The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-10 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE WESTMINSTER

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The following are the particulars of the loss of this
ship The barque Westminster, of Sunderland,
Smith, left Belize about the 12th of February for Cork
for orders. After clearing the Gulf of Florida, encoun-
tered a succession of heavy gales from S.W. At 2 a.m ,
on March 12, in lat. 38.30 N., long. 51 W., the wind
suddenly veered to the north, with violent squalls and
tremendous sea ; shipped much water to leeward, wash-
ing away bulwarks, and filling the cabin with water ; the
pumps were sounded, and to the surprise of Capt. Smith,
found seven feet water in the hold. 13th. Strong winds,
and steering S.S.E. ; again sounded, and found thirteen
feet water in the hold ; crew much exhausted by being
constantly at the pumps ; cut down the starboard
gangway, hove the anchor overboard, cut away the
topmasts, and cleared the vessel of all top-weight,
hoping she would stand upright. At 4 p.m. got a
launch in readiness, supplied with water and other
necessaries ; and at 6 p.m. the ship suddenly settled
down, with main deck under water—the sea making a
complete breach over her. In getting out the launch
she stove, and after attempting for three hours to keep
her afloat, filled, and broke adrift—a tremendous sea
running at the time ; all hands now made to the poop ;
the cabin and deck breaking up, and the lee side of the
poop washed away. 14th, Shipped a heavy sea, master
and crew expecting to be washed off every moment ; at
five a.m. ship made a sudden lurch, and fell over on her
beam-ends, fore and maintops in the water. Captain
Smith, with eight of the crew, viz., James Farrow, Ed-
ward Burrell, James Michaels, William Robertson, John
Young, John Hagan, George Pratt, and Peter Cooper,
with much difficulty succeeded in reaching the pinnace
(floating between the main and mizenmasts), and got
clear of the wreck, which was drifting away to leeward.
Nine were now left ou the wreck, most of whom were
seen in the fore chains, uttering the most piercing cries
for help, viz., James Vincent (chief mate), Alex. Ross,
J. Ramsey, Alex. Hemming, William Lloyd, Wil-
liam Kerr (sailmaker), Thomas Cowan, John Smith,
Daniel Josephs, and two others. It was, however,
impossible for those in the pinnace to render them
the least assistance, from the fact that they were them.
selves helpless, exposed as they were to a tremendous
sea, without oars, and having only one cask of bread,
much saturated with salt water, to subsist on—the
boat requiring all their exertions to keep her afloat,
and expecting every moment to be sent into eternity.
—lsth. At daylight, nothing was to be seen of the
ship. The weather rather moderate, picked up six cocoa
nuts, which was a great luxury ; the master and his
eight companions washing their mouths frequently with
salt water, and chewing tobacco ; suffered dreadfully
from thirst and the excessive cold ; at five p.m. saw a
vessel astern, bearing towards them, and at six p.m.
were taken on board the Actaeon, Benson, in about lat.
40.12, long. 46.50, from New Orleans, and arrived at
Liverpool. The unfortunate sufferers met with every
care and attention from Captain Benson and his crew,
to. whom much praise is due for their exertions.—Skip-
ping Gazette.

THE SIVN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 10, 1854.