The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-19
MARINE DISASTERS.

MAXINE UlSASTEEO.
--~-~---~-~~~-~----->
Terrible Voyage OF the Isaac Webb From
Liverpool 10 New York-A Voyage Of Fifty
six Days Amid Constant Gales-The Cap.
tain Killed During n storm-The Vessel
Ashore mt Sandy HOOk-Intcresting Far
ticulars.
The packet snip Isaac Webb OF the Black Ball
line Of this city, experienced severe weather and
sustained great injury during her recent passage
from Liverpool to this port. The Isaac Webb, with
400 steerage passengers on board LEFT Liverpool on
the I'D Of September. The weather for the first
week proved all that the most inexperienced lands
man could have possibly desired. The
winds blew favoraby and the sea was
as smooth and calm az though lulled to
sleep by some kind power OF the deep. The Webb
during the week made very fast time, and everybody
on board felt confident that Captain Stowcll-than
whom no Drawer seaman ever handled hem-would,
as usual, have the good fortune OF making speedy
voyage. But the old adage-0d but none the less
true for being od-that "man proposes and God dis
posesn was illustrated In fearful manner before the
ninth day had dawned.
About seven or eight O'Clock in the morning Of the
1sE OF October, adverse winds began to prevail,
while the sea, that had been all along 30 calm,
heaved itself up into mountain pillows, which dashed
her stout timbers from stem to stern. To add
to the terror OF the high seas and violent gales with
which, even up TO her arrival at Sandy Hook on
Tuesday night the unfortunate vessel was forced to
do sbattle, rain fell in torrents almost every day,
while the sky was cast in darkness and an almost
impenetrable fog perpetually surrounded the ship
like pail OF impending doom. On the morning OF
the 18th OF October the and tempest increased In
violence and pitched and tossed the ship about at
the mercy OF the waves as though 1t had been mere
chip of wood. AT times according to the officers 1t
was found almost impossible to make her obey the
action Of her helm; for the waves dashed against
her with such fury that she was again and
again spun around out OF her course and knocked
on her beam ends until not man Of the crew could
keep his feet or do the work he was commanded to
do. The maintopsail brace parted and the three
long boats and another boat were carried overheard
same time smashed the bulwarks, the side OF the
galley and the bulwark poop. No sooner was one
set OF sails torn into shreds by the gale than the sea
men replaced by another; but 1t was at last found
to be useless task to replace any sail torn away,
for the simple reason that no canvas, had 1t been
shot, could have withsood the fury Of the winds that
twisted every piece raised on the rigging into
knots compared with which the Gordan knot
would have been O fZZle. In the meantime the v6s-
sci sprang leak and the pumps were kept con-
sstantly working to prevent her from being water
f During the whole period Of the voyageup to the 18th
inst) which one OF the officers, seaman OF twenty
years. experience declares was the ''roughest" no
at his post. He never aagged in his duty, and by
wen in hand aud inspired the passengers
during the terrible ordeal through which
they passed that surprised even the mselves
About quarter past four O'Clock on the moraing
of the 18th Of October the sea and winds and rain
combined had beat the poor ship about to such o
degree that one or two OF the officers began TO lose
how gf lalfv from fhn rItn oh nrnnd
crowding all about them. Captain Stowell knew
full well how necessary It was TO keep up the spirits
81 e en oa e On a Sm
many of the crew put on as cheerful an ali as he
could assume and, going on deck, busted him
various labors. He had just given an order to
his second mate when heavy sea struck the
The captain was the first TO see the impending
danger, and heard TO cry out "Take care, boys ~
In another instant there was roar Of surging
agony that rang out high above the OF the ocean,
"a the ship, struggling like giant In chains
and the body OF Captain stoweil lay, bleeding and
CHASTITY, on the deck. He was carried TO his room by
but although he regained his consciousness the fol-
lowing day, he gradually sunk under his sufferings,
and died on the morning OF the 2st OF October The
only apparent external injuries he had received wcre
q fracture OF the jawbone and q deep cash in the
head. The injuries which caused his death were
After the captains death the command of the
vessel devolved OF course upon the first mate-Mr.
Cozzens-who in conjunction with the second mate,
Mr. Nolan, succeeded, with scarcely shred OF sail,
In lighting the ships way through daily succession
OF gales TO Sandy Hook, where she arrived Tuesday
night, after a voyage-amld tempests and storms OF
the most violent natureof fftysix days. duration.
On the arrival OF the vessel OF the Hook on Tues
day night she anchored between the bar and the
lightship. During the gale she parted both chains
and went ashore on the Outer Middle, where she
struck heavily during the night Az daylight yester-
day morning she was taken in tow by the steam
tug Yankee, Captain Hennesey, and the Submarine
Wrecking Company's steamer Philip, Capt. Hazard.
The ship having several feet OF water In her hold IL
was deemed prudent to tow her as high up on the
beach inside Of Sandy Hook as possible where
steam pumps were put on board, and every prepar
alton made to pump her ont and tow her Of The
passengers brought up in the Yankee to Castle
Garden.
Captain stowell, the commander OF the vessel who
met such an unfortunate fate during the voyage,
was a great favorte with the firm In whose employ
he had been for upward OF twenty years. He had by
his own individual eycrti0n and industry reached
the highest rank In the commercial marine, after
having begun his career Mt the lowest step OF
the ladder OF seaman's life. lie was but
his death, and leaves wife aud I'VE
children who reside In Brooklyn. 1t will be remcm
bered by those who are familiar with the terrible
gale which nearly wrecked the Isaac Webb about
year ago. after she had left Liverpool several days.
that 1t was this same Captain Stowel who, with all
her masts and sails gone, managed by shere skill.
TO conduct me vessel safely back to port without
the loss Of single llfe The Webb, OF which Captain
Stowell was very fond after the fashion OF seamen.
who always seem to have fatherly love for their
favore craft Ia the largest vessel OF the Black Ball
line, and Is considered one Of the strongest ships OF
its kind anoat; Had lt not been for her great
strength her officers are OF the opinion that she
would have gone down, with every soul board, In
the first terrible gale that was encountered during
sTATEHEST OF Mr.. NOLAN, THE SECOND MATE
The following Is the statement Of the second mate,
John Nolan, concerning the gale OF the 18th Of Oc-
t0ber:-
The morning after Captain stowel was injured
he sent for me and handed me an old log