New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-10-10
A Accident to the GREAT eastern. .

[From the New York Hera|ld, 2

from the New York Heuld, 26th.J
! MIR. Howard Paul. one of the passengers on board
of the Persia, furnishes US with the following items
concerning the leviathan: W..
The steamship Persia, which left Liverpool on
Saturday, Sept H. met the Great Eastern on MoE-
and twelve miles from Queenstown. On approach
ing her the passengers Of the Persia observed that
she was rolling very much, but had no idea of her
condition, which nearer view afforded. 1t was
found that she had lost both of her paddle7wheelss
the whole of the boats with tho exception Of two)
on her port side were stove in Or disabled and the
rudder head being carried away, she was steering
home with the rudder chains. Large ropes were
stretched from bulwark to bulVark for the passen-
gers to cling to- and the rolling was so fearful that
one moment the great ship revealed the whole Of
her decks at most distressing angle, and the next
the bge was plainly visible. s@fr
On discovering the plight Of the vessel, Captain
Jndkins hoisted signal" Dc you require aid ~
which was only replied to by q large board being
thereon being SO small the writing could not be de-
ciphered. The Great Eastern still kept on her
course, working with her screw, and tor twenty
minutes the Persia followed her, in order to get an
answer to her signal. The passengers OF the Great
Eastern were scattered over her decks, 1there
| were reported to be about four hundred on board
of her } all of whom strainiRg anxiously forward
| to catch a view of the Persia. The ladies waved
| their hapdkerchefs the men their hats, and, not
withstanding the extraordinary roll of the vessel,
| the utmost enthusiasm seemed to be manifested by
| her passengers. VI 10 This tlue no answer had
been given to the signal of the Persia, and as she
| dipped her ensign and turhed her head away,
another board written on was elevated from the
paddle box of the Great Eastern, with no better
suit Even with the aid of the glasses of the Off
GERS the characters could moi be distinguished.
| During the time the Great Eastern had not
slackened her pace, and when the Persia had got
| some distance from her she hoisted the signal
"come within hail :" but as Capt. Judkins justly
| said he had followed her for half an hour, asked
her if she required aid, and receiving no reply in
the usual manner, he could lose no further time
| by again putting back. 1t was matter OF wonder
| on board the Persia why this signal had not been
| given before, as ample time was afforded. Alter
the Persia left Liverpool on Saturday she met with
! rough weather along the channel; the wind was
blowing hard from the westward, and 1t supposed
| that the Great Eastern must have experienced d
tremendous gale to have met Win the DISASTERS
that have overtaken her.
| The history of this large vessel has been one OF
| continuous calamity, and this last mschance will
shake public faith in her to vast extent. 1t is
fortunate there were cavalry in her, as the roll
ing was so terrific that the horses must have been
| literally dashed to pieces Many of the seagoing
passengers on board the Persia gave it their de-
liberate opinion that they never, in the greatest
Storm saw any vessel roll so wildly as the Great
Eastern did. By the next steamer from England,
| we hope to be able to report the safe arrival OF
| the passengers, many of whom were Americans.
It is curious circumstance that at the London
office of the Great Eastern the name of the captain
| was not known FIVE days before she sailed. A
gentleman ON board of the Persia called there and
asked the question. The reply WAS. they did
1 was Capt. Walker, formerly of the AdrianG; sne
left Liverpool on Wednesday, September Ii, and
| when met by the Persia had been, therefore, hVe
| days ont. .zo-