The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-02
UNITED STATES STEAMER SHENANDOAH


UNITED STATES STEAMER SHENANDOAH
LISBON, Oct. III, 1870.
~ has become custom, when an event transpires
involving great danger, the experiences and teach
ings Of which OF incalculable benefit TO those
whose profession carries them where they arc
lkoly-indeed almost certain-to encounter a rinl-
lar danger-I say 1t has become custom to narrate
publicly the circumstances concerned in the peril
under consideration and for twofoId rcason--the
one indicated above to warn others against similar
mishaps the other, that those who ordinarily arc not
Instructed Oh these points may have some idea OF
the pers encountered by those whose fortune It Is
10 adopt ssafarmg life. Following out this CUSTOM
1t s proposed to give brief history, sketch, more
properly, Of the effects OF Inc oyclonc-that marine
scourge-of September 1870. as fur as witnessed on
board The United States steamer Shenandoah.
The most recent analogous account Which has ap-
peared In print In tho remembrance OF the writer Is
tho recital Of the disasters which be.el the United
States ship Idaho, September 20, 1862 In the waters
OF the Pacific Ocean, Which account was published
In one Of the magazines Of the dry. As nearly az
can be ascortained by a comparison OF data and OF
Incidents connected with that unfortunate occur.
renco, the ordeal OF 10th vessels to have been
much the same. In neither case was life or vessel
lost In tho gale In both cases the ships wera the
property OF tho United States government. In tn Q
case OF the Idaho the glass fell to 2sGo In that OF
this vessel the lowest point reached was 1857.
Tho Shenandoah, United States steam soop-or-
war, had been perfectly rebuilt and thoroughly re-
fitted to go to sea- SO complete WAS her recongtruo
ton that distinguished oilcer connected with the
navy yard at Charlestown Mass., infor9M the
writer that In his opinion four oxen could haul at
ono load oil that remained OF her original tm5er3
Her appointments as 10 spars anl rigging were as
complete as 1t was possible 10 mako them; and
although II mo Ia
home and friends 1t il within the bounds OF reason
to assert that no officers crew. collectively, ever
left their land less regretfaly On board, all told
were 243 souls. Tho vessel was 10 sail to join the
European squadron, which station, III the Judgment
Of naval officer. is one much to be coveted.
On Sunday, September4, thus splenddly equipped,
the Shenandoah and her pilot parted company in
Presidents Roads, Boston harbor. The same good
fortune which mad attended her thus FAR continued
with herr favorable winds carried her on her course;
the weather was type Ct all that ha; been described
as delightful, and the ships company was unusually
healthy. Whether her share OF good fortune had
now been metcd out, or whether the trlol to winch
she was about 10 be subjected was simply to estab.
lish her stanchness ls problemacal; but in either
wise, on the morning Of September the wind
hauled ahead, although the weather continued fine
rs It had been. With the exception OF the usual
dissatisfaction manifested 10y sailor men at contrary
Winds, nothing unwecone occurred until the 9tl,
when there fell slight showers Of raln; the sky was
squal On the 1osh the glass Was deserved to fali
and to 90 50 rather rapidly, which caused some So
lictude, but no apprehension on sunday. the llIh,
Just one week from the compass buoys the wind
commenced commence to lreshen . IN Tho morning and
sea-. At twelve meridian the ship began to
pit na,on co n, but si, WIN Inc ex.
exhibited at the Involuntary posturings and the &C.
Eobaue exercises Of gentlemen unasad 70 unsteady
take OF ones luncheon without iorcibly dispensing
with the use OF those on tli,s occasion migratory
cOnyentionalitles, plates aud hnyesthereby bring
Ing CONFUSION TO ihe manly iap-no idea was eater.
tanned of anything mo;e than fresh blow, which
would simply strike terror 10 the sto.nachs OF those
who suffered rom sickness, thus canslIs rather
useless and unava.iing expenditure Of mess stores
which might otherwise awe contributed TO the hap
pless OF mankind by furnishing susenance to those
possessed vi more seasoned viacca ana more vigor
Gus dtgcstons For some time, howevcl, the sail
had gradually been shortened, simply TO Ds o. the
safe Side III case any thing unexpectcd should occur,
and also to be In accordance with tlat marine ad
MOnSher, tie barometer.
Suddenly the tempest increased, and the ship gayo
such vleenc lurch chat no Ward room table was
compi1ey inverted a si 9 ey gvy, 50 nas the
seven degrees the whole cis.alce rolled In the lursh
was slxty-nne degr es AT one o'ciock tho glass
too frequently witnessed by many to cause apprehen-
sion; but when on further inspection IL discovered
tlat the barometer was still declining, and taat the
steadily rising WIND and sea constituted factors that
would soon set adrit by their violent action and
mouon the boats, gnns and even masts, faces that
had been hitherto all smiles assumed an EXPRESSION
OF gravity, oil the mere portentous because ot tho
rapid,ty or the mutation. At h4ispast one O'Clock
the Violence OF the sea drove IN The pivot port on
tho aTboard bow, and the deck delugea almost
instantly; but by rapid replacement Of the IN
The water thus taken On board swashed heavily
about, urged by the rolling OF the ship, aud rs it
completely stagger the vessel, winch responded 10
these terrific blows by tralnuloas shudder as II III
reMonstrance at such Treatment.
40 a IN a n ut 1nnrn
and strength, blowing from the east-southeast,
driving before It binding spucnspray, 80 nriously
q distance OF about five hundred feet 1t was now
tmpossble-uttery soto 60 a,oft 10 farl the sail
reason Of its parting the pore nantopsaii sheet;
nor could the sai be ciewed down In sufficient tno
70 prevent It from being blown hLera!y TO ribbons.
Ing distress, and cracking III tie wind as hexby as
. cOachnan's whip.
At twenty minutes past six O'Clock the mizzen
storm staysa tack the only sails carried now were
tile fore and mizZen storm saysalls parted with
startling snap, but the sail was fortunately hauled
down and secured before any enc was hurt with TIL
flying block. Ten minutes afterward with fright
full crash the main topgaant mast was carried away,
but owing to the strength OF the rigging II hung
swinging violently inpoard and outboard with the
motion OF the vessel forming fearful and perilous
spectacle. 1t was utterly out OF the question to
cure the wreck for the reason before gwen namely,
inc impoaslblity Of going alot; SO That the add.
now become) cutting through tie stsnllng risgag
was presented. At seven O'clock the GiasS mad
fallen to 2s.6', and the cyclone had reached fury
and violence without parallel in The RENE nbrance
OF any individual on board.
It Is customary ON a vessel when the danger OF
laundering threatens 10 become extreme to release
all who alo IN confinement for crimes Of whatever
nature. At>tns uncture, therefore, the prisoner
who was In irons for misconduct liberated, anu
this OF itself is lar example OF the Peril Which we
predicted for Ourselves. AS eight O'Clock 80 violent
was the motion ana SO high Was the sea that the
steam launch, secured at the davis just forward OF
the manmast Oh the ssarooard Side, was wrenched
violently inboard and the daylts themselves twisted
Ike wire, although thcJ were five inches II dame
TER forged OF soiid iron. The heavy iron cradles In
Ike glass. Admonlshed by this OF the insial ty
Of what had hitherto been considered sufficiently
secure, extra lashings were placed on the guns aud
other heavy movables. The larger yards had been
provided with presenter braces and jumpers some
hours before The rigging row began to display 0
dangerous aXity, ana hung loosely, sagginI in TO-