The National Register.
London, England, 1822-02-11 00:00:00

LOSS OP THE THANES EAST INDIANAN.

Mr. Henry Barry, the purser of the ship, arrived late
on Sunday night at the India House, with the melan-
choly inielligeoce of the loss of the Hon. Company's
ship, the thames, Capt. Heaviside, bound to Bencoolen
and China, with a general cargo of great value. The
Thames was nearly a new ship, of 1350 tons hinthen;
had been only one voyage before, and the following in-
teresting particulars were cotuniunicated to us by a friend
of that officer's:—
The Thames left the Downs at 12 o'clock on Wed-
nesday last, with a smart breeze front the S. W. and
contoured beating to the westward with fine weather,
until Saturday at noon, when she weathered Beachy
Head, th, wind then blowing a brisk gale. As night
approached the gale increased, and the wind still setting
the S. W. strong apprehensions were entertained
that the ship would be driven upon a lee shore.
T. prevent this, every eflint that seamanship could
desist was used, and the stronges endeavours were made
to keep an ulliug, but all 10 00 purpose; the gale con-
tinued to increases and as darkness cattle no, it blew a
complete hurricane; so tremendous as almost to exceed
any thing the most experienced seamen on hoard had
ever before wi nessed. Finding the ship making fast
towards that dreadful shore wlttc6 bad so often proved
fatal to 111J1ii,ris, an order was given to continence firing
signals of dis ress, and at. incessant firing was front that
time kept, but such was the slate of the elemeins, that
all idea of assiseitice from the shore was soon abandoned
as hopeless. The state of mind of the ship's company
at this period, can be better imagined than described.—
The vessel every moment approaching nearer the shore ;
the sea twining mountains high,..anil die moon, which
afforded a dim light through the dark clouds, serving
only to mike their extreme danger the more apparent.—
At length about twelve o'cick the ship struck on a rock.
very near the Head, hot she floated from thence, and
drifted over near to die town of Eastbourne, between
the ROUIOI.IIOIISe :11111 the Martellmiower, whete she
again struck, and gust quite ashore. This was SOOll atter
two o'clock on Smithy morning; and from that until
half-past Male the ship continued to beat with tremen-
dous violence against the shore, atid every iticceding
wave was expected to shatter her to pieces. The sante
incessant firing was kept up; lights in a short
were very speedily skewu truth die shore; and in a
Aunt nine the beach was covered with people, all
anxious to assist tit time pron. rvalion of the crew, but
inifortuilately without the power of doing so at that
tittle. Not lung .her the ship struck, her main-mast
went by the board, carrying with it four of the crew, and
in the comm. of the night the tore and tiszen masts fol-
lowed, and seven unto of the crew wa‘lied over-board.
At day-ogio a scent: preseteed itself which will lint soon
be forgotten by thoue %SOO 11.1(1 the misfortune to witness it.
Tins hire ship, winch scented when she sailed as though
she bid di fiance to wind and ocean:, was nuts,
lying on the saw!, t dal!y distita3ted, and sttiking with a
s toleite, winch threatened .0 stave her to pieces, and her
crew were secs: crowded 'Tots the deck, anxiously to,k-
ing I.c.v,trds lilt' snore for as,ISIMICC, Jllll expectiita esriy
imniivni to he or. rwitelnied by the wales, w !itch were
brcas u 1 ninon titellt with titudiluta,thed lute. At this
(lune set eial hundred people had collected on the beach,
and tile snip was sit near the shits, that •t scented to
11111 x on hoard ..5 thort4ll t.tey could alinusA leap from
hi r side to the dry laud At length, the on:y issat which
could be Mood lane enough to attempt l 0 haunch in
I.IIIS tremendous soil wa, brought to the tom, and a
Midshipman (we have not leariied tits name) of the Pre-
ventive Sißice, and six seamen, its a moment volun-
teered their SellklCt'S to :OWIIIIII.IO reach the 11111 p. Sev.aal
successive effints were made to I iiiiich her, but she Was
each time swawped, mid tier gallant hale err iv washed
however, tiAisnsaveit, they matte . anther
annuli!, and succeeded w getting her .11 1111 l st without the
breakers, when a sea imik hi r starboard how, and 'ipso
her. The (IX St.:111091 reached tie shore; but we lament
to stair, the tr.:lllam y g otticer, who so fearlessly had
risked his life for die enaiice oi rendering assistance to
his fellow 11011 111 tiIsIICSD, Slellllllo Ins 01111aUlliell
courage and I 11111 l curtly, and the slint's company, as well
as those on StlOne, saw into ,truggling with the w tees
mail his strength was exinausterl, and hue bunk beneath
_ _

(:apt. MAttliy% celebrated apparatits for the preservation
of Ines, which At I.: wthottrite is kiln tilidel the cool-
*nand of Mr 11,1,11:1011, ilie Colteettor of Customs for the
port, was at 1,•115/11 140(011 11110 action. anti a rope Tulle
thrown oh tut 111 the ship and made In, the whole re-
otalotti4 W the ship', votty.itty, tn./ether wsth M Ijor
Mrs. Nl•iiitits, atel iter tem.& ser.aitt ',nasSrlisto rs), Were
got safe On shore, but Wollitalt saVintr a single thlitte es.
c. in the Clothes which they had on their hacks. Tilley
w, re all completely %sort out with fatiqstie atad ahweiy,
and Ilse pas,wnioty Mere eon% eyed tioor...lllly as poisi:.le
to the marest hoe. The ntli...ets ant; Cr, 5% reillallled near
the spot in the itth e brim; Ahie 10 5a5... some pin 01
the cargo, hot it was match band that itte tide, winch
was then eld.mg fa,t, ta-oidni at its return completely de.
shay the ship. lu Ills State of 111111 gs Mi. Barry kit
isthOttrite lur the I Mita House.
It was Mitt 10 a miracle that the ship held together so
long, and had site 1101 been nearly hew, and of the
Strongest constriiction, most 11:15e gOlie to pieces
hours 'white the ert•ss, were released. Ila.l that been the
Case, every n 1,114.1111111 nn hntril now hive p-rislied.
FIJIITHP PA RTICOLA ti„,. n,„
0.1 shore on the 'lowlier Bank, opposite Nlarelittl'o.ver
NJ. 73, at F. voh,larite, allrac.s ittonherles, sp. c•atnr,
(lady. Eleven per•mis ate said to lase pet ished b. the
fall of Ihr F.ve of their bodies have sine
been picked up, and inquests held upon them ; as also
mum the corpse of poor Mr Smith, the midshipman,
whose body tot s whined on %Vednevilly :two K., sat, to
be interred in the family vault. Can prove
more strongly the value of the Feventive service to the
shipping interest, than their exerouas upon this occasion.
Two persons found pilfeting the wreck having hren ap.
prelittuled by tht m, were delivered into custody ut the