Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-05
NUMBER 81.

concussion one of the poor fellows legs
was broken in three places. The baker
received Injuries of q very terrible charac-
ter in vital parts; and one Of the most
striking incidents of the disaster WAS this
poor, brave man, crawling in his agony, to
extingnish some portion of the baking
gear which at that moment had caught
FIRE. On Thursday night the gale was from
the southwest, but on Friday morning it
had turned round to the northwest, and the
ship was drifting an nnmapageabIe log
in the trough of the sea. Shedid not ship
much water on deck.
1t was soon discovered what was the
matter with the rudder. The pin upon
which it turned had broken of three feet
above the point where 1t entered the stern
of the ship. 1t was wrought iron, ten
inches in diameter-and the iron appeared
thoroughly good. breaking at that particp-
|lar point where it appeared the strongest,
which was one of the most curious Incl
dents of the disaster. 1t was now found
necessary to rigsup some kind of steering
gear. A spar was thrown overheard with
the anchor-luke attached, which dragging
in the water behind the ship, might bring
her head to the wind; but the swinging of
the rudder made it useless and plan
was then suggested to the Captain by the
passengers, to which the escape of the yes
sells probably attributable. Itwas to pass
two or three turns Of chain cable around the
rudder-pin, Immediately below the point at
which the breakage occurred, and secure
it with wedges and small chains. By pull
ing either end of this chain-cable, a circu-
lar motion of the pin was produced, and a
connection being effected with the usual
chain attached to the rudder, and a tempo
rary wheel rigged up below the deck, a
shift was made once more to proceed, but
the screw of the vessel, upon which the To-
comOtion now overwhelmingly n vestige
of the paddles remaining-soon stopped,
being fould by the rudder, by which the
rudder was prevented from veering moro
than was necessary to steer the ship.
All of Friday was occupied with these
arrangements. The ship had drifted up
the west coast of ireland, out of the ordi-
nary track. On Saturday night the brig
Magnet, of Halifax, hove in sight, hauled
alongside, and lay to for the purpose of
rendering assistance.
Sunday, at 9 o'clock, the Great Eastern
got under way, the rudder was found to
act, and the vessel proceeded at the rate
OF nine knots an hour with the screw alone.
| She met the Persia the next morning,
and sigualled her to come under the lee,
which the Persia did. But circumstances
were such that the Great ERstern's engines
could not be slnckened, and the Persia
made off, probably under the impression
tsat foul play was intended by tho
Great Eastern. An attempt was made ut
an explanation, but the Persia was too far
off, The Great Eastern continued her
course on Tuesday morning, and reached
the Head of Kinsale, where she stepped
four hours to arrange her tackla- She sig
nailed the shore, but no notice was taken
of her. At4 o'clock, she arrived off Cork,
and small steamer came off to assist her,
and the harbor was soon reached. As the
rudder was sufficiently repaired, the ship
would proceed to Liverpool soon.
Our informant states TINT it is almost
impossible to exaggerate the anxious state
of feeling which prevailed while the fate
of the ship was doubtful. There were
several elergymen on board, aud religious
services were frequent. The demeanor of
the passengers was sufficient, apart from
any signs of disaster around, TO signify the
distressing nature of the crisis. A meet
ing was held in tue saloon on Tuesday,
and resolutions of a pious and congratu-
latOry character were passed,
The passengers expressed gratitude to
the commander of the brig Magnet, and
complimented Capt. Walker and the offi-
GERS and crew of the Great Eastern, for
their indefatigable exertions.
Some of the proceedings, however, were
of n less pleasant character, severe COM
ments being passed on the condition of
the ship, her strength of paddles, and the
way she was ballasted.