, 1873-03-31
A PER(LOUS SITUATION.

Tho StcnMRfalp City Of Brussels L0scs
K1or Mudtlor in a Storm, and Drifta
FOR Sovernl Days Mt tho Mercy OF tho
Winds nMl yVnvos.
We aro permitted to publish tho following OK
tract from private letter, datod
L1vEnpoo1, March II, 1873.
- : You have loarnod from my dis
patch homo that I wan passenger on tito City
Of Drussela, which sailed from liverpool on tho
20th of last month, md lost her ruddor in n
hoavy gallo, whom four days out from hnrbor. Wo
woro twelve dayn at sen after our diHaator; at
tho time Of which none Of us thought Of seeing
land, ovon under the most fortunate circuu,-
stancog, within month; and all tho tinso NO
stood in great danger Of total shtpwreck. :.
We left Queenstown On Friday tho 22d, and
made over GOO miloa BY Sunday noon. Then We
encountered hoavy loafi-wind, which Increased
steadily, blowing gale all day Monday, 80 TINT
our run for that day WAS only 200 uilos. You
cannot imagine, or describe, the wild tcmpost
OF Monday night. Wayo aftor wavo can1o DASH
ing over us, carrying overheard tho forward
bridge, and smashing our broakwator. Tic
bridge was supported by Hlx solid wrought-iron
pillars, noarly 4inohos in diameter; and they woro
twisted mud broken ns 10 many strnws. The
broakwator WAS solid pioco Of timhcr, 20 inohos
by 90 inohoa, stretching at right anglos across
tho dock, In front Of tho foronlast, t,-itB object
boing to break tho force Of seas shipped over
tho bows. Thfa was struck by heavy Wayo,
and broken as though 1t were no stronger than q
pipe-Bton1. Towards morning, IN awful sen
struck us, carrying away ruddor and ruddor-poBt,
lowing tho ship wholly unn,anagonblo, and COM
pletely at tho mercy Of tho winds and wavos Tho
rudder-poat waH wrought iron, about 10 inchea
In diameter and 1t aoomB impossible that wator
HN%
to broak tho post. Ono would thin1s that It
would DO twiated from tho chip boforo bronking.
The upper part OF tho rlddor and post romainod
intact whllo all below (somo 81 feot), compris-
Ing sovens-oights Of Its whole longth, was swept
bringing uB into tho trough to battle with
beam-soa,- most atraining position ahip can
assume. Setting tho mizzon topaan brought
US ,'ot up up ndttnn tto' +na but sgt TS l cGnd
from the wind. But am bound to S aay that iso 10
chip could have behaved better In TINT trying
position than did tho Dr,,saols Though tho
heavy waves brought ,Broan from each plato,
ahe roao over thom all. Hho Roomed a great
suffering tho greatest agony, yet endowed with O
courage and resolution TINT would endure to tho
ond, iirm aud unshalon. Tho of1icers and crow
behaved nobly.. Tho firm, manly face Of Capt.
Ing, expression, and lo mbned his passongers
with hope and confidence which perhaps ho did
not fool himself.
Wo lost our helm on tho morning Of Fob. 25,
and .was sighted BY tho City Of Paris, Capt.
Leeol, on tho morning Of March /. You may
along their allow course wcarily enough. I used
to envy tho passengers who wore in tho second
stage Of Bca.siokness. You know, in tho first
stage you fear that yon will DO, and, in tho nost,
tho Paris bearing down to our roHcuo. At lrst
wo thought Bho would pass ug unnotiood, but tho
boom OF our cannon, and tho diHtreaa-signnls
from every spar, called her attention to our con-
saw her lot 60 hor head-sails aud turn slowly
from her course. did not appreciate how high
tho sea was running until tho paris was rolling
and pitching OIL the wnyeB, quarter OF q milo
distant eomotilnos the whole ship, with scrow
out OF water, would bo visible on tho crest of tho
hugo Tayea; aud again abe would sink in their
hollowH, until topmastH alone were visible. She
lay by us over threo dayB before tho son
calmed sufficiently to admit Of communication.
Then we nuccocded in attaching tho two ships
by tho hoayy chain anchor ceblcs (haying broken
two hawsors one Of II inches nnd ono OF IS
inchos) and, favored by the calmost Of wcathcr,
TIC were towed safe to Queenstown, reaching
thatport on tho ovening of tho 7th inst. It is 4
remarkable fact TINT tho cable, nftor towing us
SO many milos, performing ito work 60 we'll,
should hlvo broken Just aB wo reached the en-
trance Of the harbor, md had four 1argo tugs to
afford their protection.
tlhVln6 nao thlb experience, 90 Hot raBreS IL.
And yot nothing would Induce mo to re-oxpor-
ienco tho long, anxious daya, and sleepleBs
nights, that I passed. while wo woro n1ono upon
q stormy oooa1,, and pouerlcss to direct our
courae. Nc had OIL board ao,no forty cabin aud
AGO STORAGE passengers. These were oil trans-
forrcd to tho City Of New York, at Queenstown,
and gailetl again for America within fow hours
Of their reaching Queenstown. This prompt
neas roaocts great crodit on the Inman Lino.
With regard to this trip: VIC wero moro than
fortunate in being pic!Eca up 30 soon by tho
out Of tho course Of steamers crossing the At
luntic, and wo should then have driftod for weeks
and maybe months possibly hayo gono down,
leaving our fate like that Of tho ill-starrcd City
OF Boston, forovor unknown. However, what is