The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-02 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF TEE WINCHESTER.

imminent peril, since it appeared nearly impossible that
a boat should live upon such a sea, yet Mr. King, with
his men, ventured out upon an enterprise the obvious
dangers of which could not but excite the highest admi-
ration for their heroism, as well as the truest regard for
their self-forgetful love of their fellow-men. All eyes
were fixed upon the boat, in which these heroes, after
superhuman exertions, at length succeeded in getting
alongside the Winchester. However, it was found im-
practicable to board the wreck, as the sea was continually
making a complete breach over it and the boat. The

captain of the Winchester threw a bottle into the boa,
which contained a letter requesting their rescue, and
stating the number of passengers and crew as being 445.
Mr. King again reached the steamer in safety, and im-
mediately left once more, with the answer of Captain
Fitch sealed up_in a bottle. This time, however, the
noble seamen nearly fell a sacrifice to their humane in-
tentions. Coming near the wreck, their boat, broken in
the forward air chamber, commenced sinking. Ropes
were thrown from the Winchester, by means of which,
first the four sailors, and lastly Mr. King, were snatched
from a watery grave. On board the wreck a spectacle
was presented to Mr. King of the most heartrending de-
scription. The passengers, of every age and sex, in a
state of unspeakable anxiety, excitement, and exhaustion,
were partly lying on deck, and, although secured by
ropes, owing to the tremendous rolling of the ship, were
continually knocked about in a manner that the arms, fin-
gers, and legs of many were broken, and all suffering from
painful contusions. The remainder of the passengers and
crew were engaged at the pumps, which they could not
leave for fear of being thrown overboard by the rolling
of the vessel. Upon seeing Mr. King, those on deck
crept up to him on their knees, crying piteously, and
entreating him with folded hands to take them off the
vessel. All, however, appeared to be resigned, and
their bearing was remarkable for proofs of religicus
truth. Mr. King, wet throughout and nearly fainting,
yet tried to console the passengers, assured them they
should be taken care of; and recommended them cheer-
fully to work the pumps. Also, Mr. Moore, captain of
the Winchester, who had the kindness to relate to me
these proceedings on board the wreck, was answered
that Capt. Fitch had resolved to stop until all were saved,
and to leave Mr. King on board the vessel as a guaran-
tee of his intentions. Mr. King being provided
with dry clothes•by Capt. Moore, and feeling somewhat
better, went among the passengers, consoling and reas-
suring them of Capt. Fitch's determination. During the
night regular signals were exchanged with the Washing-
ton. There Captain Fitch, never leaving the deck

guided with admirable skill the movements of the
steamer, which, despite the heavy gale, ho always kept
near the drifting 'Winchester, at the same time superin-
tending the preparations for embarking and saving the
passengers and crew of the wreck. Early on the
of amni-
ina. May the 3d four lifeboats were lowered, and Cap-
tain Fitch directed their movements with so much cir-
cumspection, and, assisted by his chief engineer, Mr.
Mathews, watched with so much prudence, care, and
kindness the getting on board of the wrecked passen-
gers, that the whole operation was finished without the
least accident. Captain Moore and Mr. King were the
last on board the wreck, which began rapidly to go
down, taking off the American flag, as neither of them
liked that emblem of liberty to become a prey to the
wave. The wreck, 20 minutes after being totally aban-
doned, was engulfed by the sea. Four persons had been
swept overboard by the falling of the masts several days
before, and in all 20 lives were lost. There was one
incident' (says the New York Tribune) of the most
thrilling nature. As Mr. King, of the Washington,
and Captain Moore, of the Winchester, were about to
take their final leave of the wrecked ship, which was
just before she went down, carrying her dead to their
watery grave, he thought it best to take one more
glance at the corpses. ' I really believe that woman
breathes !' was the exclamation of one of them, as a
thrill of horror mingled with hope ran through his
bosom. They approached the body of a woman and
placed their ears to her mouth, when lo ! they discovered
that one whom they had supposed dead was still
breathing! They removed her on board the Washing-
ton, and she is now at the hospital on Staten Island, in
a rapid state of convalescence."

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Professor Henkel, a passenger on board the Washing-
ton, furnishes the New York papers with the following
account of the loss of the Winchester :
"On the morning of the 2d of May, while under a
furious gale, the sea rolling mountains high, the passen-
gers of the Washington were called on deck by the in-
telligence of a dismasted vessel drifting in the direction
of the steamer. About 10 a.m. we were near enough to
enable Captain Fitch to hail the vessel, and ascertain
that she was the Winchester, from Boston, the captain
of which entreated Captain Fitch to stay by' his ship and
save passengers and crew. The latter were in a. most
difficult position. To lower the boats and venture out
upon the waves, tremendously lashed by the gale, was a
most 'perilous undertaking. Besides, the Washington
was filled with passengers and heavily laden. On the
other side hundreds of human lives were at stake. The
humane captain of the Washington, however, quickly
decided. He communicated to his passengers his resolu-
tion not to proceed until all was done within human power
in saving the people on board the wreck. There was, of
course, but one feeling of approbation among the passen-
gers of the steamer, who had soon an opportunity to
observe the circumspection, courage, and nobility dis-
played by the brave seamen of th Washington. No
sooner had Captain Fitch made known his noble re-
solution, when Mr. King, first officer of the Wash-
ington, at once stepped forth and called . upon the
crew for volunteers to board the wreck. From among
the brave sailors, who, without'exception, offered their
services, he chose four excellent seamen. A life-
boat was lowered. Although their own lives were in