The New York herald., 1876-01-03
STORMS AT SEA

DEFINITIONS AND DISASTERS OF NORTH ATLANTIC
sTEAAIERs-REPoRTs OF HEAVY WEATHER
While New York and the Atlantic coast have lately
been enjoying almost midsummer weather, with
genial winds and smooth seas, the North Atlantic
Ocean has swept by OF terrific gales
approaching times the intensity and force of hurr
cane accompanied by fearful and storms Of hail
stones, exceedingly trying not only to ships but to
officers and men All the steamships from European
ports report unusually bad weather. and all behind
me in consequence of the frightful storms encoun-
tered on their passage North and southwest gales
prevailed at one end OF tho North Atlantic line even
hurricanes and the other dense fogs preventing
sells from making goood passages
The Nevada, Captain Jones, Of the Guion line which
came into port yesterday noon encountered her full
share OF the bad weather She looked rusty and white
from the deposits of salt water and all hands
saying that her passage unusually severe She
sailed from Queenstown December IL and straight
way encountered heavy gales and head seas On the
1sth at midnight. the wind increased and blew vio-
lently, the steamer aboring heavily in the and
shipping immense quantities of water. On the 10Th
and 10th the gale continued, with hail storms Decom
Der II there strong winds with fierce squalls and
binding showers Of hailstones the wind backing from
the northwest to the southwest taking fresh hold
and blowing terrihcaly, with confused seas the
ship shipping water at every plunge. In word from
Sunday until the following the Nevada met with
tinuous gales, known to the navigator 'livng gales
with terrible squalls hail storms and seas which
at times board in cataracts. On the 2Sth the
storm passed. and light breezes with dark cloudy
weather followed; thereafter light variable winds,
with mizzling rain and fogs; excellent steaming
weather, but the ship had TO at reduced speed,
whistle blowing and lead going on the coast She
chored of the Lghtship and came up the harbor yes
terday, everybody fairly out by the constant
strain No damage had been dono TO her, and she
through the trying trip In excellent condition
after fifteen and half days from port TO port Mr..
Weeks the chief officer, gave the HKRALD reporter the
points introduced above.
The Inman steamer City OF Chester Captain Letch,
encountered equally bad weather In the early part
Of her trip from Queenstown, aud shows very de-
cided evidences OF rough usage from the elements.
One OF the huge breakwRters xed to her forward
deck smashed by an incoming sea and one Of her
quarter boats on the port side filled by and
partially carried from the davts and swung board,
her starboard gunwaies being broken.
The City OF Chester anchored for forty eight hours
Of Fire Island light during the dense fog, and
was doubtless her whistle which was heard on the
Long Island coast, occasoning so much alarm lest a
snip shore All the ships Including the Saer,
Captain Francke, from Bremerhayen and southampton,
show signs Of having had very rough voyages No yes
sells greatly overdue. and probably we have
heard the last OF the December gales which likely
to be memorable in the records Of North Atlantic
sailors
The Egypt, Captain Grogan, OF the National line,
carried precisely s76 bales OF cotton her last
trip Liverpool, and this coincidence with the cen
ennial year regarded extremely auspcious BY tho
agents and ships company