The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-07
STRUCK BY A STORM
The English Ship Hudson Dis
abled at Sea.
A Terrific Gale-Conduct Of the Vessel ana
Crew-The Voyage and the Disaster
Looking on Dssth-The Rescue
Safe Arrival in Port

A magnificent iron ship. belonging to the Tap
scotts OF Liverpool and trading from that port to
Calcutta and New York, was towed into the harbor
on Wednesday by the steamship Ashland, which
had picked her up at sea completely disabled. Tho
Hudson was a furigged ship and had only LEFT
New York on Friday, the 31st OF March, with cargo
OF ballast for New Orleans. to take IN cotton and
turn to England On Saturday afternoon the wind
was
BLOWING FURIOUS GALE
from the east the shin running under closely reefed
canvas ut the time; when, about nalf-past four
O'Clock, tremendous sea struck the vessel on the
port side shifting the ballast All hands on board
Immediately hurried to shorten SAIL seeing the peril
the ship was In, and were nard at work taking ia
the spread Of canvas when another mountain Of
water dashed her on the quarter, heaving her o0n-
pletey on her BEAM The crew now seeing the
great danger Of the noble ship, lost oil thought for
themselves and set to work vigorously to save tho
vessel. Every effort made to cut away tho main
and mizzen backstay lanyards but the mast only
trembled with the fury OF the gale and would 60
over Roll after roll came, the
VAST HILLS OF WATER
breaking upon the ship and deuging her deckA.
The mizzen rigging was all cut away but to no pur
pose They were then obliged to sacrifice the main.
mast, when, with luroh all went over the side.
and the crew felt comparatively safe. The vessel
behaved most admirably the men admit, plunging
through the heavy sea as II she feared no injury
from the 1ercest action OF the elements. IL was .
dreadful moment to all on board before the gear
went over; every man on the ship knew that II one
more sea struck her before they cut away tho rig.
BURY THEM BENEATH TT,
with every mnscIe trcmSlps IS theT saw
q dreadful death before them, the men
worked on ana i, the ouy indication Of their
OF the sailors watchful eye. They cut and pulled
and broke until the main gave way and went over,
the ship rghred. The storm still continued in eli ts
violence, but the officers and crew felt the greatest
the ballast in the hold. From six O'Clock in the
evening to eight tho following morning officers and
men were below I'm inc Da S 20 rgns ing
wind blew, and the sea rolled and dashed the ship
with unabated fury. At daylight, however, the
storm gave signs OF moderation, and
THE wEARIED CREW
began to hope for little after the terrible ex.
was about hundred miles out running along be-
fore the wind, with ib foresail. foretOp and stay
SAN set, when the Ashland came along Tney might
condition, but fearing the wind might change
they come 70 the conclusion It was
left them. When the storm had cleared on some
what, and they came to see about putting things
into shipshape again. they found the only remain
ing available help they possessed were the fore
mast. foreyard. jibooom and bowsprtt with fore
top ana staysail. -
was put into requisiton as quickly as possible. and
the wind veering to q favorable quarter, they put
back towards port. The crew are unanimous Ia
praise Of the bravery OF the carpenter the darkest
hour OF their danger. But certainly onesof the most
extraordinary items or intelligence CLEANED from
them was the statement that there was but one
hatchet on board the vessel. Here was first class
iron vessel trading between
FAR DISTANT PORTS,
and In moment OF great peril, when the SAFETY OF
the ship and the lives OF those on board her de-
pended on the quickness with which her rigging
could be cut away and the spars thrown over,
WITH ONLY ONE RATCHET,
and that one belonging TO the man holding the pO-
siton oil carpenter The entire crew OF full rugged
snip were dependent upon the miscellaneous instru-
ments they could pick up to help the one man with
proper implement for MS work.
The Hudson was yesterday tOwed up to the ship
building yard OF Poillon i Co., In Brooklyn where
she Is To undergo repairs ana II Is expected thai
VIII be able to resume her voyage In about three
weeks The hull OF the vessel Is completely unin-
ued, but the OF the ship in the storm capa-
bic OF strong argument in relation TO the DIR
ferent capabilities OF iron and wooden ves-
sells. Most certainly wooden ship In this
case would have had more depth below
the water line, aud, having more keel purchase,
would nave been better able TO stand this action OF
the storm 10 which the Hudson was subjected. The
crew OF the wrecked vessel consisted OF George
Evans. William Pelar, James McNulty, John Dom
aldson. James Andrews, John Thompson and two
runners, who were shipped for New orleans, the
captain and his wife.