New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-03
ROUGH VOYAGES ENDED.
FOUR OVERDUE STEAMSHIPS ARRIVE.
FIGHTING HURRICANES AND HIGH sEAs-DEATHs

FOUR OVERDUE STEAMSHIPS ARRIVE.
FIGHTING HURRICANES AND HIGH sEAs-DEArHs'
BROKEN LEGS. BRUISES AND LOST BOATS.
Several of the overdue ocean steamships arrived
in port Yesterday all bearing evidences of severe
struggle against hurricanes gales terrific seas, rain,
snow and hail storms of the last three weeks;
A detailed record of the experiences OF
these vessels, together with the discomforts of
both passengers and crews would make chapter
that would hardly appear truthful Broken legs;
bruised bodies, splintered boats rails, bridges and
door-casings and torn sails were found on each
vessel and in two instances there was loss of life
Seaiaring men, whose homes have been on ship
board SINCE boyhood, say that the weather mas
been the worst ever known and vet 1t was with
great difficulty that information of the voyage was
obtained from some OF them.
The new White star steamship Coptic had n par
tlcularly harl time, and considering that this
was her first voyage, il seems little rough. The
following facts were given TO TRIBUNE reporter
by one of the officers:
I've sailed from Liverpool in q storm on Novem-
her 10 and came down the English Channel with a
heavy gale. Leaving Queenstown the bad weather
continued with III and the ran very high. This
lasted day after day without any relief From gale
we ran INTO a hurricane with terrific seas, the mo,
notOny now and then being relieved by rain, al ana
snow. The slip pitched and rolled, Jumped and
tossed and, rs stood near the stern watching what
some old dogs are pleased to call the grandeur
of rough sea-yOyage, my enthusiasm ana
appreciation did not reach the point OF admiration
did not feel that could embrace the sea III all ITS
loneliness. AS the Copuc's bows rose higher and
never come down again, | thought how nice III
would feel 10 be laid away in a comfortable bed IN
the Fifth Avenue Hotel. The next moment the
bows would descend and the stern would go mp:
then when the screw was high ont OF water, II
seemed if the sudden acceleration in the speed OF
the engines would tear the stern off,
"Then we would dip our head under great sea,
and take q solid volume of water over nearly Inc
entire ship. The bows would rise again. and the
ship would shake herself like a great Newfoundland
dog to free herself, and wait for the next wave TO
break over her. For nine days this hard weather
continued ana the captain to keep the Vessel headeu
to it, obliged to run out OF the course;
Our worst weather was the I'D. when we had
one of the most severe hurricanes that ! ever met.
The wind blew so hard that 1t actually lifted one OF
our lifebOa;s out If the cradle and carried II over
board. We shipped seas continuously, ana II ever
vessels seaworthincss was tired the COptlcs was ON
this trip. One heavy sea broke oy tue port waist
and came down III an unDrOken volume OF NJ ieast
hundred tons on the after turtlc-Oack ana carried
it away. On this day also We lost overheard John
Roberts, of Liverpool, aud Nicholas Panettl' Nal
teSe both seamen." 80
The Arizona which left Queenstown November 49,
completed upon her arrival yesterday one OF her
longest VOYAGES being four days longer than usual
One OF the passengers, "A scaiarlng man, sald: lhe
voyage was the toughest ever known on the OCEAN,
and if the Arizona had any weak points they would
certainly have shown themselves; but better sea
vessel never crossed the At antic. Our captain and
his officers ever on the lookout Tor the safety
of the shin and TO make the passengers as comfort
able as possible. But comfort for anybody was
absolutely oIt of the question III such weather OuF
long trip was due 10 the continuous head gales,
yember u to 20, inclusive. On one day
we made only 81 miles and on another 10 miles.
and after that not more than 2oO mics. me ZOln
was our worst day. pltled the poor passengers
who suffered terribly from seaslckness and could
not be taken on deck for fresh air. They were so
badly OF that 1t seemed as If they must die indeed
many of them expressed wish to die. he seas
broke over the bows and rushed along the decks and
through the alleys Ike "A mad rlyer. several
of the alley doors were burst III Ivy the seas; the
forward hatch was broken open, and large quantl-
fIpso l
could be repaired; and one OF the hlebpats was
torn from the dLvlts like so much paper. Chici Or
iicer James Arnold was knocked from bs feet by a
heavy sea, and had his right leg broken IN two
places. The weather began To subside on thursday,
and we felt thankful for our deIyerance."
A sad scene presented At Castle Garden yes
terday afternoon when the passengers from the
RhelD, from Bremen, were landed franz liolul.
who came hers several months ago and OBJ
tanned employment at CgaT-maklng in the city, had
sent to his home III Bohemia for his wife Maria, and
his little boy age seven years. lhey toOk passage
on the Rheln, and the happy lului went 10 castle
Garden 10 meet them, but he was soon oVer"heiheu
in grief with ms child clasped tightly IN ms
arms, II fearing that II he should release ms hod
ii would DC taken from HIM. Ills vile Was dead HE
Rhcin sailed from Bremen November ~, aud from
southampton rhrec days aitcrward, III command oi
the senior officer OF the line, Commodore Neyn1ber
Throughout the voyage the weather was tcmpcstu-
GUS and to insure safety To the vessel and greater
comfort 10 the passengers the captain reduced the
speed the engines. Inc vessel Mas headed up to the
gale, consequently did not sail on the usual courac
She arrived without having met with any apparent
damage TO the vessel. One day she Only made sixty
nine miles. Saturday last was the worst day OF the
entire voyage. and the ship gave several heavy
mGcnes. Mrs. Hoiu was about defending the stccragc
stairway leading her child, when she was thrown
from her feet by pitch of the vessel and ic To the
deck below. Her forehead struck against a chest
aud she received fatal fracture of the skull. She
was picked up and the best OF surgical care was
given her Tut shc Jailed until last tuesday, when
she died; she was buried at sea the following night
The child was taken care OF by the other passage
gers Al the little fellow was led INTO the luiUrna-
ton Bureau at Castle Garden yesterday he TcCOg-
nzcd his father aud ran To him, breaking the sad
tegeuoc OF hIs mothers death. III passengers
related tine circumstances to the father, no with
his little boy tightly claspcd TO his breast wcpt
bitterly.
The steamship ST. German. fIom HAVE November
II. by way oil Halifax, also arrived yesterday. She
had had ten DAYS oil violent weather, and portions
OF her rail- stanChOns and buwarks lad been carried
away. III, passengers became much frightened and
begged the captain 10 go into some port" Being
III mldOceau he was not able to Obngc Them. No
passenger was lost overheard - reported, but the
vessel mad 10 put into Halifax for coal.
The Castor. from Amsterdam November 10,
shifted her cargo lost the mate, two scamcn boats
coupasses and sails, aud put into London Oh Thurs
day.