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The following an account of the voyage of this vessel, and is drawn up by a passenger on board, who had also access to the ship-log, and will be read with interest:- " The ship started in good trim, and was going on very well till eleven, p.m., on the 30th, when something was found wrong with the propeller, which was striking the sternpost very hard. The engines were reversed, and after two or three good thumps, the arm broke off. The ship then continued with very low steam, and was steered by the sails, the wind north-easterly, and the vessel making very good way, seven to nine knots, until the 1st instant, about three p.m., when another of the arms of the propeller broke, leaving only one (though the repaired one), and the arm of another, with a small plate which had been placed on the end of it. The most was then made of the sails, and the propeller, has just kept from dragging, the vessel going at times ten knots, though when the breeze was from the eastward she only made 3� knots. The vessel felt the sails directly, and was considered to possess very superior sailing qualifications, and very good way was made under the circumstances. The distance run on the 28th ultimo was 157 knots by the log ; on the 1st instant, 164 ; on the 2nd, 214; on the 3rd, 184 ; on the 5th, 90. The propeller, or what was left of it, did wonders at times, making four knots, against a moderate easterly wind. On the 6th the ship made eight knots and a half, close as she could lay with fore and aft sails, reefed topsail and mainsail, which is noted as "good decidedly." About a quarter past five the remaining arm of the propeller broke, leaving only the half arm and the small piece of another about two feet from the centre. The steam was cut down as low as possible. At twenty minutes past one on the 8th, the engines were stopped, and all sail set they could carry. The wind freshened gradually into a breeze, and the ship scudded and steered beautifully, taking a spray on the larboard quarter and beam occasionally, but as easy or easier than any ship which the crew ever witnessed. On the 11th two ships were seen ahead. which were come up to at the rate of two miles an hour, close hauled. 'This.' says our log. ' is wonderful, with our little spread of canvas, and more than was expected.' The weather continued variable, though inclined to be squally, thick, and dirty, until the 16th, when daylight cleared off, and they were favoured with a fine breeze, running all day 10 and 11 knots. At half-past one a.m. on the 17th, the ship passed the Tusker, and at 11 was off Holyhead, at one p.m. was off Point Lynas, and at eight p.m. a pilot and two steam tugs were obtained off the north-west light ship, which after waiting some time for water, brought the leviathan safely into dock. ^ back to top ^ |
