The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-10
WINTER GALES.
The Rough Experience of the Dominion.

Steamer Dominion, Capt. Archibald Reid, OF
the Dominion line, arrived at this port Thurs
day. The log gives the following tale OF her
rough experience:
The Dominion left Liverpool on the 18th OF
November On the 18th fresh gale set IN to-
gether with thick and wet weather. The wind
increased steadily during the next two days
and the ship labored and strained heavily On
the Goth she was struck by terrific squat
which carried away her lib, fore staysan ana
another small sail before they could be got IN.
On the 21st the gele still increased and the sea-
were terrific. The engines raced heavily and
the ship was in great danger. On the I'D
another fearful squat struck the steamer, blow
ing the tcpsail out of the bolt ropes. All sail
was taken in and all hands were employed IN
securing everything, covering up the stoke
holes and gratings. The gsle rapidly increased
to perfect hurricane with q mountainous sea.
The utmost endeavors of the officers and Crew
barely sufficed to keep the ship out OF the
trough of the sea-. The decks were swept by
the waves from one end to the other The ba-
rometer fell to 28.100 inches, when the wind
flew from the southwest TO the westward. The
gale then lulled to some extent. On the 23d
there was an increasing gale until it reached
perfect hurricane. The decks were swept by
the waves and one of the life boats was stove
in. Other slight damage was done. On the
oath, the gale still continued, the wire ropes
and chain of the steam steering apparatus
were carried away twice, and the hand gear
damaged. On the 25th there were violent hail
squalls, when it was impossible to stay on
deck. The steering gear was again carried
away. On the 26th the gale again rose to
hurricane. Boats, venfilators, rails, &c, were
stove to pieces. On the 27th the four and
main bridge was broken. starboard light and
and light screen carried away and theexhaust
and steam pipes demolished. From this point
until the 81 Of December there was one success
sion of gales, doing slight damage and occa-
sioning great difficulty in managing the ship
On the 3D. the steam steering gear was again
carried away. The gale moderated to some
extent on the 4th but the sea still continued 10
run very high. During the fifteen days OF
storm the men had to work constantly, with
as little sleep possible, to keep the ship SAFE
The matt heads, yard arms and stays were IL
Illuminated every night with electricity, with
which the atmosphere was charged. There
were on board ninety three passengers, six of
whom were cabin and the rest Storage. OF
course the voyage brought misery enough to
those unaccustomed to the salt water, and the
passengers were more in need of the doctor
than the cook the most Of the time. But they
all speak in the highest terms OF the conduct
of the officers of the steamer, who did every
thing in their power to relieve them.
The cabin passengers prepared the following
testimonial to Capt. Reid, which, in simple
Justice to him, they desire to be made public:
AT SEA. Dec Z, 1881.
We, the undersigned, passengers of the
steamship Dominion, from Lver,ool TO. Port
land, while recognizing the claims OF a kind
Providence to our first regards, desire hereby
to record our high sense OF Indebtedness to the
skill, prudence and courage of CAPT. Archibald
Reid, as well as the ability and faithfulness OF
his officers and crew, during what we cannot but
consider an unusually perilous journey across
the Atlantic. But for the exercise OF these
qualities of the captain and his crew IN the
midst of the violent gales and hurricanes to
which we were subjected for long time, dur
ing night and d ~, and which resulted in SO
much damage to the ship, the end OF our
vo, age would have been terrible catastrophe;
and we beg to record our warm appreciation of
the manly and prudent conduct which contrib
uted SO much to our safety.
EDWARD BUDKETT,
ALEXANDER CLARK,
JAMES RAY,
HERBERT E. BIsBEE,
WILLIAM HILL,
ANDREW ALLAN,
ADELAIDE NORA ALLAN.
During the remader of the voyage the ship
experienced disagreeable and wet weather but
no strong gales.
The Allan steamer Hibernian, after seven
teen days frightfuly boisterous passage, ar
rived at St. Johns, Newfoundland, from Queens
town at 70 o'clock Thursday night. She lost
three boats, skyiight, donkey engine and por-
ton of the forward bulwarks. While the
third officer and two seamen were engaged in
sewing a tarpauin on the hatch heavy sea
washed ali three overheard. The two seamen
chung to the ropes and were saved but the
officer was swept astern and persisted.