Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-09-19
FIRST EDITION.
Riding the StorHms

EXPERIENCE OF THE ''PENNsYLvANIA" ON
THE JERSEY COAST ON sUNDAY--HoW THE
TEMPEST STRUCK HER.
When the storm rose on Sunday after
noon, the steamship Pennsylvania, of the
American Line, was on the Jersey coast,
some distance off Absecom. The sky had
been clouded all day, and as a consequence
it had been impossible to obtain an obser-
vation. The vessel was under full sail and
running at high rate of speed directly to-
ward the shore. Captain Harris decided to
keep on, though lacking his bearings, being
convinced of his ability to run the vessel
into port, and of the accuracy of the obser-
vations taken before tho sun had disap-
peared. Having arrived off near the shore
at about o'clock in the afternoon, sound
ings we're taken at regular and frequent in
tervals until far enough in shore and then
the vessel was run along the coast in the
trough of the sea. 1t was at this time that
the storm fully developed itself. The rain
swept down and the wind howled through
the rigging, and rushed against the ship
with terrible force The waves leaped far
up and rolled her about as though try
ing to turn her over. The pro
peller blades were frequently lifted far
out of the water, and the ship, though shiv-
bravely. TIE rain poured down 80 that it
was impossible to see ahead. At the first
outbreak of the storm all sail had been
taken in, but skimming along in the trough
of the sea, feat that very few vessels in
such storm could have accomplished, the
vessel rolled so fearfully as the huge waves
struck her on the side, that it was found
necessary to unfurl trysail and several
other small Sails close-reefed, so that they
10
and keep the vessel somewhat steadier.
BLOW DECKS.
The scene below decks meanwhile was a
peculiar one. There were nearly $50 pas
sengers aboard, all but 16 of whom were
either intermediate or in the steerage. A
majority of the latter were Irish and Nor
wegian emigrants, and as the vessel rolled
from side to side and the storm whistled
without, their terror was extreme. The fear
OF death was depicted in tho countenaLces
of all. The sixteen passengers in the cabin
when the storm first began brewing ioked
and chatted, in rather nervous way,
though, but being we'll educated people pe-
trayed no fear, but when they began get
ting mixed up the ladies screamed for aid.
Finally tremendous big wave hurled itself
against the ship, and all but the seamen and
officers supposed that she had struck rock
was that those in the cabin, gentlemen as
well as ladies', lamented their fate and fell
upon their knees. There was no supper
that night. The coffee drowned the beef
steaks, the plates and cups and saucers in.
dulged in general warfare. and everything
danced about everywhere. Half the
crockery aboard was demolished Captain
Harris and his officers we're on deck con-
tinually. Convinced that the vessel
could outlive the storm, and that there
was no absolute danger, he still kept her
along the shore and in the trough
of the sea, watching carefully for glimpse
of Absecom light, ,as he felt assured he was
in that neighborhood. A number of ships
and brigs were passed, but all we're lying-to
The steamer Cdtbdrlne Whiting, pitching
terribly, was seen heading directly away
from shore, she beng unable to perform
such feat as the Pennsylvania was per-
forming in taking the waves at broadside.
MFR. Shackford, third officer, was aloft look
ing for Absecom Light, and was nearly
blown from his perch. He finally sighted
the light and then, comparatively speaking,
it was all plain sailing. Arrived at the
Breakwater pilot was not found for sew
eral hours, all having retired to bed, not
supposing, as one afterwards expressed it,
''that any vessel would come in on night
like that" Notwithstanding the delay the
Pennsylvania arrived at Christian street
wharf at II o'clock yesterday morning.