Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-28
THE DANGERS OF THE DEEP.
The Longest Transatlantic steam
Voyage on Record.
L.rnr Inr

lOAh 4NOn 1OAh 4ACldluy y aI' Afs
The steamer Britannia, of the Anchor
Line, arrived at this port yesterday, after
an extraordinary, perilous voyage of thirty
two days from Glasgow. 1t is generally
conceded by nautical men that the Britain
MAS trip, as a steamer, is the longest on
record from port to port. For many days
anxious friends and relatives of her passen-
gers had sought the Company's Office to
ascertain tidings of the vessel. Day after
day they applied, and at one time it was
thought that she had met the fate Of the
CITY OF BOSTON.
Fridays telegram from Halifax annOunc-
ing her appearance at that port dispelled all
fears, and her safe arrival has caused great
rejoicing. The Atlantic this season has
been unusually turbulent. Old seamen
who have crossed and recrOssed for years
say that they never experienced rougher
weather than they encountered during the
past two months. Steamers of every line
traveTsing the Atlantic have suffered greatly,
but none so great as the Britannia. From
her first officer, Mr.. Craig, our reporter is
enabled to give some few particulars of her
voyage. On the 23d of December, after re-
ceiving heavy cargo and some ninety
passengers, Glasgow was left behind. At
the time of her departure the wind was
blowing what Seameh term 'stiflly" from
the land. The weather continued favorable
until Christmas. On the evening of that
day heavy gale sprang up, and at midnight
increased to hurricane, the ship labOring
heavily and receiving immense volumes of
water. During
CHRISTMAS NIGHT
Two of the life-boats were stove in, and
James Simms, a seaman, was badly in
jured by being crushed against the taffrail
by amOuntain wave. On the 10Th the
storm increased, interspersed with snow
ana sleet. Such was the state of the rig
ging that the sailors We're unable to furl the
sails, and the result was that they were corn
into shreds by the force of the wind and
tempest. The log indicated that but fifty
miles was run during the preceding twenty
hours. On Wednesday, the 9th,
A MOUNTAINOUS WAVE
Struck the vessel at noon. Capt. McClel-
Ian at the time was standing on the bridge
giving orders to the crew. The wave com
pletely submerged him, and but for his great
presence Of mind in clin&ng to the sails he
would have been washed overheard. His
escape from drowning was miraculous
Two seamen were also ingulfed by the
waves, and escaped death by Clinging to the
Tatlines near the mizzenmast. The 29th
and 3Oth found the Britannia struggling with
the gales, with engines at half speed, the
water at times plunging down the
cOmpaniOn-way and submerging the cabin
floor. The passengers during this time ex-
hibited the widest terror. Both steerage
and cabin yOyagers cOmmingled together,
ignoring their positions, and vainly strove to
keep on deck. Capt. Mcclellan and officer
Craig vainly endeayOred to paCify them.
They imagined the ship was going down,
and resisted all efforts to keep them below
until the storm lulled. On
NEW YEARS DAY.
The barometer fell, and at noon another
storm commenced. The matches were bat
tened down, and none but the captain,
crew and first officer Craig were allowed
on deck. At two o'clock several
sailors were sent to the jibbbom to secure
the anchor and fix the sails. The captain
and Mr.. Craig, at the time, were standing
on the bridge, dTenched to the skin. Sud
denly, and before they had an opportunity
to escape it, tremendous wave ingulfed
the ship. Capt. Mcclellan and the first
officer were severely injured, and the sailors
were swept along the deck as far back as
the cabin. They were taken below and
their wounds were dressed. The captain
and bis first officer are still suffering from
their injuries. The weather continued
boisterous for thirteen days after this occur
renee, the shipat times receiving immense
QUANTITIES OF WATER
In the cabins, rendering the passengers mis-
cradle in the extreme. On the 18th the
coal began to give out, while the storm was
still raging and, to heighten the calamity,
the provisions grew scarce. The result was
that stringency in giving out water was ne
cessary, and the speed Of the vessel was
checked. Another trouble that stared the
officers in the face was the difficulty of gain
ing an observation, as they had not seen the
sun for days, and consequently they did not
know whittier they were drifting. Happily,
on the 10th the storm lulled, and Old Sol
and at six O'Clock p. NJ. the port
of Halifax was reached. Here the revict-
ualing and coaling of the Britannia was ac-
COmplished, and after five days of rough
weather she arrived at this port, as stated.