DISASTROUS VOYAGE OF THE “GREAT EASTERN.”

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 46, 19 June 1906, Page 8

DISASTROUS VOYAGE OF THE “GREAT EASTERN.”

The.“ Great Eastern" left the Mersey on September 10, 1861, with nearly 400 passengers, and an unusual proportion of ladies, while a very considerable cargo was stowed away. The voyage commenced with every prospect of success ; but when about 250 miles west of Cape Clear she was caught in a tremendous gale, in the midst of which one of the forward boats broke loose.

The captain ordered the helm to be put down, but the ship refused to answer it. The handsails were instantly blown to shreds, and soon a terrific noise was heard, and it was clear that something had gone wrong with her machinery. The waves had struck her paddles with such force that thoy were bent, and scraped the ship's side at every revolution, threatening to shear away her iron planking. The paddle engines were stopped, and the ship, therefore, lay exposed to the tremendous lashing of the sea, which ran mountains high. One by one the floats were struck away, and bv daybreak the next morning nqtbing of the paddlewheels was left except twisted iron rods attached to the shaft. During a terrific sea. the top of the rudder post, a bar of iron ten inches square, was wrenched away, and tho ship lay utterly at the mercy of the waves, rolling tremendous^'. The hapless passengers were dashed from side to side ; the cabin furniture broke loose, as well as the cargo crushing everything they touched, and many of the passengers were severely injured. In the hold, tallow casks, weighing many hundredweights and a chain cable of many tons, got loose, and threatened to burst out the ship’s side at every roll. The decks were also swept, six boats carried away, and two broken to pieces ; in this precarious condition the "Great Eastern" lay from Thursday to Sunday evening, a waif upon the ocean. On Sunday afternoon, when the wind abated and the sea went down, chains were connected with the rudder, and by these means her head was got round, and a course made for Cork Harbour. On Tuesday she was off the Old Head of Kinsale, and. in the afternoon arrived at the entrance of Cork Harbour ; but she was unable to enter, and remained outside in great peril for some time before she was assisted in.