The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-17

The ship Challenger, Captain WInsor, sailed from this
port January 26 for San Francisco experienced ouch
succession Of stormy and disastrous weather that she
became completely disabled, and compelled to make
her way back to port. She reached here yesterday
morning. and was towed up the city by the steamtug
WIN. Fl. Webb Captain Hazard. The following s Capt
Wipsors report
On the lat day OF February had q strong breeze from
f. 8 E., and thick rainy weather, with heavy head
Al noon, latitude 36b6, longitude GO, the ship
under double reefed topsails with starboard tacks
aboard heading N. Z. by E. about P. N. the wind
began TO moderate ships slappng very hard
hauled up the mainsail snug, took spanker and
toI staysail ana strapped them the b had been
hauled down previous. As the stay was 30 slack did
good, the stay being new, and having had oppor-
tunty of setting IL up properly; about 2:3o p H.
noticed bank rising up TO westwards. II continued
ca I'M until three 7. NJ and then light breeze sprung
up from the w. N. W. hauled around the yards iare,
and stood on her E. E. noticed this bark gan,
and found 1t rising last; then lowered down upper top
sails and hauled taught the braces both sides;
this brought the ship under close reeted top
sails. Al $50 +. NJ. the wind with ter
ritc violence, taking the water up IKE whirwind
IN all directions. struck the ship with such force that
II made eiything crack fore and all Kan the snip
rev minutes but huding the wind increased the
sheets fly fore ana alt. In less than minutes
not single stch of canvass 10 be seen aboard the
ship, portions lying far the eye could The
wind increased " such extent tiatt blew the
jack and mzen topsail yard oil IN the sings, being
ot cabvass at the tlme Ran the ship before for about
an hour, during winch time she pitcned the heavy
head easterly seas, running herself under forward
tearing and ripping everything about her bows pieces
completely filling the decks with water, and wasnlns
away every movable article Thought Impossible u
keep the snip above water much longer, tue Snd in
cTeasiIg continually; held consultation with the nrst
officer who thought the snip was settling IN the water and
subsequently he reported the ship gong down
fat Tried the pumps and found water, but
In this Of affairs believing the ship would
and thus down head foremost got ready 70 cut away
the mass, lued her up slowly 10 the wind, aud she
came she was hove SO far down on her oeam ends tnt
was impossible for her to right The ship beng
pletey hted with water and everything Down IL tue lee
scnppers cut away the fore ana maDopnast oacksays
When the baintopmasL It the of
mast oil close to the eyes OF the rigging everything went
the mzzen except the lower mast 1t t1en ab
elk T. NJ SIN bio wing perfect tornado. and tue
ng complete wash The sip, tore and ait, she lay
the trough OF the uDm anageabie. Went work
away the wreck, which hanging under the
oos so as to keep the spars ana ron worx hem from
making a hoie IN the ship, as they We're then thump
ipg, and making fearful work snips side.
IL came ON dark which rendered II Impossible 10 set toe
wreck clear from the ships SIDE much gear
top hamper hung over the foremost head u yard
that could get clear Of 1t without cuttug the
foremast and letting every thing 60 Clear rather
than run the risk OF having hole made through the snip
by the spars and iron work then hanging aoDgNde all
night, thumpng and gougng the snip up horrii
manner We succeeded IN getting the wreck clear from
under the lee boat put sufficient gang at the pumps
got out Of the port pump through the oght,
The board pump being stl coal SO lnat
it became useless, tried get the topma
clear o the ship but could not portions lodged iu
main rigging and over the main yard could not get
clear Until ayight came, when succeeded getting
the wreck Of the ship the main yard being the ony
stick left except the man and masts At A NJ
the WIND moderated watched chance aud sounded the
port pumps found between three and our feet
ship, then went TO pumping and occasionally pumps
got cboKed With coal, that the boxes ha1 be
often 10 get the coal out Of them; finally succeeded
in about two hours and half, in getting most
OF aiter which everything
about decks that adrt At ii A. NJ Set the
with one reef in II, ana staysai Keep the ship
" the wind. On the morning OF the ID, bent
and set It; got the sup So that she would steer
iieged jury mast forward got fofelopmast stlysii
set and bent topgalant sail for fosesa and set it,
On Feb 8, sent up piece of crossack yard iof MI
zen topmast On the 9th, got up crossack yard and
bent sail upon II, anu net double rceed-that being
ali the sail that could be the
crcums stances. Then made westward as possible
determined 70 reach New York again, but had but little
hopes OF doing II, as the pumps
hor the stai board pump beng choked with coal, aud
totally useess and the other getting
checked aud liable to become uselessat any the
ship making water fast and liable any time
sihce the nrst day Of February, experienced very
heavy weather.