The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-21
The Voyage OF the Weser.


SAILING FROM OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AND PROGRE
OF THE aALE-IMMINENT DANGER, AND THE RUN
TO CORK.
Translated from the weser zeituug, Janll
few days ago we had the unpleasant duty Of inform
ing readers that the North German Lloyds steam
ship Weser which had left Bremerhaven, December 4
had arrived at Queenstown, Ireland after having in vain
bated with fearfully tempestuous weather. Further
particulars which are now at hand confirm that the cap
tain induced TO discontinue his voyage to New York
by the drest necessity, after having reached ~ deg.
The dangers with which the vessel has had to contend
Of that the safety Of the ship and
of the many lives embarked upon it must be ascribed TO
a timely providental nterpoeition.
The Weser left Bremerhaven for New York Dec. 4, with
sixty three passengers and cargo OF 450 TONS The first
days OF the voyage were pleasant Inc engines worked
satisfactorily and everything tended TO promise quick
passage.
day the weather changed-it commenced to blow heavily
from the wes-the ship abored much, and the larger
number of the steerage side lights knocked in The
portfolios closed we'll could DONE but In
spite of all exeron water found its way into the hold
On December ii, the gale continuing unabated II
noticed that great quantity Of water had collected
in the after bunker but the steam pumps, which
kept at work, threw up little or no water.
This evil was greatly increased when December 49,
the ship heading against wind and heavy sea, the bow
ports and hawsboes gave way, and admitted large
Of water into the provision The doors the
partment were opened, in order to allow the water TO
reach the pumps Immediately after this was done
the water in the provision rapidly eight feet
This circumstance proved that the Bulge completely
niled with water. The doors in the compartment
now closed and hand pumps set at work relieve the
forward and aft compartments. The large force pump
unfit to work effectively.
December IA water showed itself in the forward coal
bunkers, and gained rapidly in the engine and boiler
room. The principal work was done with hand pumps
and baing with buckets the steam pumps refused to
work with any noticeable effect The passengers shared
the toll with the crew.
The boats kept in readiness and Captain Gaetzen
solved after due conference with his engineers Off
GERS 10 take the ship to the port Dur
ing the heavy westerly gales the steamship had ached
December 10, ~ deg 30 min w., and 40 deg. Al min N.
The coal was nearly all consumed and tho water gained
the pumps, in spite OF unremttng exertions that
there was but little hope Of reaching western port
with the fuel then left The passengers were di-
vided into two watches, in order TO assist the
pumping and bailing, which latter
done by OF large hogsheads hoisted by the
donkey engines deck but all these exertops were not
sufficient keep the from far gaining on them
that extnguished the fires Of the after boilers the
port side
Of water that was impossible to get at tho COAL of
the steam pumps drew any water The vessel shipped
TREMENDOUS sea- throwing her her beam ends At 10
A. NJ saw three masted vessel going by the wind. The
Woser was headed towards the stranger, but the
moment the fires went out aud thesnp her steerage
way Several sails were blown away. Signals Of distress
made TO induce the other vessel TO the
steamer, which then in the greatest danger Of foun
derng, but no notice taken of them. The
settling gradually port part Of the cargo
overheard another part put into the seerage-afer
the passengers been removed to the second cabnn
order to countcrac the list TO port, without however,
ehtng the Ship which in fact continued TO SETTLE that
the waterways were submerged The situation Of the
peOllc ou ooiru WIS tncu truly ucsIeTltc.
The 10th was less dismal the pumps partly kept
at work Soon, however the gale recommended, and in
creased to hurricane Every soul prepared for the
worst, when at tho time Of the highest need,
the wind changed from northwest TO southwest thereby
materially relieving the vessel But tho dangers were
not az an end. Gale and ragged carfuly the deck
was continually swept by furious seas that there
no possibility Of retaining hold the ratings torn
away, as we'll as nearly everything else deck but the
crew succeeded in saving all the boats with the exception
Of two. In the meantime officers and men under deck
were undauntcd and busiy employed devising means
saving the ship. Tho forward hand pump was brough
into the engine room, and carrying out most happy idea
out OF steampipe.
On the 22d Of December the seen to decrease
On the 23d the floor OF the boiler became visible,
and at eight O'Clock on that night the engine recommended
to work. GO degrees W.
On the same day the gale went down.
The passage TO Cork was comparatively prosperous,
although the pumps had 10 be continually worked.
During the last sixteen hours the fires kept IN
with wood from the storage.