Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-10-01

THE MlsHAP 10 THE GREAT EASTERN A pas.
seDger by the Persia relates some further par.
ticulars Of the disaster 10 the Great Eastern.
which supplies some interesting incidents not
alluded TO IN the brief report Of Capt Judkns ;
" The Persa it seems, met the Great Eastcrn
on Monday, Sept. lG, ut o'clock a. IN, two
hundred and twelve miles from Queens town
On approaching 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 hnd lost
both of her paddle-wheels, the whole of the
boats with the exception Of two) ON her mort
side were stove in or disabled, and, the rudier
head helng carried away, she was steering for
home with the rudder chains. Large ropes were
stretched from hulwark to bulWatk for the pas.
sengers to cling to, Hnd the rolling vas 50 fearful
that one moment the great ship revealed the
whole Of her decks at most distressing angle,
and The next the bilge was plainly visible.
" on discovering the plight of the vessel,
Capt Judkins hoisIed signal, Do you REQUIRE
aid 2 which was only replied 10 by a large board
being displayed on the paddle box, but the char.
aeteTs thereof being 80 small, the writing could
not be deciphered. The Great Eastern still kent
on her course, working with her screw, and for
twenty minutes the Persia followed her in order
to get an answer to her signal The passengers
OF the Great Eastern were scattered over the
decks There were reported to be about four
hundred on board of herr, all of whom seemed
straining anxously forward to catch a view of
the Persia. The ladies waved their haudker.
chiefs, the men their hats, and, notwithstanding
the heavy roll of the vessel, the utmost entbu-
siasm seemed to be manifested by her passen-
gers. Up to this time no answer had been given
to the signal Of the Persia and as she dlppcd
her ensign, and turned her head away, another
board, written on, was elevated from the paddle
box OF the Great Eastern, with no better result
Even with the aid Of the glasses of the officers
the characters could not be distinguished. bur
ing this time the Great Eastern had not slacken.
ed her pace, and when the Persia got some
distance from her she hoisted the signal 'ceme
within hail, but as Capt. Judkins Justly said.
he had followed her for half an hour, asked her
II she required aid, and received 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
gwen before, as ample time was afforded. After
the Persia left Liverpool on Saturday she met
with rough weather along the channel; the wind
was blowing hard from the westward, aud it is
supposed that the Great Eastern must have ex-
perienced tremendous gale to have met with
the disasters that had oyertnktn her
" 1t Is II curious circumstance that Mt the LON
don Office of the Grent Eastern the name of the
captain was not known five days before she
sailed. genilemnn on board of the Persia
called there and asked the question The re,ly
was, They did not know The officer in eba,,,c
ci the vessel was Capt Walker, formerly of the
Adruti1"