The Portland daily press., 1880-09-06

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they seemed to enjoy the passage. Saturday at
daylight the fore and aft sails were set as the
wind was blowing from the Southeast. At 1
p. m. Saturday the captain was heard to re-
mark to Harris the first officer, II have just no
ticed the barometer is falling rapidly, we are
going to have hurricane" Orders were then
given to cut up and throw car for a Mexican
railroad overheard, also barrels of oil, cases, of
acids and cases of vegetables which were on
deck. The real blast of the cyclone struck us
on the port bow about % minutes to 2 in the
afternoon of Saturday and listed the ship al
most on her beam ends. From this time it be-
came next to impossible to walk about without
clinging to chairs, tables and other stationary
furniture of the cabin, and as all the movable
objects in the saloon were quickly thrown from
port to starboard walking was exceedingly
dangerous. The wind was northeast and the
vessel steering south by east During the eve
ming three skylights in the main saloon were
carried away and the waves poured considera-
BILE water into the saloon and staterooms set
ting all adri't. By midnight the passengers
generally were sitting upon or lying on the
floor of the saloon conversing with and assist
ing each other Yet good cheer was the rule,
and many were the exchanges Of wit and hui
NOR. The servants as they passed around add
ed to the good feeling Gen. Torbert had been
washed out of his stateroom-No. (Which
was the first on the port bow, early Saturday
evening. He then came to me in saloon room
No. 27. He had been thrown against table
which troubled him considerably as it bled
freely, but he was in the best and kindest of
humor, speaking cheering word here, assist
ing man there and attending to women and
children everywhere. He lay on the saloon
floor part of the night, but was flooded out
and then came and lay with me, bringing his
water proof which we threw over us to protect
us from the water dropping in from the top
and sides.
At p. m. the engine-room was dry. The
h,,ksk 4 aud
less. 1t was not gotten ready until this time
and it was too small for service, even if in
proper order. AT 2 p. m. the ship took heavy
sea and the water put the fires out Immediate
ly, stopping the engines. The donkey engine
was then started, and was going when the ship
sank. The purser hurried below, calling for
General Torbert, and said the captain had
sent him to tell the passengers to come and
assist the crew or the vessal would go down.
We Immediately got up. went to the deck
and to the floor OF the engineroom, where l
assisted to pass buckets far one hour. Capt.
Van Sice was in line near the top passing
water while was there. was of no use, the
sea was continually breaking over the vessel
and coming down in large quantities between
the decks. The donkey engine was working,
but not to any purpose. After this went to
the saloon and told General Torbert we were
going to pieces and fast filling, and nothing re-
manned but for us to get life preservers upon
the women. General Tobert's face hurt him
SO that he did not go 10 pass the buckets.
There was no such thing as excitement on
board. Even children were quiet and reason
able each assisted the other in arranging the
life preservers, and Torbert was like sun
beam, laughing and joking with all while he
assisted them. The storm at this time was
most terrific; such waves, wind and rain can
never be described. The ship was lifted to
her beam ends by every wave, and it was just
possible to crawl from one place to another.
The storm was SO thick we could not see
hundred yards ahead, and the roar OF the
wind and beating of rain were like the rattle
of musketry. Torbert and myself were lying in
my berth talking quietly, awaiting the worst,