Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-10
ROUGH PASSAGE By A STEAMER.

ROUGH PASSAGE By 4 STEAMER.
The Portland Argus of Saturday had the
following account Of the recent passage of
one of the ocean steamers running TO that
port:
Allan steamer Scandinavian, Captain Smith,
which arrived here yesterday afternoon with
Al cabin and l02 steerage passengers, passed
through a fearful experience, and at one time
it was thought the vessel staunch AS she is,
and so well commanded, could not weather
the gale.
Tie Scandinavian left Liverpool en- the af
ternoon of the 10Th ut., touched at Neville
the next day, and sailed from there for this
port. The first two or three days the weather
was fair, for this season of the year, and the
prospect Of good voyage was excellent.
Nothing of unusual note occurred until the
23d, when the weather began to thicken.
strong gale set in from the southeast, which
soon dashed the sea into an angry, seething
mass The gale continued until the morning
of the Goth, when suddenly the wind veered
TO the northwest the barometer suddenly fell
to 90 and there was every indication OF cy-
clone. Soon it burst upon the vessel, and
she careened fearfully, bu: finally righted
Everything on the decks not securely fastened
was taken off and whirled into the sea. The
strong tarpauins with which the boats were
covered were torn in shreds and blown away.
Suddenly there came a wave, heavier than
the preceding, which struck the bridge, on
which were Capt. Smith and the executive Of
ficer, knocking them both insensible, and
badly bruising them. They were taken to the
cabin, and soon recovered. The heavy iron
stanchons which support the bridge were
bent and twisted like tw IS, and the bridge
proper moved some distance from its position.
After this accident the second officer took
command, the hatchways were battened down
and everything that could be made secure
As soon as Captain Smith recovered sutIi lent
ly he again assumed command. 9"3 remained
faithful at his post nearly all the time Tor five
days.
The aspect Of affairs at this time was very
gloomy. The cabin passengers were gathered
together, not knowing whether the vessel
would be able to ride out the storm in safety
or not. The Storage passengers were many
Of them almost frantic with fright, and their
cries and lamentations were pitiful to hear.
In the midst of this desolatiCn an affair oc-
CURED which added new terrors 10 the already
unhappy situation Lieut. Bisbee, If the Roy.
al Engineers, who was on his way 10 Canad",
committed suicide in his state room, by shoot
ing himself He had been i'll from the time
the steamer sailed A jury OF the cabin pas
sengers was empannelled and a verdict rem
dered in accordance with the facts. 1t was
deemed unadyisable TO bring the body here
so the corpse was prepared for burial, the pas
sengers gathered around as best they
could, while Capt. Smith, holding the prayer
book in one hand, and claspng a post with
the other arm, read the English burial ser
vice, prayer was made, and the body was
dropped into the sea, the wild Winds chant.
ing their wild requium.
After the storm had ragged some hours
sudden calm fell upon the ocean, and contin-
ued about three hours, the barometer, how
ever, remaining al IS. Then again the gale