The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-11
The Disaster to the Great Eastern.

The Great Eastern arrived nj Queenstown on
the 18th, In disabled condition, and her mails
were transferred 10 the Bohemian.
The English papers contain the following nc
count Of the disaster to the Great Eastern:
The Great Eastern leit her moorings In the
Mersey ut 100 on Tuesday. The pilot len her
nj O'Clock, and the steamer Immediately put
on full ,peei. All went we'll until 4 o'eicei sn
Thursday, when strong breeze prevailing an.
the tackle OF one Of the forward boats on tho
port side became UNLOCKED, having u suspsnd-
cd BY one tackle The eaHain endeayored to
steady the ship while this was rectihed. but
found TO bis surprise that the ship would sot
answer her helm. The TACT was Though 70 VAS
not known ut the time) the rudder pin was bro
ken. rhe fore-stay sail was run mp, but tho
wind split II TO ribbons. A fore try-ssb uas
run mp, but II was blown away; The paddle
engines were then stopped, and the boat or
dered TO be cut away, and the Great EASTERN
once more started on her course. The rass-sn-
gers then went down 10 dinner, and from that
moment commenced q chaos Of breakagcs which
lasted wi,hou, intermission for three days Ey-
cry thing breakable was broken-furniture. 1T
tings, services, glasses, pianos, oil were in
yolyed In one common wreck. II now became
known that the rubber was unrnanagcabls.
About six O'Clock the vessel had to be stopped
again, owing 10 two rolls o! sheet lead. weigh
Ing some seven hundred pounds each, which
were In the engine room. rolling about with
every oscillation Of the vessel with fearful
force These having been secured, another
start was made, when q tremendous grinding
was heard under the paddle boxes. The pad
dies had become twisted. and the floats we're
paddles were stopped, and tbenceforward the
scene il described rs fearful In the extreme
The hip rolled 30 violently that the boats we're
WASHED away. The cabin, besides the dangers
arising from the crashes and collisions con-
stantly going on, had shipped. probably thro'
the port holes, great deal Of water, and She
ship stores were floating about In utter conhi-
sion and ruin. Some Of the chandeliers came
down, a large mirror was smashed into thou
sand fragments, and the rails Of the banisters
and numerous other fittings broken.
Some idea VI the roughness Of the nights In
cidents may be gathered from the f.ct that the
chain cables polished themselves bright with
friction on the deck. A spare riding bit gave
way on the cable deck, and knocked . hole In
the ships side. Two oil tanks, also on the ca
bic deck, were 20 much damaged BY ANOTHER
conclusion that 200 gallons Of fish oil they con-
tanned ran into the hold, and caused. durng
the remainder OF the voyage. most in'o'erH'
bic odor.
The passenger luggage In the lower and at
ter cargo space, Was lying iwV feet In water,
and before the ship's deliverance Was ehected
Il was reduced literally to rags and pieces OF
timber.
siops caused by the tremendous lurching ofthe
vessel, and cuts and bruises were innumefAblc.
A cook was cast violently BY one OF the lurshe:
against paddle box. by which he sustained
fearful bruises on the arm which he put out to
protect himself. Another iurch drove him
urainst one OF the stapehions, By which con
cussion one Of the poor fellows less WAs ''"-
e tn ~ baier received injuries OF very terrible
.h.ss,,sr m A vital psrt. and one OF ,he most
s.s;l;rv incidents Of the sfair vas thn poor
Jul n,s Wing in agony 20 sliingush some part
~ ihs baksry gear which that nomsn' esosn'
Ore. .. III. as ANN the Houtb-
III, hut on Friday morning u had ysered TO
.n n.,.ssnsSrsbs log. In the trough Of the - -
az All not ship much water on deck. n vas
snon d,scoversd what was the matter With the
,,,dder. The pin upon which 10 turned had
broken o6 three feet above the point vhers 10
entered the stern Of the ship. TWAS Of vro't
iron, ten inches 10 diameter, and The iron sp-