Transcription for "Letter from Captain Harrison to the Chairman and Board of the Steam Ship Co., London." |
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13 September At 1:00 A.M. the ship was rolling fearfully and rolled a sea on board which washed away two boats and stoved two more on the port quarter, one boat on the starboard quarter and two hatches off the upper deck, letting a large quantity of water down into the aft cargo space where much of the passengers’ luggage remained. The water shipped, washing to and fro, dashed the luggage in the cargo space to pieces. At 2:00 A.M. the starboard paddle wheel was carried away from the box and hung from the latter for several hours causing great disturbance and threatening damage to the ship’s side as she rolled till it was finally carried clear away at 7:30 A.M. The weather slightly moderating, I immediately commenced rigging a temporary rudder at about 1:00 P.M. The gale moderating fast, I stopped and reopened the screw engines to get her head around – no doubt at this time the rudder post was carried away which was seen by the ship’s carpenter to fall off a few minutes afterwards. The temporary rudder being now ready, I stopped the screw and launched it which assisted considerably in bringing the ship head to the wind. |