The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-06
THE QUEBEC.
FULL PARTICULARS OF HER voY
AGE HOME.
The Narrative of Capt. Mark Gibson.

The Liverpool Courier of February Goth
gives the following interesting particulars Of
the Quebec's voyage from Portland to Liver
pool:
Inc steamship Quebec, belonging to the Do.
mlnlon and Mississippi line, which has been
overdue for FIVE weeks, arrived safely in the
Mersey last night, having been steered from
doiyhead by the powerful tug aGamecock. 1t
will be remembered that the Quebec, which is
OF 200 tons burden, left Portland, Maine on
the LIST of January last, with crew of AZ
hands, together with Ii men in charge of cat
Tie, under the command of Captain Mark Fl.
Gibson. She had on board general produce
cargo, l76 head of cattle, and $50 sheep, but
carried no passengers. The steamer broke
down on the 9th ult in consequence of her rud-
der having been split in two just near the
until she fell in with the Gamecock on Sun
day morning. Considerable unc ertainty pre-
vailed as to whether the Quebec would put
into the Alexandra, Canada or Langton dock,
and for some hours the relatives and friends of
the crew were kept going from one place to
another, the dock officials being unable to give
any definite information on the point. UlIi-
mately all doubt was set at rest by the anxious
~ iooked-for steamer entering the Langton
Dock, on the west side of which she was made
fast to another vessel 1t was near midnight
when our representative had an opportunity Of
seeing the captain, who then supplied the fol-
lowing narrative of the eventful voyage:
On the evening of New Year's-day we left
Portland, and we encounted strong winds up
till the 9th. On that day, when in latitude
45 N, longitude 80 W., and 1900 miles from
Liverpool, with moderate and squally weather,
we suddenly found that the ship would not an
swer her helm. On an inspection discovered
that the rudder had broken at the waters edge.
then tried to construct a temporary rudder
by means of chains, but as the weather was
getting worse we could not use it, After this
we encountered fresh gales and heavy seas.
We used our engines every day more OF less,
but economised coal for the Channel, and
used the sails whenever it was possible. We
made progress at the rate of % miles a day.
On the 18th we sighted Norwegian barque
steering east and signalled her TO report us at
Lloyd's with loss of rudder. She answered the
signals, but we did not get her name. At that
time it was blowing terrific gale and the sea
was running very high, aud the ship was drift
ing with the wind. We tried to get up tenn
porary steering gear by means of hawsers and
spars rugged over the stern, but the violence of
the gale prevented its being effective We
lost three bullocks on that day-the 18th. The
ship rolled heavily, and they died through ex-
haustion. On the 30th of January we signalled
Lamport and Hollis steamer MemIon, which
was bound east. We requested her to report
as to the owners. and gave the captain all in
that we were doing well and wanted no help.
On the 10th OF February we spoke the steam
er Aviona, when SO miles west of the
Fastnet, and asked the master to report us to
the owners and send tug to our assistance.
During the storms we shipped some big
seas, some of which swept several sheep
pens from the dock with their living
occupants. The cattle got into the motion OF
the rolling steamer, and it was amusing to wit
ness the careful and regular manner in which
they adjus ted thense yes to me t the S Hat o )
OF the vessel. may say that out of the 175
bullocks we had on board we lost 127, and have
just landed 49, while of the 56S sheep we have
brought alive into this port 100. At $50 on
Sunday morning, the I18th, we fell In wi b
the Gamecock, which came alongside. She at
first tried to tow us, but that would not answer,
aud she then made fast behind and steered u.s.
When she reached us we were 16 miles from
the Smalls, and our position was east by SOUTH
We got on very well with the tug, and made
eight Knots an hour we arrived at the bar by
six O'Clock this evening, and in the Mersey
about half-past nine. / believe the Crus r
was sent to our assistance, but we aid not see
ber. The cattle which survived have been if
teen days without fodder. None OF the crew
suffered in the least, and the health of all has
been very good Our vessel has not sustained
any damage, and none Of our boats have been
injured. Our provisions we're amply sufficient
to meet our wants, and we had only 10 en-
trench on the cargo to the extent of killing
three sheep, 10 order to supply the men with
fresh meat Everything is almost as snug as
when we started. The Quebec has now been
80 days from Portland, and she usually accom-
pushes the voyage in u or Is days
The Quebec was met on arrival by Mr.. W.
Wales, The freight manager, who made the
necessary arrangements in connection with the
reception of the crew. The steamer, after dis
charging cargo, will put into dry dock, and,
alter the rudder is replaced, she will assume
her ordinary voyages across the Atlantic. IL
is expected that she will De ready to go to sea
next week.