AN EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2228, 19 April 1881, Page 3

AN EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE.

In these days of rapid communication with America, we have come to regard the Atlantic os a very narrow, not to gay insignificant, piece of water (says the “ London Chronicle”). Ten days in a magnificently equipped ocean steamer constitute a mere pleasure trip ; and although passengers see from time to time the white sails of ships, it seldom occurs to them how long, how dreary the voyage, which to them is so short and pleasant, may bo to the vessels dependant for their progress on the wind alone. The details of the terrible voyage of the ship Hannah Morris, from Liverpool to Philadelphia, will servo to remind us how serious a matter a voyage to America was in the days of our grandfathers, and in what fortunate times are lives of present voyagers cast. Leaving Liverpool on the 6th of September, she arrived at Barneget on the Bth of January, having been 126 days on the voyage, the longest passage but one on record. It is the more singular that this extraordinarily long voyage was not the result of the loss of her musts or any other disaster. Her cargo, composed of one thousand tons of iron, is said to have shifted somewhat ; but this does not appear to have retarded her voyage. The duration of the journey arose from storms and head winds at storting, and afterwards by the barnacles which gathered on the bottom of the slowmoving vessel, and rendered her rate of progression even less than that usually got out of her. The crew endured great sufferings from wont of food; indeed, hod it not been that supplies were from time to time obtained from passing ships, all on board would have perished. The voyage of the Hannah Morris will take its place among the singular incidents of modern maritime history.