The New York herald., 1870-04-04
CRIPPLED AT SEA
Tho City Of Brussels Loses Her
Propeller.
A Suit Of Sails Blown frsm tho bolt Ropss-Shs
Proceeds to Liverpool Under sail-Adverse
Winds-The Prospects Of Her Passage
Only Three Days from Port, But
How Many from Livsrpooli

Another ship mas been crippled and another
serious accident has beiailen one OF tho splendid
ocean steamships sailing from &hls port. AT one
time 1t Is the season OF flres then railroad saugh-
ters, again steamboat horrors rivers but this
winter aud spring strange succession or disasters
at sea.
The latest has visited the City OF Brussels, of tho
Livcrpoo, New York and Philadelphia Steamship
Company. This steamer Is almost entirely new. AL,
OF 5000 tons rerlster with four decxs twenty three
feet draupht OF water. tion built, constructed in
Glasgow, ship-rigged, with seven bulkheads and is
run by the Inman line.
The City Of Brussels cleared from this port the
Goth OF March, sail ing on Monday, the 2sth ult In
latitude Al lS north, longitude 80 west she was
spoken 10y the steamship Idaho civilians 4
Gnionl, ut eight A. III. On April l. The Idaho was
from Liverpool sailing from that port on the 23d
ut. The City OF Brussels was under sail, and Cap
tam Kennedy reported that he lost his propeller on
the Slst ult, and since. then whole SUIT Of sails had
been blown away. At the time OF the speaking the
City OF Brussels was under full sails, close hauled,
and heading southeast
The Idaho remained Dy the disabled steamship for
two nours and took letters from Captain Kennedy
TO his friends In New York and from some OF the
passengers to their friends. Every one was well on
board at the tiIne
These are all the iacts that have been ascertaIned
about The accident 10 her machinery.
Captain James Price. OF the Idaho reports fine
weather during his whole passage, ana that the
winds were westerly TO soutaerly until arriving In
longitude Al degrees west. Thence to New York
the winds were castorly. From this condition
OF weather 1t will be seen that the Cty
Of Brussels proceeding to Liverpool as she
did, sailed IN her crippled condition against head
winds, anu as Captain Price reports WAS thea
steering southeast AS ine disabled steamer Is ship
rugged she Gun hardly sail the wind than SIX
points aud the wind was, therefore. east-northeast
ana inc City ol Brussels had her port taCks aboard.
Assuming the facts TO be correctly stated It Is extra
ordinary that the City OF Brussels should have cor
unued ner passage when only three days from this
port Tue wind was blowing right in the teeth of
tie general or ocean Steamships and almost
III opposition to the exact point OF ner steamlng
direction
o. course there is little no danger, save in the
fact that as an IRON steamer she must rely entlrey
upon her sails against adverse winds III stormy
month, ana wnen she has already sacrificed Que
complete suit OF canvas to the shipping elements.
Tne passage II the DreeZes or gales (and she must
bow W either) are easlery, Will require long and
tedious tacks and reaches to windwara, and the
passengers may look for long stay ON the rolling
taken hold OF sea captains and their supe-
riorS OF late IN assuming that once under
way for European or American shores there
relief ana repairs. The cuipabe part OF Captain
Kennedy's action Is that lie was only three days
from New York and could easily have dOcked his
vessel ana made out requtstt0n for fresh can
vas. Concerning the accident to the propeller, in
itself II Is hardly dangerous but where the screw Is
very heavy Its loss ligntens the vessel by the stern
and or course oeprives her oil motive power to
DEFY winds. currents or leeway. There can be but
one opinion as 10 tue duty OF tie commanding
officer, and that h. IN view 0r the cases OF the City
Of boston. tic venezeula, the Smidt and other
crippled vessels, his action should have been deb
crate and iu OF caution. From the bald facts re.
ported the reader can Judge.