The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-24
FIRST EDITIO N
TERRIFIC GALE.
The Atlantic I'm n KRge-DisRster TO the
Steamship william Penn.


The steamship William Penn, from London
and Havre to New York, with five hundred
passengers on board, arrived in port on Satur-
day, says The N. Y. Herald OF yesterday, after
very trying voyage Of seventeen days from
Hayre and twenty.one from London. she
encountered terrific storm in midocean,
which lasted for several days, dong alarming
damage to the saloon cabins, and fatally tnJnr-
ing the bogtswain OF the ship. The crew
behaved with great GOODNESS and fOrttude, and
the Ca plain stood 10 his post unremitungly
through the whole of the severe ordeal.
On Tuesday, the 10th Of November, storm
Of WIND, with rain, set ia from the northeast.
During the whole Of the day toe storm steadily
increased in violence; but the ship was Kept on
her course under the most ef her sails and the
full power OF her screw, and, except the occa-
siopal tremendous pluDenes and rolllngs OF the
ship as she yielded TO the force OF the surgiug
waves, the bounded merry along with every
thing snug and all on board comp parativey com-
foItabe, but with more or less OF apprehension
as 10 what the night might bring.
II was hoped that the storm might somewhat
abate at sundowu; bat they were disa oponted,
and the night closed in, adding its thick dark.
ness TO already existing tcrrors. The officers
and crew were all on duty, while In the nrst
and second cabIu ealoOns-the former situated
midships and the latter quite att-subdued
conversation among men, with signs that be-
spoke the anguish OF fear with few OF the
women and children; ami thus the night wore
on TIL IL, when all retired to their staterooms
in the cabins below.
Below th csc still we're the 432 steerage pas.
kept there owing to the impOssibllitJ OF moving
safely on deck, amid the ceaseless raglngs OF the
storm.
At about ga, NJ, on the 18th, and before the
passengers had lett their berths, those OF the
trst cabin we're aroused from their vigls by
tremendous crash on the starooard side OF the
ship and the rush OF waters down unon them.
All, of course, was CONSERVATION and dismay
until the extent OF the injury or danger coult be
distinctly ascertained. They had shipped
heavy sea that stove In about ten feet of the
dining saloon above and the water flooding the
floor, was making its way through the opening
for ventilation and light to the cabin below.
The cabin being water.tight compartment of
iron all around, except the compRnion way or
staircase, and where the water had gained en-,
trance, it could not pass lower down into
the ship or make its egress from the cabin. The
only way TO dispose OF 1t was by line OF buckets
up and down the companion way, aud until this
was done the water occupied the entire floor of
the cabin Of thirty-four state rooms and ladies'
talCon 10 a depth of from one to three feet
while the rolling OF the chip would alternately
throw up the water on either side 10 a much
greater depth. Only strong men could stand
up against this sway and current OF water, so
that all the women and children were obliged
TO taze position in the upper berths until the
water, in part at least, could be removed. As
soon as men could do this it was done, aud
battens were nailed over the openings through
which the water had entered.
1t was the intention speedily to remove the
water from the cabin, rendering it ft Tor imme-
diate 1eoccupation; but before this could pos
sibly be doGe, and the storm still raging with
unaoated fury, little before A. N. another
tremendous sea broke over the ships side at
precisely the same place as before. This time
nearly ten yards in length OF the saloons side
was smashed in. There was q crash of tlmbers,
tables, and crockery, and momentary smother
ing of steam ard flying ashes from the glowing
stove as it went whlrllng from the saloon down
among the debris into not less than three feet
of water, which now covered the floor, aud
which, with every loll of the ship, was surging
Into the cabin below And nov, as the caoln
was deluged wirh erea'er flood than before,
another ahd q greater terror was presented to
its occupants, aud despair with some had taken
the place OF fear. The water was several feet
deeper than before. The necessity was no pre-
Bented OF removing the women and children
through the flood OF waters up the companion
way aud along the deck of the ship to the aft or
second cabin saloon. The strong men OF the
ship had this duty to perform, for few Others
could stand upon the slippery footing.
Tne first to leave the flooded cabin with his
wife was George E. Agar. He got to the foot
of the stairway, holding to the hand rail, neck
deep 10 water with his wife upon his bacS,
chnging to his neck. AT the next roll Of the
ship they were out OF the wafer and had gained
the deck. At this moment there were those
who, having no one to care for but themselves
seemed all the more snxious to be conveyed to
place OF safety, whilst others, full of true
heroism, would not 60 until the more helpless
were assisted out. This trait was particularly
shown in the mother OF nine little chlldren; she
would not go and leave her children behind |;
they could not go together, for each must be
carried singly. AT last when neatly all Others
had gone the mother consented TO go if she
could take her youngest with her, and upon the
promise of another noble-hearted woman, Miss
Hannah Stevens that she would remain with the
other children till the last had lett the cabin.
having reached the aft saloon with her youngest
child, she took her station at the open door
and there stood counting her children-one,
two, three-as one by one they arrived until
seven OF the zine had been counted in, but
seeing nothing of the other two, cried out, as
II in bitter agony, "But where, oh, where are
the twins" In a moment more and the twins
and their old grandmother, with the big
hearted woman who bad stood by them TO tue
last, were all in, when the door was moment
assistance the blind man and his wife were yet
behind, not that he felt neglected, bat he
would not claim nor would he receive assist
apce until all more helpless than himself had
been assisted out. lie was the last to leave
the flooded cabin.
Early on the morning of the shipping of the
first sea, when the ship was rolling fearully, a
lady sent ore of the stewards in urgent haste to
Captain Billinge, then on deck, desiring his
immediate presence at her sta'eIoom. He came
at once, becaGse'it was at the request OF a lady.
"I am spiritualist, CAPTAIN Billinge,n said
the lady. "I have had a revelation from spirit
friend, who says, when sigUs arise, tighten the
ship;' in other words, you must throw your
cargo overheard to save the ship" Toe captain
inquiries, "Who is the spirit that profIers this
adVieci Was he a seamanp ~ must not tell
you, captain, who he was; but it is none the less
true, you must throw your cargo overheard
you must tighten the ship" "And is this all for
which you called me from my post OF duty ?"
asked The captain, "Yes, captain" Then, y
said the captain, tell your spirit friend that
say he is iool'" There was no further conVer-
talon ON the supJect and no cargo thro Wn over
In The second cabin was another LADY. an
ancient maiden, who from the very commence
meDt of the storm was sure all were TO be lost.
Ipff 3 IA chi ,Ius A.