The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-20
DANGERS OF THE DEEP.
Psrils by Fool and Fire-A Fearful Atlantic
voyage-Narrow Escape Of tho
Guion Companys Mail
Steamer Nebraska.

eventful voyages Oh record. The following accoua,
OF passage viii be read with interest. "a shov-
Ing the narrow escape the ship had from tate such
as that which befel the London or the Amazon.
TIC Nebraska, James Guard, c,mmalldcr sailed
from New York on the morning OF FRIDAY, the 10Th
or September. at ten ocl0cn; discharged hcr pilot nj
noon same day or Sandy Hook. All were In Rood
18TH ult., about eleven O'Clock, when there arose
very snon9 breeze from the southeast the prevail
ing wind suce leaving New York;, with a very heavy
swell nom the southwest. AT midnight The wind
greatly increased in force, but still all had every
confidence In tile ship ana her commander. About
TWO O'Clock on tue morning OF Monday, the 1eth the
wind nal Increased to terrific gale from the east
southeast TO southeast with very heavy squalls or
wind and rain, and . tremendous sea- the vessel
shipping large quantities OF water on deck.
No words could adequately describe the terrible
force VI Inc gaze Or the angry nature or
the sea ut this time. All due prccautlon however,
had been taken before this to prevent the water
nom forcing Itself Into the engine room, stoke.hoe,
or any part " the snip un der se main deck. Every
momen increased The strength OF the wind ana sea;
neariy all the sails were renuer usee IS IN few
seconds, the ship rolling very heavily a. Inc time and
shl pplng much water. t
At Six A. NJ. the gale was still increasing. and tho
sea breaking over The bridge deck; and at seven A.
M. the chief engineer reported 10 the captain thaS
liie engtne room and stoAc-loie were iast ng with
water, anu taat II was utterly Impossible 70 get Is
out owing u the cargo com u0ncing shit aud the
ship besLning To ilsi More disastrous news could
not cone 70 tnc ears Vi d coalliaL sr oI steam
sup, anu ne AZ once tried 10 Set her ON
the port tack but IL Was Impossible. Al
eisht A. NJ, The gale st incisaslig with u
heavy sea breaking over the ,llD rom rtem
10 stern ana win such, force ait u, TO burst open
the saloon doors and snap the sttoug iron bars
which secured the same, Il III iiad heon many
pipe stems, AMI nU0uiag tio sa.uoa wan water.
Every rol the vessel gave rue quanGty OF water sue
took on board VAS citing Ir,sntiai. Al eleven
A. M. the cargo siili.ed ~ iii Ca greater extent
than before. ileatils The snap down on ner port
side, with Ice oeNk under Wa!ef, ~ stii Blowing
heavy gale anu tue coming on boatd with suCh
erriilc force, making ccan breach over the snip.
iing the engine room ANA sloke-noic witi water.
ing awav port lleDoaLs Nos A. = and .. GopSniiant
bulwarks lore and ait, laiap room, Doatewain aud
carpenters rOUnl stcerago WAFER Closets and every
moyaDe thing on deck.
The wind now suddenly shifted to northwest,
blowing terriiically, the ves5e continually shipping
great quantities of WAFER sca AFTER sea striking her
WIN such force EiaAe THINK II inipO ,siDl0
for any ship TO withstand any one Of The SHOCKS.
The gallant vessel was now AT the mercy or The wind
and waves. and too wei could those 0n board real
lie the loss OF The Ill Ia ed London. 10 add 10 me
already numerous disasters, most erlibie OF all
cries on board sup arose"FIreW On examination 1t
proved TO be the woodwork behind the boiler on the
starboard side, The BOXERS nas,ng become
heated as to ignite The casings. The chief
engineer, with one or Tie lrenen, Ia attempting
TO get the ire hose along were thrown against the
other sea swept MIN along The alley ways between
the deck houses and he was picked up quite lnsen-
sibe. On being restored by the surgeon he re-
sumed his duty though suffering great pain. The
hose having been promptly put on, tie fire In short
time was supposed 10 nave been extingnished Dur
Ing all this trying time tie captain III giving hts
orders, was rs cool aud quick as any man could be-
thus giving confidence to al around hun. Towards
midnight ,hc wind iiode Grated hut the vessel stil
shipped immense quantities. oi water, when washed
away portions OF the WOODWORK on dock On the
morning Of Tuesday, the Zotn, the wind was sCrong
and tremendous sea running. tae snip stu on her
ream ENDS; every one on board, Incluiing captain
and officers. were employed trimming cargo aau
getting the water out o. tic engine room stoke
hole.
About eleven A. NJ. a fearful CRY arose that the
ship was again on fire. IL proved TO be only too
true OF terrible nature. The Goals IN tine
bunkers ON the starbOard side being In a perfecg
blaze, orders immediately gwen Tor the fire
hose 10 he played on the burning mass but che water
was 80 high In the engine room that the engineers
could not get steam Oh the donkey engine the
decks were torn UP IN several places the star
board side to gain admittance 10 the fire. and the
hand puinp was brought into requslt,On, and fire
buckets were passed rapidly from nand 70 hand. Tha
position Of the ship can be well understood when t
cts was got from tue lee side Of the deck officers and
all hands working Tor hours without rest or inter-
mission The panic among the passengers was at one
Tune very great. Tue conduct the captain and Lis
officers was beyond all praise. The chcl officer
riously injured himse by falling on ali axe, severely
cutting MS right arm Di alter being dressed by tue
surgeon was as prompt ana energetic as before. The
smoke from the dire OF 80 snilOc,ting nature
that the could hardly withstand IL for than
two or three minutes al i timc but being cheered
and led on by the example VI Captain Guard and
officers they worsed wen. Captain Guard, at great
risk OF his lile made his way forward to the IRE, ana
having cxerted himself below for a few minutes
came up on deck almost sunocated. On being re-
his quaint way, "Ah, IL Is all very well," and mme
dateiy ordered fresh apertures 10 be maze In the
deck IN Order TO work win greater facility at the
fire. all hands, without distinction, carrying water
To Try and eytinguish the flames.
All on BOARD now FUZZY expected that they would
nave to take 10 the remaining boats Tor safety. The
purser. prepared for every contingency, had or
dered provisions 10 be got up ready from the store
room FOR this last desperate resource tthe vessel
being then 6I3 miles from New York;, but, animated
by the captain and officers, the crew renewed their
assist and after several hours of hard labor Cne fire
| was eAtinguished. All hands were then ordered
down to trim cargo and get the water out Of the
gne room. Towards midnight the wind Gained
| down, but still there was the same heavy sea.
Being s unable to get steam on the donkey engine
| TO pump the water out the work was done by hand
the night through without ntermsslon part OF the
crew at the same time trimming the cargo TO get the
| OF the list our-nasted steamer bound west, dis
liant about SIX miles, was sighted and the crew went
art TO the captain, ana asked him what ne intended
10 40 with tue sp, as they thought she was not then
seawortDv nor tit to proceed on voyage to LIVER
pool The captains reply TO them was That as long
| ~ she Heated or plank remained OF her ne would
not desert her. nor would lie allow any OF them TO do
So 30. Ailer much persuasion they resumed duty.
gine, and with rs valuable aid the water was pumped
! on OF the engine rom and STOKE hole
| M much greater quantities. thus enabling them to
I
| injured At i've A. H. on tie I'D the engines were
moved anead, with steam on two boilers only, al
names trimming ship aud clearing away the debris
Of the srorm Towafds evening light, favorable
wind sprung up, aud all possible sail set. and
| those Which were lost were replaced.
Again there was an alarm o. fire, Dut II was soon
| eytinguished. TN Friday, the 23d, q hands were
again employed IN trimming the ship In order TO gel
her upright as she was still on her team ends, there
Dehg fresh breeze and clear weather. On the
24th and 18th the wind light and the
| weather fOggy; the crew still employed In
trimming cargo; ship gradually getting upright.
/ Moderate weather was experienced from the above
/ dates To the morning OF the Attn inst, when land
was sighted, arriving at Liverpool on the 9th, with
/ grateful thanks TO u merciiui Providence, VINO had
| guided the vessel through 80 much peril.
IL IA only common Justice to the commander OF
/ the Nebraska ana ali the officers who SO ably as
/ sisted him in time Of danger to mention their re-
| spective names, which are es fOllows:-Jame'
4 Guard, commander; Henry Bethel, chief 0llcer;
] lenrue Jordan. second olcer: Peter Grant. LhlrG