Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-28
A ROUGH TRIP.
THE BRITISH QUEEN MID STORM AND
WAVE.
A Series OF Terrific Gales-A Man and Every
thing Movable on the Docks Swept
OverbOard-GO0d Seoman-
shin and n Staunch-

SHIP ana u StauuCA
Vessel.
The steamship British Queen, Of the
American line, from Liverpool, swung
into her dock at Philadelphia yesterday
afternoon about half-past o'clock, pre-
senting, as it came into view, 4 dilapi-
dated appearance. The reports of the
vessel being disabled drew to the wharf
quite number of anxious persons having
relatives or friends OF board.
When intelligence was received a. tho
Offices of the surveyor of customs and the
American steamship company, that the
British Queen was coming up the river,
the tug New Castle, with the officials OF
the custom house and the American line
proceeded down the stream to meet the
vessel. Slowly the steamer came up the
river and no one appeared more anxious to
reach the dock than the 500 and over pas
sengers, cabin and steerage, who have been
so long imperillcd during the voyage.
Upon the broken, or rather impromptu
bridge, stood Captain NOEL, who, to.
gether with the feet captain. directed the
movements Of the crew. twas not long
after the steamer had been safely moored
to the dock and her lines cast off before
the stccrage passengers were permitted to
walk ashore. These of, the cabin passen-
gers followed, but some necessary delay
was occasioned by the examination of their
baggage.
A representative of the Telegraph was
permitted to board the vessel, and through
the kindness of Captain Waelc, who lost
erything during the terrible gale that
prevailed almost from the time of leaving
Liverpool until within few days, al in
PRODUCTION was given to Mr.. W. Wcolever,
Of No. 324 Catilarine street, . saloon pas.
senger, who kept minute account OF the
terrible weather and destruction that were
experienced. and who generously placed
his notes at the service Of the reporter.
In his own words, "Thc voyage was
one Of great peril, and but for the vigilance
Of the officers this ship and the lives of the
passengers and crew would have been sac
rificed.' Experience and ability carried us
through.
The steamer left Liverpool on the 18th
of October, and after passing Cape Clear
on Friday, 14th instant, began to eXper-
ience gales which increased III such viO-
lence that the sea which swept over the
vessel carried away the wheel house, dam
aged the skylight and carried away the
main gatf. The ship also took considerable
water. The next day, which was Satur-
day, the vessel rolled, and a steady
breeze blew up, which increased to gale,
when the maintopmast was carried away.
On Monday, II, at leo a. M, a heavy
gale was experienced, which increased
terriiically, and then heavy sea was ship
ped, which ran in under the decks. On
Tuesday, the 18th, tho gale was ono of
great violence, which did not abate during
the day. At 2:SO p. IN. heavy sea was
shipped, which partly stove and smashed
the deck house, as we'll rs carrying away
three Of the life boats, which had previous
ly been greatly injured. On account Of
the water pouring in the progress of the
ship was impeded, the engines being run
slowly. At $40 p. m. a terrific sea broke
on board, ilooaing the ship from end to
end, doing very serious damage, Oac
hatch was broken, the doors Of the saloon
smashed and wrung from their places, as
we'll as the wheel house, bridge, standard,
compaseS, charts, and nautical inst ruments.
The starboard side of the funnel was
stove in, tie stoke holes flooded, the fires
pat ont, Ill the boats washed overheard,
the davits broken and wrenched off, every
thing movable carried away, as well as the
saloons being flooded. The beds and bed
ding were necessarily required and were
Immediately used to stop up the holes so
that the flood Of OF water might be checked.
Tho heavy sea shipped reaching the fires
put them out and thus stopped the engines,
and thus the steamer was in = perilOus
condition being at the mercy of the wind
and waves One poor fellow Samuel
Hooper, was missed, and it is sup.
posed the sea washed him overheard. An
other, Amos Jewel was seriously injured
by having his arm ja;nmcd. At 7:1O p.
M. The vessel rolled considerably, but the
fires were rclighted. The pumps were
then all set in motion at the holes, and
the hands were put to work bailing out
water. The gale continued throughout
the day, followed by terrific squalls.
The following day the gale subsidized,
but the SCI. was rough, and on Thursday,
the Goth, the steamer Arizona was spoken,
the reply by the British Queen being that
"Alrs well.' It was impossible to reply
to the question whether assistance was
needed, as the tllg or signal to make the
reply had been lost The succeeding days
up to the arrival of the steamer at this
port to day were without interest, except
that there were stiff brcezes, and on Tues
day, the o5th, by reason of a heavy south
crly swell, the ship rolled. The progress
OF the vessel was necessarily slow.
Throughout tho perilous voyage tho
captain continually reassured the passen-
gers, and throughout there was always
present enc or the other of the officers.
During the severe gale OF tho Goth MIR.
Kelley Ole of the officers, was on the
bridge, who was thrown against the mast
and or to the deck, and though SO badly
bruised, crawled up to the wheel, which
lie noted was without a man, with another
he lashed himself to it. and thus by his
coolness and bravery held the vessel at q
very critical time, and the wheel was not
permitted to be without directing
hand. And all on board speak Of
the ability and courage, IS we'll
as the kindness of the officers, and to
them as we'll rs the crew they attribute
tho safety of the vessel. While the ship
presents sorry appearance in it's battered
condition, yet the hull is pronounced by
all the officers as being perfectly sound.
Before leaving the vessel the cabin passen-
gers held meeting, at which resolutions
applauding the Captains skill as sea-
man. We're adopted.
LATEST NEWS BY MAIL.
William Henry Ostrander, who killed
his brother George last Christmas, was