The National Register.
London, England, 1822-02-10 00:00:00

LOSS OP THE THAMES EAST INDIAMAN.

Mr. Henry. Barry, the purser of the ship, arrived late
on Sunday night at the India House, with the melan-
choly intelligence 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
Themes was nearly a new ship, of 1350 tons hurtle');
had been only one voyage before, and the following in-
teresting particulars were communicated to us by a friend
of t hat officer's:—
The Thames left the Downs at 12 o'clock on Wed-
nesday last, with .a smart breeze from the S. W. and
continued beating to the westward with fine weather,
until Saturday at noon, when she weathered Beachy
Head, the wind then blowing a brisk gale. As night
approached the gale increased, and the wind still setting
from the S. W. strong apprehensions were entertained
that the ship would be driven upon a lee shore.
To prevent ibis, every effort that seamanship could
devise was used, and the stronger endeavours were made
to keep an offing, but all to no purpose; tlte gale con-
tinued to increase, and as darkness came in), it blew a
complete hurricane; so tremendous as almost to exceed
any thing the most experienced seamen on board had
ever before witnessed. Finding the ship making fast
towards that dreadful shore which had so often proved
fatal to mariners, an order was given to commence firing
signals of distress, and an incessant firing was from that
time kept, but such was the state of the elements, that
all idea of assistance 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 running mountains high, and the moon, which
affirded a dim light through the dark clouds, serving
only to make their extreme danger the more apparent.—
At length about twelve o'cick the ship struck on a rock.
very near the Head, but she floated from thence, and
drifted over near to the town of Eastbourne, between
the Round-house and the Martelln.tower, where
again struck, and got quite ashore. This was soon alter
wo o'clock on Sunday morning; and from that until
half-past nine the ship continued to beat with tremen•
duos violence against the shore, and every succeding
wave was expected to shatter her to pier . The same
incessant firing was kept up; lights in a short time
were very speedily shewn from the shore; and in a
short time the beach was covered with people, all
anxious to assist in the preservation of the crew, but
unfortunately without the power of doing so at that
time. Not loug after the ship struck, her main-mast
went by the board, carrving with it four of the crew, and
in the course of the night the fore and mizen masts fol-
lowed, and seven more of the crew washed over-board.
At day-light a scene presented itself which will not soon
be forgotten by those who had the misfortune to witness it.
This fine ship, which seemed when she sailed as though
she would bid defiance to wind and ocean, was now
lying on the sand, totally distrusted, and striking with a
violence which threatened to stave her to pieces, and her
crew were seen crowded upon the deck, anxiously look-
ing towards the shore for assistance, and expecting every
moment to be overwhelmed by the waves, which were
breaking upon them with undiminished force. At this
time several hundred people had collected on the beach,
and the ship was so near the shore, that it seemed to
those on board as though they could almost leap from
her side to the dry laud. At length, the only boat which
could be 'Mind large enough to attempt to launch in
this tremendous surf was brought to the spot, and a
Midshipman (we have not learned his name) of the Pre-
ventive Service, and six seamen, in a moment volun-
teered their services to attempt to reach the ship. Several
successive efforts were made to launch her, but she was
each time swamped, and her. gallant little crew washed
ashore. Still, however, undismayed, they made another
attempt, and succeeded in getting her almost without the
breakers, when a sea took her starboard bow, and upset
her. The six seamen reached the shore ; but we lament

to state, the gallant young officer, who so fearlessly had
risked his life for the chance of rendering assistance to
his fellow men in distress, fell a victim to his undaunted
courage and humanity, and the ship's company, as well
as those on shore, saw him struggling with the wives
until his strength was exhausted, and he sunk beneath
them. _ .

Capt. Manby's celebrated apparatus for the preservation
of lives, which at Eastbourne is kept under the cons-
mand of Mr. Hamilton, the collector of Customs for the '
port, was at length bronght into action, and a rope being
thrown on boatel the ship and made fast, the whole re-
omitting of the ship's company, together with Major and
Mrs. M'lnnis, and her female servant (passengers), were
got safe on shore, but without saving a single thing ex-
cept the clothes which they had on their backs. They
were all completely wont out with fatigue and anxiety,
and the passengers were conveyed as speedily as possiidle
to the nearest inn. The officers and crew remained near
the spot in the hope of being able to save some part of
the cargo, hot it was much feared that the tide, which
was then ebbing fast, would at its return completely de-
stroy the ship. In this state of things Mr. Barry left
Eastbourne for the India 'louse.
It was next to a miracle that the ship held together so
long, and had she not heel' nearly new, and of the
strongest construction, she must have gone to pieces
hours before the crew were released. Had that been the
case, every individual on board must have perished.
FURTHER NaTectreaas.—This fine ship, which ruts
CM shore on the Bowdler Batik, opposite Martello Tower
Na. 73, at Eastbourne, attracts numberless spectators
daily. Eleven persons are said to have perished by the
fall of the masts, &c. Five of their bodies have since
beets picked op, and inquests held upon them ; as also
upon the corpse of poor Mr. Slllllll. the midshipman,
whose body was re ed on Wednesday into Kent, to
be interred in the family vault. Nothing can prove
more strongly the value of the preventive service to the
shipping :merest, than their exertions upon this occasion.
Two persons totind pilfering the wreck having bent ap-
prehended by them, were delivered into custody of the