Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-19
: WELLS & COLL No. 267 Main Street.
The Late Disaster at Sea.

The following are extracts from pri.
yate letter from DR.. James o. Green to q
member of his family in Louisville:
Or BOARD THE "PEREIRE." OFF HAvRE. !
January 26. 1859.
MY DEAR FATHER: write you after
the most terrible experience it has been
my fortune to undergo. have already
told you by the cable that | am well and
that all danger is entirsly passed. l did
this knowing you would expect the
Pereire to-day at New York and that the
news of Our bad luck would be published
in all the New York papers
In few words, we left Havre under
the most favorable auspices, and, thank
heaven, with very limited number of
passengers, on Friday, January 10Th.
A strong westerly gale set in and we beat
against it from the "Wednesday following
up to 2;l5 p m. Thursday, The 2lst, when
tremendous sea passed over the for
ward and middle parts of the ship, carry.
ing away all the forward saloon, with the
officers quarters, bridge, etc. The state
room deck was instantly invaded by the
water, which entered in large quantities
by the gaping holes in the main-deck.
The sea being very high and the wind
perfectly fearful, nearly all the female
portion of the passengers were in their
stste-rooms. You can conceive, there
fore, the terrible nature of the accident
We were in latitude 48o 39<, and longi-
tude 400 35< from Paris, that is, about
the middle of the Atlantic, and too far
north to hope for help from any passing
ship. The fires were all put out except
three tout Of thirty.one), and barely
enough steam remained in the only
boiler left uncooled by the torrent that
invaded all parts Of the ship to give
steersge way, and permit us to fall away
before the wind in a disabled condition.
The forward part of the deck was COW
cred with the wreck, and twenty seven
killed and wounded were found among
the broken timbers I worked hard, got
very wet, went all over the ship for
twelve hours in my bare feet, and we got
the wounded into as comfortable con-
dition as possible. Everything in the
ship was wet, and / was obliged to let
my saturated clothing dry upon my back,
which it took two days to accomplish.
After the accident, we fed away before
the still increasing gale during thirteen
hours. At daylight next morning the
sun came out, the sea went down and
gave the tired passengers chance to see
the full extent Of the damage done to the
ship, and from that time forward we have
had good weather, although still blowing
hard in our rear. The ship was, in the
opinion of all the passengers, admirably
knn led tha uk>la Hasr
oil the officers tell me they never saw
such terrific storm.
fear will be unable to take the next
French steamer, feeling the absolute need
of repose. In this respect will but fol-
low the indications, being convinced that
the Atlantic is rougher this winter than
il has been for years, and that my return
will be very uncomfortable one.N hope
you will have written on receipt of my
dispatch, telling me what you think best
for me to do in waiting some abatement
in the condition of the ocean.
We are standing out of ofHff aud on in front
Of Havre, waiting the high tide in order
10 get over the bar 1t is O'Clock am,
aud, as we wait till s:l5, seize the mo-
ment to write to you.
Although very much fatigued and suf-
Terng from exposure (tbe heating sp-
paratus having been broken in the gene /
,sl smash-up) l think few weeks on
'hore will restore me thoroughly, and | |
will take the earliest steamer for New
FORK.
Give my heartfelt love to all the fam
ly and friends.
Your affectionate son,
JAMES o. GREEN.