The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-26 00:00:00

Extraordinary Shipwreck,

The following letter is written by Mr Jacobs, United
States Consul-Gene; al at Calcutta. Its statements would
be incredible were they less authoritatively vouched for
" Calcutta, April 20, 1864. The following is the statement
of Wm. Palmer, late second officer on the ill-fated Elvina,
which left Calcutta Dec. 22, bound for Boston. Her crew
consisted of Nathaniel Andrews, Salem, Massachusetts, as
master; his brother, S. G. Andrews, mate ; Wxn, Palmer,
G. D. Blake, James Jordan, second, third, and fourth mates;
John Tenylon, A. M. Bowden, Peter Nelson, F. Burger,
G. Paterson, J. Anderson, T. Frasier, Thomas Brown, P •
Johnson, John Wilson, Alex. Murphy, Jas. Williams, Jolla
Lewis, seamen—and F. H. Hodges, Boston—James Sand-
ford, Boston—Campbell Weke, New York—Edward Lewis,
Delaware—Robert Wiliest, New Orleans—Thomas Porter,
New Jersey—William Riley, Portland—G. Chase, Ports-
mouth—Charles Scott, Wm. Jackson, East Boston—John
Buckley, Brooklyn—Wm. Law, Maine—John Desmond,
New York Consul's men sent home to join the navy. Fair
and prosperous winds attending, moved them across the
Equator in 24 days after losing sight of the landheads. The
S.E. trades sprang up in G south, and all went
pleasantly
till the afternoon of the 19th. At 3of the morning of the
20th the spare maintopmast broke loose from its lashings,
and, rolling back and forth over the deck, stove in the cabin
doors, the lazaretto, the water-casks amidships, broke (lowa
the stanchions and bulwarks, and finally went overboard,
pounding heavily against the side. Everything within reach
of the fatal stick was made a perfect wreck; torrents of
water poured from the huge casks into the cabin and down
upon the lower deck. The damage was done in a moment.
The ship now listed suddenly to starboard, and would not
right, owing to the shifting of the cargo or from the water
already rushing into the hold through the opened beams.
The hull was slowly sinking, but steadily, and the crew
sprang overboard five minutes before she went down, leav-
ing the master and his brother alone, standing together.
Together they sank, and were not again seen. Gaining the
floating spars, the poor fellows rested for a few moments,
until the cabin roof was driven within reach, upon which
they clambered to the number of 11. The rest had disap-
peared. Here, tied to the spars, they lay down upon the
sails, and the seas washed over them. At 7 o'clock the
wind died away, and tearing a shirt in two they raised a
signal of distress. Two pumpkins, solo relics of the ship's
stores, were seen floating nigh, but not within reach, and
they looked longingly upon them as they passed by. At
noon the gale sprang up again, blowing furiously as before.
The waves swept tumultuously ever the raft, carrying away
two of their number. One, George Chase, swam back, and
was assisted upon it, but soon turning black in the face
from swallowing sea water, died. All through that day and
night the storm continued, moderating towards morning.
The sky was overcast the second day, but the wind went
down and the sea became mere calm. The sun rose bright
and clear in a cloudless sky the morning of the third day,
and his beams beat fiercely upon their unsheltered heads.
Maddened with thirst, in their agony some of them drank
the sea water and died. The fourth day dawned with a sun
though not so lustrous and ardent as before. Another died.
The survivors cut off his legs, and ate for the first time since
leaving the ship—they drank their own urine. Not a morsel
had they eaten, not a drop of fresh water had they drunk
for four days. The clouds gathered overhead on the fifth
day, but the sun burnt them off and shone more scorchingly
than ever. That evening one of their comrades slipped
over the side, saying, lam going home, I can stay here no
longer—l want to see my mother—come with me,
we shall
not be long away, and soon return.' They were too weak
to prevent it, and he swam away. Far as their dim eyes
could range did they wistfully watch him swimming. on,
the sharks plashing their white fins by his side, till ho was
lost in the distance. The sixth day came and went, and
another died. The seventh morning found them hog ekes
and despairing; too weak to stand, spiritless and exhivasted
they lay feebly clinging to the spars, and another died. But
three were left now of the eleven—and through the long
forenoon did the burning rays of that terrible sun fall hotly
upon them. At the last moment relief came. The French
bark Claire, Robert master, discovered the raft, their signal
fortunately flying, and despatched a boat to their assistance*
Tenderly were they lifted into it, and from thence trans'
ferred to the ship."—American paper.