New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-02
THE PERILS OF THE SEA.

THE u. s. STEAMER IDAHO DISABLED IN
TYPHooN-REPoRT OF COMMANDER TAYLOR
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-Rear-Admiral Rowan,
commanding the Asiatc Squadron writes to the Navy
Department from Yokahama Oct giving an account OF
the severe Gripping of the u s. steamer Idaho ina y
phoOn her way to Hong Kong on the morning OF tine
Goth of September Admiral Rowan fears the Idaho Is
too much shattered and too rotten be m for sea- and
she will be used as and hospital ship. The follow
ing is q detailed report from Commander Taylor:
u. s. sToREsHIP IDAHO. At Sea, Sept. Is; 1862
ADMIRAL: have the honor TO submit the following
detailed account of the circumstances attending the ty-
phoon OF 2lst inst During the AFTERNOON OF the Oth
nst the XIV Was clear and bright and carried stud:
ding snils until evening Throughout the mdwatch of
the 2st inst the wind continued the same tne shiP
making ten knots per hour At yEIn sWatcb the
sea became moderately rough, and during
tno crdIon the barometer stood 1870 At p.
fonsas were reefed and the wind resheued rapidly
m1zeStopsaii we're furled At p m the fOresa
fured there were signs OF weakness along tne heau
storm and trysail were set aud at p. the
ship lying 10 on port tack under
sail. foretrysa, and cl0sereeIed mahtopsan Heauhe
s. W by g. with moderate gale from southeast aud
drlzzling rain The sea was quite rough put she rode
very easily. The barometer stood $50 put was ialng
rnuidly and the gallo increasing holding steadily 10
It's direction southeast, until 81 During the after
RSPn Sa the main yard broke in the ses
with q laundering crash, the starboard arm banging
fnriosy TO the leeward against the sail and rigging
breaking in two, piece foung In the back stays ana
rigging, the other hanging by the sabrace. Inc port
arm flew back, pressing against the weather rgsluS,
which was relieved OF strain by taking the Jumper wen
forward and setting It up. simultaneously win ths
disaster the maintopsai split with succession OF aeaI
ening cracks sounding like vOleys OF muskery and the
lee half instantly disappeared The lee brace was lne
diaely let go, the topsail yard new DaSk ana tne maui
trysa was quickly possible This sail DID good
service nearly an hour when blew TO ribbons Inc
noise fury and lmpetuosy of the hurricane at tns ue
were ndescrbable The prisoners were reeaseu hto "
aud worked mantuy Too much praise t oOI 10
Boatswain Leeds passenger was invaluable In cheer
Ing aud leading on the men, He was az al Times
'tho right man In the right place. dnomas
walker a coxswain, also deserves special mention
lie the principal actor III securing ,e lee man yaru
from being crushed. The ship lay 10 almost mouohess
keeling over considerably inc hein peiH marc up me
nendsh bowls deafenng. and the air was literally
composed Of spray The sea was pressed down @
carried by the tempest In line spray, when plnueu us
and stung our faces painfully AT times the nalInaS
was invisible from the quarter deck. 1t was utterly
impossible even look above the rail- and below II we
actually breathed salt water Orders could not % maGe
inelllgble by word OF mouth the trumpet Was useless
and work was accomplished by examples alone. Men
The storm still came from the south east All" eonnueu
until TIO d. Between $50 and 7iO D. NJ the following
accidents occurred The ana msHt S Ea d m iI
tOpgallant masts and light yards went, hanging
peared in twinkng, followed BY the fragments Of the
forestorm SAIL the sheet of which was seaulcd anu
liant mast went close to the cap with fearful crash, com
lug down with the whole debris OF the top na.npsr anu
starboard half oil the inato anu hsS wonderfuily
The mizzentOpgalant yard, after hammerlng 10 lee,
ward some time thrust itself between the rigging anu
mast and damned the wreck OF the inaintopmast and
could not be cut away The ship now began 70 labor
heavily shipping great with every luTeh Inc nst
sea She'd the whole boat half way up the mZzeh rig
giac carried away the bukheads of the cabin pantry
cabin door the wardroom anu weather hani
meek roIls sweeping everything and everybody above
into the lee scGppers The ship now went nearly
IN her hen snls buin moment righted, and LETT the
third cntfcr n, the sea lceward. The barom-
etcr had now fallen 10 216A AT 7Sp p. N. a
sc came over The lee bow, sweeping the lee gangway
clear bringing everything art and swept those in the
vicinity against the bulkhead through The cabin door,
now M s hight aud the darkness was impenetrabe ex-
cepting when there were occasional flashes OF sheet
gninn9 when the could be seen banked up. Que
over fhe other, seethng and boiling high above ana
rund the ship The noise OF the wind was Ike unearth
IL wells and the ship quvered In timber Sudden
" the mercury To 49, and with slight nuctuatons
10 rise With fierce squgl the wind dropped
aimos- 10 "a calm. A confused crOssedeea was now
running while pufs and squalls from all points OF
the compass The ship making water last but the