The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-10-04
Accident to the Great Eastern.
Anewspaper correspondent thus describes the
accident TO the Great Eastern"

Anewspaper correspondent thus describes the
accident 10 the Great Eastern.
1.-The visitors who were passengers or board,
numbered about loo, and, as may readily be be-
leved. included among chem some Of the Il ost
distinguished nayigators engineers, and sclentihc
men in Europe. All, as usual, were assembled
a. dinner a, about o'clock on Friday, when be-
fore the dessert came on, two gentlemen LETT the
Charmans table TO look al the coast near Has
tings. Mr. Campbell, the Marquis OF Stafford,
Earl of Mountcharles, Lord Alfred Pacet, and
few others followed, without waiting for dessert
The departure of these gentlemen from the sa'
loon, as il happened, broke up the dinner party,
and instead Of retiring 10 the grand saloon, as
usual, nearly all the visitors came on deck, and
went right forward into the bows. About 81 re-
manned at table-a few were on the bridge with
NJ. Campbell and thus, by most mercifui inter-
position il happened for the first time during The
VOYAGE, that there was no sitting in the grand
saloon, and no one or the little raised deck round
the toremast funnel One or two gentlemen were
congratulatng Mr.. Campbell on the almost mar
velous success of the ship, when in the space OF
g. second there was terrific explosion. The Tor
| ward part of the deck appeared to spring Ike a
mine, blowing the funnel up into the air. There
| was a confused heavy roar amid which caine the
awful crash of timber and iron mingled together
with frightful uproar, and then al! was hidden IN
| a rush OF steam. Blinded and almost stunned 10y
the overwhelming conclusion, those on the bridge
stood motfonless in the white vapor Till they were
| reminded Of the necessity OF seeking shelter by
the shower of wreck-glass gilt work, saloon or
| namcnts, and pieces OF wood, which began to fall
ike rain in all directions The prolonged clatter
of these as they feD prevented any one afr the
bridge from moving, and though all knew that
& n had
of its extent or what was likely next to happen.
| After short interval, during which the white
steam still obscured ali aft the funnel, Captain
Comstock. who was on the bridge tried 10 see
what had occurred but he could only ascertain,
by peering over the edge Of the paddle-box, that
the vessels sides unlnJured, and the engines
still going Gradually then, as the steam cleared
| off, the foremost funnel could be seen living like
a log across the deck, which was covered with
| bits OF glass, gliding, fragments OF curtains and
| silk hangingS, window frames, scraps oil wood
! blown into splnIers, and mass OF iiaginents,
which had evidently come from the cabin fittings
of the lower deck, beneath the grand saloon. In
the middle was a great heap OF rubbish where the
funnel had stood, from which the condensed
steam was rushing up in a white, and therefore
| not hot yapor but enough To hide completely all
that had happened below. In another minute
| all the passengers came rushing toward the spot
| The 20 or 30 who had renamed AT table ia the
saloon next that which blew up came on deck
also, and it will give your readers some idea OF the
! cicatic strength of the vessel when l tell them
| that these latter, until they actually saw the
smash, were almost unaware OF the terrific eA-
plosion which had occurred beside them IL was
only the dull heavy roar, followed 10y the rafting
| of fragments az they rained down on and through
tl.c skylights which warned them that something
| dreadful had occurred. Still none knew what
had really happened or what injury the vessel had
sustained. Capt. Harrison, who aft at the
moment rushed forward, and, Selling rope low
| cred himself down through the steam into the
wreck Of the grand saloon, and calling TO six
men To follow him, began search among the
ruins for those Who might have been below. The
only ore in the apartment was his own little
daughter who had lust arrived ut the after part
! AT the moment OF the explosion aud who, com
pletely sheltered by the wrought iron buli>head,
| had escaped 10y a miracle, totally unhurt. Capt.
| Harrison merely gave the order to pass her up
through the sky-light-, and continued hi> search.
| This was no easy matter The wreck and RIB
bish piled in all directions in the ladies' small Sd
! LOOM forward OF the funnel, made it difficult TO
move about. TIE steam hid almost every object :;
! the place was broken, the floor III parts upheaved
and riven, 20 as 10 show still more irightiu!
smash in the saloons and cabins below Through
these apertures the bright glare beneath the
! lower deck of all showed that the furnace doors
| had either been blown open or blown away, aud
| the funnel being gone, the draug ht was down the
remains of the chimney, forcing out the iiames
and ashes ia fierce and dangerous stream. This
as the cmber- touched the water, sent mp "A close,
sufto, atng air-haf steam, half gas-in which it
was difficult 10 see, and almost Impossible 10
breathe In the mean time, most on board, iH-
| GLIDING the visitors. took steps 10 restore order
and confidence. A. | have ALREADY said there
| were fortunately no holiday tourists there or the
matter would have been much worse. Some OF
the ablest engineers and machiniSts were on deck,
who could pretty well guess what had happened
and what worse might follow. 4 funnel filed
similarly to that which had blown up. was evil
IDENTITY getting intensely hot, and of those present
none knew TO what extent its Jacket or outer
casing, had been damaged, or how soon ii might
explode. Mr.. Scott Russell followed by one OF
two engineers, at once went below to the furnaces
o. these boilers, aud ordered the steam to be
blown off, the speed Of the engines to be reduced,
and every precaut;on taken to guard against mis-
/ hap. Mr.. Campbell remained calm and collected
on deck, getting the crew forward and prevent
ing any unnecessary alarm. Some of the men
went instantly below to search for those employed
| in the stoke-holes whom. it was now evident must
- oLa'IuIiy injured, II ini~-n
man, Win one Ut TWO otuers went beIo" 10 tue
lower deck cabins, where one at least was known
to be covered by the wreck, while Capt. Iiarri-
son came on deck and ordered the ships course
to be altered toward the land till it could Toe as
certained that there was no immediate danger from
| fire or injury 10 the frame Of the vessel below
The former risk appeared to be the most imni-
nent, as the flames still rushing hercelv from
the furnace doors. The hose was therefore or
dered to be laid on, and instant preparations
made for extinguishing the fires.
! DELINQUENT CAPTUGED.-The readers Of our
police report will remember the case of the Peo-
pie VS.. y. P. Hodges, for perjury, published some
/ five or six weeks ago. Hodges Was arrested and
held 10 bail to await an examination before JUS
rica Edwards Charles Gibbs of this nlacl beconl.