and her head being
kept we'll to the wind, she forged along,
making, however, but very little Roadway.
Thus passed the night of Monday, the en-
glneer keeping busily at work ON the
crank-pin, without success. On Tuesday
morning after consultation with the pas
sengers, Capt. Judkins finally determined
to put back to port. The verdict was
unanimous to the effect that any attempt
to proceed any further would not only be
futile, but dangerous, in view of the con-
tlnuance of the storm, the heavy cargo of
the ship, and the disabled condition of the
machinery.
At z. NJ. on Tuesday, therefore, having
been out three days, the Persia was put
about, heading for Cork, where it was in
tended to repair damages and replenish tho
supply of coal, and whence it was proposed
to sail on the following Saturday. But
the adventures during this remarkable yoy-
age were not destined to end here. On
Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 0 A. NJ while
running for Cork at speed of six miles an
hour, the Persia was spoken by the ship
Ben Nevis, bound from Quebec to Liver
pool, which, in her anxiety to approach
within halling distance, narrowly escaped
a collision with the steamer The Persia
hove to, aid boat from the Ben Nevis
came aboard, although the sea was rough,
to beg that the steamers physiciun might
be sent to the Captain of the Ben Nevis,
who was believed to be in a dying condi-
ton. Captain Judkins, animated by the
generous impulse of the seaman to bro
Their In distress, instantly acceded to the
request, and sent with the doctor liberal
supply of comforts for the sick man. We
afterwards learned that the attentions
which were thus freely offered produced
the happiest effect, and there is a reason
to believe that the Captain of the Ben
Nevis was enabled to land in safety at Liy-
erpool.
But, during this passage of maritime
courtesy, new idea seemed to have seized
the mind of Capt Judkins. Whether, like
Gen. Taylor, he had an insurmountable
repugnance to retracing his steps, or
! WHeIner Tie feasibility Oh elleclln8 MS re-
pairs on private account had suddenly oc-
CURED to him, | will not venture to decide.
One fact is certain The captain decided
to remain. Improving the opportunity
afforded by the temporary stop, the captain
called all hands and made another effort
to repair the engine. The adjustment of
the crank proved to be work of much
difficulty. The waves, dashng against the
wheels, kept them in continual motion, and
1t became necessary to devise plan for
overcoming this trouble. The method
adopted was exceedingly simple. Holes
of various sizes were cut in the sides os
the paddle boxes, through which number
OF cables and chains were passed, and Sc
curely fastened to the wheels. The oscil-
lations having been etIectually overcome ip
this manner, attention was given to the
broken crank-pin.
he ingenuity of Mr.. John Caldwell, the
Chief Engineer suggested a practicable
method OF driving out the pin. An iron
bolt working upon wheel which was fix
ed to support in the ceiling of the engine
| room was brouc,ht rappataIlv with o,roat