The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-02 00:00:00

SUN,

• .
FEARFUL SHIPWRECK .
(From the New York Tribune.)
The haique Josepha, of Gloucester, England,
Ciiptain Cawsey, left Bristol On the 19th of March,
1862. with a cargo of railroad iron, white-leafis
skins, &c, bound for B istoc. Her crew, 'ill told,
consisted of eighteen persoo,. and all young men.
Up to the c-f her wre ck she had a short and pros-
perous voyage-, and made Cape Arnie Light at twelve
o'clock on Monday night, April 19. Tne night being
thick and foggy, and an easterly gale blowing, the
captain stood off on a south-easterly course, and, when
he judgi-d himself far enough out, tacked, and ran in,
intending to make Cape Cod, and so up the bay. The
fog was extremely thick. The vessel had approached
the coast so nearly that in tacking, after sounding and
finding 15 fathoms, the ship was on the edge of the
bceakers, and struck on the outer bar, about
half a mile to the northward of the Highland Light,
Cape Cod. This was about three o'clock in the after-
noon of Tuesday, April 20. She probably struck her
bows first, then healed off and lay on her beamends,
end, after a few seas had struck her, which, after a
long easterly storm, run with fearful violence
on the outer bar, her starboard quarter broke off.
In the meantime the pinnace bad been got out,
and lowered from the starboard side, but this boat,
as well as the longboat, was instantly stove and swept
off by the violence of the seas. Her decks now gave
way from the stem to the foremast ; her main and
mizenmast went overboard, and her larboard side fell
in on the railroad iron with which she was freighted.
She was six years old, of about 600 tons burden,
built chiefly of larch and other north-country
wood, in a heavy and substantial mode, and ironed
with heavy braces, iron knees, and other iron fasten-
ings, which, added to the enormous weight of the
railroad iron in her, made her almost a complete
anchor in herself ; yet, such was the terrible force of
the sea that runs on the outer bar, she was carried
over that and brought up on the inner bar.
In this situation she lay, so thick was the fog,
without any one on her seeing the shore, or being
seen from it, though only about 300 yards distant,
until about five o'clock, the sea making a breach over
11 her, when three boys who were walking the beach,
the fog now lifting a little, saw her, and proceeded to
the Highland Light and informed lklr. Hamilton, the
keeper of the light, of the fact. The cries of persons
were also heard from the wreck.

The keeper of the light got out the articles belong-
ing to the Humane Society, such as life-preservers,
india-rubber coats, caps, and one of the rockets de-
posited at the light for the purpose of throwing a
rope from the shore to the vessel, and went down
to the beach opposite the barque, where the people
from Pond Village, in Truro (about one mile from
the beach), were soon assembled. The men could be
plainly seen clinging to the larboard side of the ship,
and their cries for assistance are represented as being
heartrending beyond all imagination, the spray flying
over the foremast, which was still standing.
The people of Truro are distinguished for their
hospitality to strangers, and their sympathy with
those in distress, and the only feeling was to render
assistance to the persons on board. But it was plain
that not only must succour be speedy, but it could be
of no ordinary kind. The lifeboat of the Humane
Society for this town is kept in a boathouse about
one mile from the spot where the ship struck, and
.preparations were now made to bring this up to the
spot, and also to fire the rocket.
In the meantime, at about seven o'clock, two men
from Pond Village, in Truro—Jonathan Collins and
D. H. Cassity, both young, the latter 23 years of age,
and the former about 35—procured a fisherman's dory,
no-called, belonging to the lighthouse, and avowed
their intention to peril their own lives in an
attempt to save the unfortunate men exposed
before their eyes to immediate death. The resolve
was a most hazardous one, and the experienced per-
sons present entreated them not to go. When a
heavy sea is running on the outer bar the in-shore
surf is a little diminished, and there was little doubt,
as every Cape Codman is a master of his boat, that
their frail dory could be successfully launched and
carried over the shore wave ; but, as after an easterly
storm, long continued, the current at this point sweeps
with irresistible violence to the north, and the sea was
making a breach over the vessel, it was considered
certain death to approach the eddy near the ship; in
spite of all remonstrance, however, these heroic
young men went off through the surf, and approached
within about 15 yards of the bark, near enough to
speak to those on board, when the dory capsized in-
stantly, "like a basin," to use the expression of a by-
stander, and nothing more was seen of the two men
in her.

The rocket for throwing a rope over the vessel was
now got ready, as the lifeboat had been brought
down, the plan being in such cases to get a line to the
ship, if possible, then to ply between the shore and the
vessel in the lifeboat. The rocket has a much larger
stick than the common rocket, to which a line is
attached, and a heavy charge to carry it a suffi-
cient distance. It was now fired by Samuel Small,
jun., and G. T. Lewis, when the charge exploded,
and burst the chamber, instead of carrying the rope
to the ship, thus endangering the lives of those who
fired it, as well as the bystanders, the stick going over
the bank to the leeward. It was almost a miracle
that no lives were lost by the explosion of the iron
chamber, when the amount of the charge is consi-
dered, and the immediate vicinity of the persons.
It was evident now that uotbing mote could be
done from the shore, unless the lifeboat could be got
off. But it was evident, after the experiment with
the dory, which had ended fatally, that the attempt
would be in every probability perfectly unsuccessful
—the only hope of safely carrying off a lifeboat
being by the aid of a rope from the vessel. The
lifeboat at North Truro is a large and heavy
boat, and difficult to manage in the inshore surf,
where facility of execution is indispensable, and one
half moment's delay might sweep off boat and crew,
and, as it was now dark, and breezing up, no further
attempts could be made to communicate with the

Fires were built on the shore to show the unfortu-
nate persons on board that they were not forgotten,
and companies formed to walk the beach. The awful
cries of the crew for aid, and the cracking of the large
timbers as the ship finally broke up, were heard at a
house about half-a-mile from the beach, in spite of
the terrible surf, which crashed like the heaviest
thunder on the echoing shore, and the remorseless
beating of the tempest.
At about eleven o'clock the lightkeeper returned to
the beach, having gone at ten to the light to trim
his lamps, and saw a man kneeling before one of the
fires, who proved to be one of the crew of the barque
George Chetney, and, on being asked if any of his
companions h..d been saved, be informed the light-
keeper that one other was lying near the water ' •
the latter, John Jasper, was in a dying condition,
much bruised about the feet, and would not have lived
another halt-hour. Beth of these men were taken to
the lighthouse, one mile off, in about two hours, by
the exertions of Mr. Hamilton and his companion, the
Rev. Mr. Lord, of North Truro, the bank above the
beach being 100 feet high, of yielding sand, and Jasper
unable to help himself.
When the foremast gave way the two men who
were saved went over with the broadside ; and,
though washed off two or three times, and although
the rigging caught in the railroad iron and kept them
for an hour and a half by the wreck, from which they
saw their fourteen companions swept off, they even-
tually went ashore nearly opposite the wreck. They
were most amply cared for at the lighthouse by Mr.
Hamilton and his wife. Six bodies of the crew have
been since recovered and buried at Province-town,
and also that of D. H. Cassity, at North Truro.
Thus sixteen persons perished in this terrible ship-
wreck, and two of our own fearless and heroic Cape
Cod fishermen, in a bold attempt to save the lives of
their brother sailors.

THE LORD HIGH COMMISSIONER'S RE-
CEPTION AT lIOLYROOD.

Last night his Grace the Lord High Commissioner
held a reception in the Palace'of Holyrood, which was
attended by 1,400 of the nobility and gentry, including
of eourse, a vast number of clergy. With the excep-
tionur of the similar ceremonials that took place duringsince
the visit of George the Fourth, it is very long
the old
walls of Holyrood witnessed so brilliant a
scene- The reception took place in the Picture Gallery,
parties on being conducted through the corridors
n the
Too throw: to the south-east staircase to the gallery
and the co was placed in the south end of the gallery,
down • agittny' on passing before his Grace, moved
into the
thrown open.
small apartments
Between at th e
ten
andwestern end,
twelvew
body of the room, and through the
hioc'hclowcker,ewahlesto
the greatest umbers
was
were pres3nt, the appearance of
of
handsome
anbrilliant in the extreme. An im-
Lotheenasentniquomebhearl),
m oladsome chandeliers poured a blaze
of light on the di
proportion
with which they are walls—the grim effigies of royalty
with the gay crowd .Lapanelled contrasting strangely
beneath them, Theinactiztineved ceaselessly to and fro
laity was amply relieved sombre dress of the clergy end
ladies, and the gold scarletuv the brilliant robes of the
ltahregemuicor
Through the deeply
glories of uniforms, of
up from the inner court, of military bands floated
tongued la
rweliceislisetclhewreinwdaoswas
um of conversation mingling with the thouQ d
n tour • • • 'an -
vin out of view muring with].
short, lea vi the brief . n. In
of preseutation, the gtdi,,_ preliminary cere-
monycrowded aisectibi Y presented all the ap-
p.?arsrices Of a . Yor ball, with ,
n of there being -.., the im-
portant exception no aanci
addPd interest of the Instoricd.l ground
onng, and with the
place—the Picture Gallery of tio4ro which it took
ball-room / 0d being no
ordinary or modern . • t
was all as bright
and gay, however, as if " was au erection of -
day, and it was only the indomitable gloom
ahr yester-
heavy outer walls and towers, and lurking in theoiding the
moon-
light shadows of the pinnacles and arches 0.. t
chapel 'that recalled the genius ' and raeratoritti3ne ruined
place. A strong feeling of gratitude to the of
Earl
Mansfield for having so successfully revived 4„m",,e, of
of the ancient grandeurs of Holyrood, was the unuttlit7
mous sentiment of those who witnessed the very striking
and animating display the reception produced.—ScotZ
man.

LONDON.

SIR HARRY SMITH AT PORTSMOUTH.

PORTSMOUTH. JUNE I,—A ~e"--cou•i address has been
presented today to Lieutenant-Generat Elarry,Sieth-
That proeured yesterday- was f rem the corporation; the
one ?resented to-day ea. artop ed at a larg, meeting of
the uthatti of the borough generally. It 9. as pre
sented by bhe Mayor is the Guildhall, a tare, um er of
PeoPl.l brine present:. It was as follows:--
"T. Lieut.-General Sir Harry Smith, B at.
" Gallant rhe inhabitants ut the borough uf
Portsmouth approach you with their warmest congratu-
lations on your safe return to England after a service of
unequalled difficulty, which, by a rare combination of
political sagacity and military valour, you have brought
apparently to a successful termination. It was
with feelings of great confidence in your abi-
lity for that arduous undertaking that they addressed
you in 1847, on your departure from this port for
South Africa, to assure you of the sympathy and ad-
miration with which they regarded you; and they now
welcome you most heartily on your return home from
that harassing service, and congratulate you on the sub-
jugation of that desperate horde of savages, who had so
long carried on their desolating warfare against her
Majesty's subjects in those parts. And now, gallant
sir, in conclusion, we express a fervent hope that the
same Almighty power that has hitherto protected you
in so many and varied dangers, may still be vouchsafed
to you in your honourable retirement, regarded as you
ever will be by your fellow-countrymen as one of Eng-
land's brightest ornaments ana bravest defenders."
The MAYOR, 111 presenting the above address to Sir
Harry, said he did so with the greatest pleasure. It had
been agreed to unanimously at a meeting of the inhabi-
tants, who desired to express their sympathy with a
brave and gallant officer, who had been withdrawn at the
moment of victory from the scene of his triumph.
Sir HARRY SMITH, in returning thanks, said he did
so with every feeling of a grateful heart. He had many
years since embarked at Portsmouth on the first cam-
paign
he had ever been engaged in, when he was not
only unknown to the world, but to himself. For no youth
was aware of the latent qualities he might hereafter
display, and if he (Sir Harry) had, in his long eventful
career, done anything to deserve the encomiums that had
been passed on him, he could only say that he had
achieved what was every man's wish and endeavour to
do, an ample reward in the approbation of the country
that gave him birth.—(Cheers.) The position in
which he had been recently placed, was an arduous
one in every respect. He believed few men had
ever stood in a more difficult position. (Hear,
hear.) But he was proud in being able to say he
had been successful in rescuing the colony com-
mitted by her Majesty to his government from the
dangers in which it was placed.—(Cheers.) This he
boldly said he had done.—(Renewed cheers.) And he
had now left a brave army under a veteran and able
commander, who knew how to turn that army to good
account. It might not be quite right to say it, but it
was the truth, that soldiers were better satisfied with
some commanders than with others—(Hear)—and if he
had been successful in his career, it was to the gallant
British army that he owed that success rather than to
any abilities it had pleased Almighty God to bless him
with.—(Applause.) He did say that there was never
an army placed in a position of greater danger and diffi-
culty, with more obstacles to encounter, than that he
had lately commanded.—(Hear.) Not that they suffered
hunger or privation, for they were well provisioned; but
they were compelled to be out night after night in the
bush without anything but a blanket to cover them from
the inclemency of the weather; still they rallied
bravely around him and appeared to feel proud of having
to contend with their invisible enemy in the hope that
they would ultimately meet with the approbation of
their country.—(Hear.) He candidly admitted it was
somewhat painful to a veteran heart to be recalled from
an army triumphant in itself and satisfied and contented
with its general.—(Loud applause.) But all men in
high and public situations must feel they have a respon-
sible duty to perform as advisers of her Majesty and as
represenatives of the country; and if those pieced over
him (Sir Harry Smith) by her' Majesty thought it their
duty to pursue towards him the conduct they did, he
bowed with submission.—(Cheers.) But he felt proud
in being able to say he had left a victorious army.—
(Renewed applause.) He bad left the colony of the
Cape of Go .d Hope—alluding to its civil administra-
tion—without one particle of its public business left un-
done, and he had left a treasury without a debt—(Hear,
hear)—a people improving among themselves, and only
in want of the active operation of the constitution he
had so strenuously endeavoured to get for them. But he
must admit that her Majesty's late Government were
very desirous of giving to the Cape the advantages of a
constitution. Therefore, whilst he submitted readily to
the position in which he was now placed, he could with
safety state that he bad done all that lay in his power to
lead the army to success, and to the good civil administra-
tion of the colony committed to his charge—so as to leave
matters to his Gallant Friend, his successor, in a fair
position as regarded bringing to a termination that con-
dition of the Cape which had been of so much mischief
to itself and expense to the mother country. The ad-
dress presented to him breathed a hope that Provi-
dence would still vouchsafe its protection to him. This
reminded him of the past, that when adjutant of three
companies at the storming of Monte Video, he happened
to be fast asleep when the regiment was ordered to fall
in. He was called up by a brother officer, when his
first ejaculation was, " Oh Lord, in Thee have I put my
trust, let me never be confounded."—(Loud applause.)
And he came out of that terrific storming unscathed;
and ever since those words bad been his safeguard and
guide. In conclusion, he said, that as it was Ports-
mouth that cheered him on his departure to the Cape,
he felt bound to be more explicit with them on re-
turning triumphant and victorious from that place. He
could assure them that any trouble in which he had
been involved had been amply repaid by their kindness.

THE CROPS IN NORTH WALES.—The crops
throughout the various districts in the northern part of the
principality are most luxuriant. The wheats especially are
in a thriving condition, and the early potatoes so far present
a very healthy appearance. The grain crops generally look
well, and notwithstanding the long drought and easterly
winds that have been experienced, there is every likelihood
of an abundant hay harvest.

THE. LONDON GAZETTE, J*ne 1.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, MAY 12, 1852.
Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold a
Drawing-room, at St. James's Palace, on Thursday, the
33 of June next, at two o'clock.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, MAY 31.
Notice is hereby given that tho state apartments at
Windsor Castle will be closed on and after Wednesday
-ext, the 2d of June, until further orders.
WHITEHALL, MIT 29.

The Qaeen has been pleased to appoint Dr. James
Paul to be one of her Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary
in Scotland, is the room of Dr. Duncan Meares, de-
ceased.