The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 9, 1847.

THE WRECK OF THE WEST
INDIA SHIP TWEED.
(FROM AN EYEWITNESS.)
The Royal Mail Steam-packet Company's steam-ship
Tweed, of 1,800 tons, and 500 horse-power, commanded
by Mr. George Parsons, Master, RN., left Southampton
Pon the 17th of December, 1846, with mails and passen-
gers for the West Indies. She touched at Madeira, Bar-
badoes, Grenada, Trinidad, Grenada again, Jacmel,
Jamaica, and arrived at Havannah at six A.m. on the 7th
of February. Here she met the Medway on her way to
England. The Tweed coaled up to 480 tons, and em-
barked mails and passengers for Alexico. The passengers
numbered 62, including two ladies and a female servant;
and attached to the ship, including officers, engineers,
crew, and stewardess, there were ESpersons ; making a
total of 151 souls on board.
The Tweed started from llavannah at six P.M. on
Tuesday, the 9th of February, for Vera Cruz, having
on board the English out mails of the 2d of January,
also 1,115 bottles of quicksilver, valued at 18,0001.,
besides other packages. She also had on board a
quantity of coals to be delivered to her Majesty's
steamer Hermes at Vera Cruz. All on board were in
the best spiirts, expecting to see something of the Ame-
rican attempt on the strong Mexican fort of San Juan
d'Ulloa. After leaving the Havannah, the course
steered was W., till 6 A.M., on the 10th; distance run
about 78 miles, the ship being deep During this time
the wind was light. From 6 A.m. of the 10th till noon
of the 10th the course was W. by S. half S., about 42
miles, when it was changed to W.S.W. The wind
began to freshen all Wednesday, and there was every
indication of a "norther " coming on to blow. At mid-
night it was very black, with thunder and much light-
ning, and the wind came round suddenly to the north.
It should be here observed that no observotion of the
sun could be obtained by the captain at noon this day.
THURSDAY, FEB. 11.—It continued to blow heavy
from the north, with a considerable sea on. At noon
no observation of the sun could be bad, it being cloudy
and obscure. To-day, at noon, the bearings of the
Alacranes were S. 86, W., 124 miles by dead reckoning.
This evening, after tea was over, at seven o'clock, the
passengers who were not seasick amused themselves in
the saloon, some playing chess, some cards, and others
reading, till about eleven o'clock, when all retired to rest,
and the lights were extinguished.
FRIDAY, FEB. 12.—About 2.30 A M. the captain went
on deck, which he continued to walk till seven bells, or
half-past three, had struck, when one of the leok- out
men forward called out, " Breakers ahead !" Instantly
the captain was forward with the officer of the watch,
midshipmen, and look-out men, and then as quick as
thought the orders were given to " stop the engines,"
and " turn astern full speed," the helm being ordered
" hard a starboard." The writer of this narrative was
awoke by the cry of " Breakers ahead," although not
fully knowing its purport; and when sounds of people
running hurriedly overhead were heard, he instantly
jumped out of bed, snatched up his trousers and boot-,
and was on deck in a very few seconds. He cast a
coef
sstktsoh.e
etdh:bre
r‘hle,eeav
"What
traahrpnast dtas
trnrdi
egawt hcnattgs,
ienaarrgndi
cds alongasa
amidships,
pat
si
in there
coming
m i
He
gdgeel
od
mwhite
gtolpans
wd aarsk nae
ar
ef tp, ai
endd,
" Never fear, she's going astern." He must have meant
the engines, for the ship herself never did, as, in a few
seconds more she went crash on the reef with almost all
her force, as she had been under full steam, with sails
set. She went over a little to leeward on first striking,
then uprighted, and being raised by the swell, the way
scarcely off her yet, she again crashed on the rocks
with all her weight. This seemed fairly to dash her
whole bottom in, sending the machinery, boilers, and
funnel up with a jerk some inches. The engines imme-
diately stopped of themselves, the steam escaping from
the boilers, tilling the engine-room, and flying up through
the hatchways in a thick white cloud. There was then
no hope of getting the ship off the reef, and orders were
given about the sails, to prepare the life-boats, and stand
by the others. All this was the work of a few minutes.
The passengers and crew now crowded on deck, some
alum st naked, and but few dressed. On striking the
second time the ship swung broad (port) side on the
reef, and then fell over to windward. The sea then

•
struck her, carrying away in a moment, as if they were
feathers, the cutter, mail boat. and dingy ast-rn. She
then reeled to leeward, and back to windward, each time
the timbers underneath being heard to tear, crash, and
give way with a fearful grating noise. The next sea
dashed away the starboard paddle box boat. -The scene
at this time was truly awful ! The night was very
dark, and piercing cold. Everywhere might be
seen individuals clinging with all their strength,
some to the masts, others to the sides, skylights,
seats, boats, and rigging; the sea making a breach
over all. Below, where all was dark, there seemed
awful disorder, the lower decks breaking up ; the
bulkheads, cabins, furniture, &c., washing about ; and
screams of people in distress ! oh, it was fearful ! and
being without power to assist made it worse ! At this
time was near the captain, and said, " What is to be
done ?" He said calmly, " Hold on till daylight, if pos-
sible, as I hope she will keep together till then." By
this time the funnel, atter reeling once or twice from side
to side, felt over to windward, and the masts, as she
reeled each time from side to side, were seen to shake
like willows. Each moment we expected to see them
go, but they held on ; and the captain gave orders to
cut them away ; but no one had a knife at first ; at last
something like a penknife was got hold of, and the chief
officer cut the lanyards. The captain gave or( era to
stand by the two remaining boats on the lee side, to pre-
serve them from injury as the ship rolled, but not to
lower them till the last moment, although by this time
they were crammed full of people. It was found impossible
to stand to get the lee paddle-box boas out ; besides, it
she could have been moved, she would have been dashed to
pieces. All this time we scarcely knew where the ship
had struck. S ,me thought it might be the coast of
Yucatan, naturally supposing that the ship had been
gradually set towards it by the fierce norther which bad
blown for two days; but no land whatever was to be
seen. On looking over the breakers, nothing but water
met the eye, though very indistinctly, of course, in the
darkness of the night. 'fwere absurd to attempt to
convey an idea of our fearful condition at that moment
—so hopeless ! The ship was rapidly going to pieces
under our feet; there was no chance of the boats living
in such a sea, and even they could only save a few
souls; there was no land to be seen, and truly death
stared us in the face. All made up their minds that
there was no hope. Some might be heard to utter a
short prayer to their Maker for pardon, while bold-
ing on with all their strength in the midst of the tem-
pest and the crashing of timbers. By this time the
masts had gone over the side. A few minutes more
and the destruction was complete. The ship parted
fore and aft the sponsons, leaving the machinery and
boilers standing on the reef. One or two seas tore
the deck off the after part of the ship, as the latter
divided from the machinery. At the last moment
orders were given to lower the two boats, which was
done, and they drifted a little astern; but they were
without oars, it is thought, and there is no doubt the
boats were much stove when swinging at the ship's side
full of men. One more sea sent all the after part of the
ship, boats and all, flying in a thousand pieces, and all
that had remainett on it were scattered in the sea. The
writer recollects being seated with the captain and a few
others, on a part, oh . he ship's side to which the netting
was attached, with the water up to our breasts. A tear-
ful cry was heard, and the captain said, " Oh, these poor
men in the boats, they are gone, God have mercy on
them!" All was still. In a moment more, it seemed as
if tons of broken wood were hurled on the top of us, and
we were scattered and buried beneath the waves. Then

some boarding pikes svhich had been picked up, to en-
deavour to catch fish, as many were seen round about us.
A writing-desk was found, and in one corner was a little
box of about a dozen wax lucifer matches; but they
were wet, and would not light. We stuck them in the
flour to dry; but very nearly lost them. One of the
Spanish passengers having seen the box there, pocketed
the box, throwing away the matches. When this was
discovered, a hue and cry was raised about the matches,
on which our existence almost depended. The respect-
able portion of the Spaniards (same of them most worthy
and kind gentlemen) assisted in the search at once, and
at last we made the delinquent turn out the box, also a
jar of preserves he had pocketed for his own use! He
confessed having thrown the matches out, and on
searching we found them scattered in some holes of
the raft. A few of them were picked up, and dried,
and at last we struck a light! Oh, joyful news it
was to all. We gave three cheers! A candle was
lighted, and placed in an empty barrel, and a watch
placed over it, with orders never to let it out, by
night or day. A piece of board lined with iron was
found, and on this we soon had a fire blazing, having
plenty of sticks at hand. 'The duster and purser then
got the dead sheep, skinned it in a most skilful manner
with an old sailor, and we soon had a portion of it
cooked. A piece was served out to each man, and all
declared they never tasted such excellent mutton. One
`• tottle "of wine followed round to each. At noon we
offered up our thanks to God for his goodness. This al-
n moon we picked up a few fish, one or two fine lob-
sters, three bottles of wine, and a can of oil. The en-
gineers (now that we had a fire) set about constrie ting
an apparatus with which to condense water, if possible.
First, they tried earthenware jars, but these broke; at
terwards. they got hold of some (sipper vessel and lead
pipes, with which they btnied themselves. We began
now to long for water, the want of which pained us
most; and the poor dog, pigs, and sheep seemed very
thirsty. At four P. at. served out to each a bit of fish or
lobster, then half a " tottle" of brandy. To-day attempts
were made to drag the broken lifeboat near to us at high
water, that we might again examine, and try if possible
to repair her. If sound, she could have carried us all
safely to the main coast; but she was found to be use-
less. Made up our minds to commence the construction
of a strong floating raft to-morrow, on which, if
there should be no succour by the 19th (one week from
the day of our shipwreck), we will set out in hopes of
reaching a little island which the captain is sure lies on
the south side of the reef; or, failing that, the main
coast. At six P. M. served out to each man before lying
down one " tottle "of wine. Thirst began to be very
troublesome. The vinegar-cask was much resorted to
by all; some drinking a little, others only wetting their
lips with a wet rag of vinegar.
MONDAY, FEB. 15.—A1l up at daybreak. At six
served out half a tottle of brandy, mixed with half a
tottle of vinegar, which was most palatable. Many
began to try a mixture of brandy, salt water, and vinegar,
in equal quantities, some thinking it very good, as afford-
ing something like a drink; the half tottle of brandy, or
whole one of wine, scarcely sufficing to wet our parched
tongues. At seven offered up our thanks to God for
his goodness. Parties then started off in all directions,
twopapdoi
lookinn for
e indo r
to
wg
thereact kwh,ea food,
together
he r tusual,ho enefalmostpartyroe oa halfm main,
breast
133 h
ii.zgeahns
a,
masts, main-yard, and other large spars, with which to
form a substantial floating raft; and they set about it
with right good will. • Our distillery had now been put
together, and was at work, but the success was very
doubtful. At eight ill., the ship's cook commenced to
make 69 small cakes of flour, butter, and salt water,
which were baked at the fire on a piece of sheet iron torn
from a bit of the wreck. The cakes were served out, with

to be done. Few had escaped without severe cuts and
bruises, and some poor fellows were dreadfully mangled.
The morning was bitter cold, and few had any clothing;
so the first act of all who could crawl about among the
wreck, stones, and water, was to search for any sort of
clothes to protect them from the cold. Some might be
seen scrambling over a ship's beam, across a few cabin
doors, broken chairs, &c., disappearing into a hole of
water for a few seconds, scrambling on again over a few
ragged stones, cuttieg the feet, up to the waist in water,
and, on coming alongside, some poor fellow's well-packed
trunk was seized, broken open, and the clothes turned
over in search of flannels, trousers, and coats. These
were in great demand, but few were to be found. For
want of a ccat, a few wet shirts wrapped round the
shoulders helped to keep some %sum. After the strag-
glers had been gathered together on the shoalest spot,
about 250 yards inside the breakers,
and perhaps 600
yards from the place where the ship had struck, the
pieces of the wreck being about midway, information was
gathered of the state of the boats, which were seen here
and there among the wreck. One lifeboat was
reported to be unfit for use, having some
eight feet of the side torn away, besides being
rent from stem to stern,
sea that struck her. T so that she opened with every
The cutter was reported also use-
less, being crushed to pieces, and the only other boat to
be seen was the mail-boat, which was reported of no use,
having her entire stem torn out, all the lining boards
gone, and stove in the stern, bottom, and sides. Our
position seemed hopeless. Had but one boat been saved
out of the seven boats which were on beard, she might
have lived to reach the coast of Campeachy, and picked
up some vessel and brought her to our relief, it we could
have held together in our present condition. By 10 A.M.
the tide was observed to be flowing. We had never
thought of that; and now came the qu .stion from every
mouth, " How far is it likely to flow ?" but no one could
tell! It might cover the spot where we then were so
deeply that we must all perish! Some few at last put
their heads together, and said that our only hope of
salvation was in getting one of the boats patched up
any how, to make the attempt to reads the main coast;
that now we were only idling and losing time,—time,
which, if well used, might be the means of saving
us all yet. The mail-boat was fixed on as the only
boat worth attempting to make swim. She was hauled
out from the wreck and pushed to the place where
we stood, which had then some twelve iuches of
water on it. The carpenter, poor man, was seen in
the morning to leap off the remaining portion of the
wreck, and try to swim on shore, He almost gained
the reef, but was drowned; so his loss was greatly felt
at this time. We had no hammer, nails, &c., and
scarcely knew how to commence to repair the boat. The
chief engineer, chief, second, and third officers, boat-,
swain, and half a dozen men were appointed to take her
in hand; a copper bolt was torn out of a timber to serve
as a hammer; every one was desired to look among the
broken wreck and gather together all the nails to be
had; some picked up oars, others odd sails, &c., and the
patching of the boat commenced. About this time some-
one happened to pick up one of the ship's compasses.
Wonderful to relate, it was uninjured, although it had
been torn out of the binnacle, washed on to the reef,
and was found lying among the mass of wreck and
stones with not even the glass broken! We hailed it
as sent by Heaven to assist in our deliverance. A
rough sort of bulkhead was made in the boat, about
three feet from the bow, the space before it being
stuffed full of anything which could be laid hold
of, such as old blankets, pillow-cases, shirts, &c.
A piece of sail was then covered over the broken
bows and the fore part of the boat, extending under the
bottom some five or six feet, and there nailed on, and
fastened as well as possible. The other defects in the
frail boat were tinkered up as much as possible, so that
by 4 P.M. she was thought fit to swim. Her mast and
sail were found, and put on board, with half-a-dozen oars,
a few bottles of wine, a ham, a bit of cheese, and a little
oatmeal and flour ; after which the chief officer was ap-
pointed to take charge of her, with six men ; the Aami-
ratty agent, Mr. Davies, and Mr. Dimond, the American
Consul, bound for Vera Cruz, being allowed also to go
in her, the first on account of his age and injuries, the
latter to act as interpreter on the coast. Before setting
oft we all shook them by the hand, wishing them God
speed from the bottom of our hearts. They shoved
off, and we gave them three cheers, which they
returned ; but both sides cheered with sorrowful
hearts. She set off at five P.M., with orders to steer
south, but to be careful how she passed the night
crossing the reef, and getting through the surf when
they came to the edge. As she moved away from
us many felt a sinking at the heart ; her chance of
being kept afloat over 100 miles was very doubtful, and
on her depended all our hopes ! By this time, as we
were all so much taken up in starting the boat, it was
scarcely noticed that the tide had risen at least 18
inches, so that we were surrounded by deepening water,
and the wreck began to float from the edge of the reef
where it had first grounded, and floated in hundreds of
pieces towards us, the wind still being from the north,
which sent the drift in our direction. It was now time
to set about constructing some sort of fabric on which
to take shelter. As the pieces drifted near, we secured
them, and placed them one above another, anyhow,
without any sort of order, or distinct idea.at first what
we could or should do. At last so many were piled up
that we got up on the top, above the water, and began
to arrange it in something like order. It was squared
as much as possible, and the flat boards laid along the
top. The size might be ten feet square. There were
no lashings to any part of it, as we had no rope.
The few bottles of wine and odd provisions, &c.,
which we had gathered during the day, were
placed on the top, by which time it began to
come on dark, but still the tide was flowing, and
continued to flow till near midnight. This was a most
anxious time to all—our first night, not knowing to what
the tide might flow, and our only footing on a " loose
bundle of sticks,"
it might almost be said. Few slept
much that night. The tide rose to the very level of our
raft, so that sometimes the waters dashed over the side
near the reef, the breakers seeming to approach nearer
and nearer as it became darker, and the tide increased.
How often we sounded round our frail raft to watch the
tide ! It was very cold, too, and few had much clothing
on, and that little saturated with water. There was not
room to lie down, but all huddled together in a sitting
posture as close as possible to keep each other warm ;
still, the teeth chattering together, and limbs trembling
sleep was out of the question, but
with extreme cold, might be heard and felt everywhere.
Some tried to talk in a cheering tone when they felt
it was a faint at.
tempt, and of no use ; the heart was too sad, and the
tnoughts too gloomy ; so each relapsed into silence,
busy with his own sad reflections, and longing for the
morning light.
But all this time " the wreck"
has been forgotten
by the writer here, althou g
h far from forgotten by
those on the reef then. During the day a few
managed to reach the reef in safety, but far the greater
number were killed by the floating timber in the
surf, as they tried to reach us. Half-a-dozen might
be seen to jump off at a time to make the attempt,
but seldom more than one lived through the surf.
Swimming was of no avail; those
known
wn to be expert at
it were seen to go down, while, at
still toh
washed and blown on to it, as it were,
who came sale said that, althou the same time, some
who could not swim one stroke came on to the reef safe,
btryo from thes at daylightfigurehead
sw,abseaalual that aatuwwausrleegfto;utehlereThey
saw might be seen
in reality,
obrehthinedsiiii—p,
now and then
the tops of the engines and boilers, which,
dtheackt
of course,
would not move. In an hour or so after daylight the
theau g pn eg r tt -gowsghpaeostt the side
side of the ship, from the bows as far aft as the fore part
of the sponson, was seen to move backwards and for-
wards with every wave, until gradually it all broke away,
leaving only the sponson and wheel, surmounted still by
the life-boat; but the latter was observed soon to be
washed away, falling to windward, and dashed to atoms
in a few minutes; so now all that remained to be seen
above water were the sponson and the top of the wheel;
the whole only a few feet above water now and then, but
oftener buried in the sea, as it broke over it every
minute. To this small portion still clung some dozen
people. It should have before been observed, that be-
fore the little boat left us to day we all gathered toge-
ther, and offered up our thanks to Almighty God for our
wonderful preservation. One of the passengers had
saved a Prayer-book, and kindly read prayers. To-day
each had a little wine and a little oatmeal.
SATURDAY, FEB. 13.—8 y 6 A.M. all were up and astir.
As each were cold and benumbed, a small drop of
brandy was dealt round in the neck broken off a bottle,
with a cork in it. Then, all who were able to work were
divided into parties, each in charge of an officer of the
ship ; some to secure provisions, others clothes, and
spars for our raft, &c. It was another mercy to find so
many officers of the ship saved, as they were able to
take charge of the men, keep them in order, and make
them useful; for, without some order and system, nothing
would have been done. At 10 A.M. all were gathered
together on the raft, and we offered up our thanks to
God for our preservation through the night. By 4 P.M.
all the spars which could be collected together were
added to our raft, and lashed together, as well as we
could manage, with odd ropes picked up; and the raft was
now nearly double the size, and much heavier, still
anything but secure. We served out to each halt a
" tottle' of brandy, and a small ball of flour mixed
up with a little salt water, wine, and a little treacle.
The five poor fellows who still clung to the wreck
were observed about to leave it—they had tied to-
gether two spars, which they had broken off, and
at last committed themselves to the surf. How
anxiously we all watched, ready to assist them 1 Out
of the five, three were saved. ter
0 now numbered 69
souls on the raft, and, 10 having gone off in the little
boat, made 79 saved out of 151 souls supposed to have
been on board. We bad by this time gathered together
on the raft three barrels of flour, one small barrel of
oatmeal, one small cask of brandy, one barrel of vinegar,
one case of claret, about three cases of other wines,
three hams, two small cheeses, one small basket of pre•
served apples, a piece of bacon, two live pigs, one live
sheep, one dead sheep, one dogt alive, one tin of stuff like
treacle, one small barrel better, and one box of
candles. We had also picked up some few clothes ; so,
when each had rigged himself out as lie Lest could, a
strange lot we must have been. But there was no
grumbling, no complaints ; each man was for him
self in the way of garments. A bee-
containing the ship's
signals was found, and one !lag was fastened to a spar,
which we hoisted as a signal to any ship. At six r M.
we all lay down to rest, the depth of water round our
raft two feet ; at ten P.M. it was 3i Feet ; then it began
to ebb. The tide flowed from noun till ten sex., and
ebbed from midnight till ten A.M. This night we had
room each to lie down ou the raft. It was still very
cold ; and, ai the raft was still insecure, it was also an
anxious night for us.
SUNDAY, FEB. 14.—With the first daylight all were
moving, glad to stretch our cold and stiffened limbs.
To those who were going to work we served out each
half a tottle of brandy. Some set off to collect pieces
of the wreck and spars, others provisions, clothes, &c.;
some to gather stones to fortify the raft; others, with

came a fearful choking struggle with death. The prayer
to God, thoughts of " home," and struggles for lite, all
at the same moment!
In less than thirty minutes from the first notice of
danger the destruction of the Tweed was complete. She
was no more. The rapidity with which she was destroyed
and torn to pieces was fearful. How so many were after-
wards saved is a miracle. The writer mentions his own
case only to show the way in which many others were saved.
After being all but drowned, the receding waves dashed him
on apiece ofwreck, which he found to be a skylight, perched
on a piece of the stern-post, to which a few ragged
timbers were attached. To this he clung with nine
others, the sea breaching over all, and at times dashing
against us large pieces of the wreck, which sadly
maimed us. Still we clung on, until at last we found
we had been drifted inside the breakers to rather
smoother water. At length we got so far on the reel
that one of our party, on stepping out on a piece of
wood, said he found the bottom, in only a few feet of
water. It was joyful news to hear him say he raw many
people scattered about, standing on the wreck, which
had grounded inside the surf. It was then about 4.30,
A.m. A few of us crawled off the piece of wreck which
had saved us, but the injured clung to it till a little day-
light appeared, when they also crept on shore—no, not
on shore, but on the reef, among wreck, water, and
stones. When daylight fairly came, what a fearful
picture was presented to our eyes ! For at least a mile
along the edge of the reef, inside the breakers, nothing
was to be seen but wreck, piled up several feet in awful
confusion—timbers, planks, doors, crushed boats, beds,
trunks, baggage, barrels, seamen's chests, &c.—and all
that remained in the surf of the once proud Tweed was
the port side from the sponson to the figurehead, over
which still stood the bowsprit and jibboom, bending as
each sea covered it, like a reed. The wheel was still
attached to the sponson, and the paddle •box boat still
covered the paddle•box, all held together by the ma-
chinery and the shaft. To this portion of the ship
there still clung about forty individuals, to whom we
could render not the slightest assistance.
We then began to think that it must be the reef called
the " Alacrans" where the ship had struck. This reef
is about fifteen miles long, by twelve broad, and is dis-
tant about sixty-five miles from the nearest part of the
mainland on the Yucatan coast. The course of the ship
was intended to be about thirty miles to the south of the
reef, say about midway between the coast and Alacrans;
therefore the current must have sent the ship bodily to
the north, and that right in the teeth of a strong
norther. The Alacran reefs are completety under water,
at low tide there being here and there small patches
where there might be about eighteen inches water, the
same places at full tide being covered by perhaps three
feet of water ; other places having four, five, and six
feet, with here and there open spaces with several
fathoms of water. When we were huddled together on
the reef among the wrt eh, as the latter acted as a sort of
breakwater to keep off the surf, we found some few spots
of ragged stones, with little or no water, it being low
tide. Had the tide been full when the wreck took place,
we must all have perished, as there would then have
been about five feet of water on the edge of the reef,
and the entire wreck would have been carried, piece by
piece, right on to the middle of the reef; and scattered
for miles around in deep water ; besi. es, the people who
might have been carried through the breakers on to the
reef, being in an exhausted state, would have perished
in, four or five feet of water. Most providential then
was it that the wreck took place at ebb tide.
At daylight on the morning of Friday, Feb. 12, the
survivors began to creep together, and consult what was

a piece of mutton, or fish, and never was a feast so re-
lished. At 9 A.M. the distillery getting into good order
produced a bottle of water in about fifteen minutes. The
water so made was not very pleasant to the taste, and
we were rather afraid of the first portion made, on ac-
count of its passing through dirty copper and lead pipes:
however, it was all carefully put by for future use in
corked bottles, until it should be seen how much could
be made. By ten o'clock A.M. the raft builders had put
together a most substantial groundwork for a raft, fit
almost to carry the whole of us. It made us feel more
independent of our old fixed raft, in case of its going to
pit,ces. By eleven A DI., we had made about six bottles
of water, when some one called out " A sail!" How it
made our hearts leap with joy, although many were
sceptical, there having been a false alarm in the morning
about a light, which was only a star. All were up in a
moment, with eager looks, asking " Where ?" It seemed
but a mere white speck, and some doubted it being any-
thing but the top of some rock, many of which were to
be seen in the distance. But some of the old seamen, on
taking a good look, declared it to be a sail ; and a sail
it proved to be in a few minutes. We were half afraid
to believe that she was coming to us, in case she wa, only

a chance ship, and might, after all, never sec us on our
lowly raft. The distillery and everything else was
thrown aside—all were gaz►ng towards the vessel, to
make out how she was steering. Some said she was
a schooner, others a brig. 'We got another signal
raised on two oars lashed together. At length she
hauled round the east point of the reef, some six or eight

miles distant, and bore right up towards us along the
reef, keeping about two miles outside. When there

could be no doubt as to her intentions, we felt that the

sudden 'and unexpected prospects of a speedy deliverance
were almost too much for us. Only then did our hearts
seem to soften, and feel what we had gone through. All
knelt down and joined together most fervently in thank-
ing Almighty God for our preservation; after which each
might ho seen to grasp their friends by the hand and shake
it., with something like a smile at last upon their lips,
although the heart was too full for anything to be said.
As the brig stood towards us about noon our claret was
opened, and a double allowance (two tuttlefuis) was dealt
round to each man. By ono o'clock Y at. it was abreast
of us, about four miles outside the surf; she stopped;
and a small boat, which we had observed towing astern,
set sail towards us. In less than an hour she had
neared the surf, when she let down the sail and eight
swarthy fellows got out poles, with which they guided
their canoe right through the breakers on to the red,
close to us. _ _ _

_____ .... ......
In a few words we may as well relate the adven-
tures of our little boat. She left us at five PM. on
Friday, and continued to row and sail gently along
across the reef, in great fear of running aground every
moment and damaging her frail hull. She touched
often as she went along in the dark ; but they were able
always to clear her. The stem turned out not to be her
frailest part, when once they got clear away ; she leaked
in so many places in the bottom, that two men baling
could scat cely keep her free, and had any of them stood
up in her bottom, they would have gone through her.
The chief officer sat with the compass between his knees
in the dark, steering, but with great difficulty making
out the points of the compass ; only doing so by now and
then getting a glimpse of the flourish round the north
point. They scarcely knew how they got off the reef
into open water ; remarking,on being asked, " God must
have guided us l" At daybreak on Saturday they found
themselves clear of the reef, and also saw that they were
past the small island of Perez, to which they thought it
best not to return, but kept on their course towards the
south. The sea was calm, and the wind was fair all the
way. By sitting all well aft they kept her bows out of
the water. They sailed all day and during the night,
and when Sunday morning dawned, had the happiness of
seeing the coast a few miles off ; at the same time they
observed a brig in the offing, to which they at once
made, but she seemed to avoid them, keeping away. The
little boat kept on towards her, however, making signals
as well as they could, and, at last, got near her, and the
chief officer boarded her. Ile found them all in confu-
sion, with loaded muskets ready to protect themselves,
having taken the small boat fsn- some piratical craft.
The tale was soon told to the chief mate, Senor
Villaverde, of the Spanish brig Emilio, and at once
he got all on b ,ard, and set off towards Sisal to
inform his commander, the brig having been obliged to
slip and run from Sisal, leaving her captain on shore,
when the same " norther " came on to blow which the
Tweed encountered. Sisal being only 11 miles off, the
brig reached it by 11 A.M., when the captain v% as at
once communicated with. On hearing of our disaster
he hesitated not for one moment, but, getting some
water hurriedly on board, set sail towards the reef,
which he reached, as has been said, at 1 P.M. the next
iday. Worthy, noble, humane Bernardino Camp, for
such is the name of the excellent young officer who com-
mands the Emilio. He never thought of his cargo lyyig

on the beach at Siial, or his passengers appciintecl to
join him, to sail on a certain day for Havanna!), to which
port she is a regular trader ; his only thoughts were on
rescuing the poor shipwrecked people. lie thought not
of his insurance either, or the risk he ran of coming on
to a lee shore in the " norther " season; and last of all
but not least, he never thought of remuneration or re-
ward, afterwards remarking, when spokes to on this
point, " I did but my duty, which every man would
have done in such a case, and my reward is here " (lay-
ing his hand on his heart). We knew that many would
not have acted so promptly as he had done.

To return to the canoe alongside our raft. She
brought some roasted fowls, biscuit, and two or three
gallons of water mixed with sugar. Captain Camp
came also with her, and for a noble purpose, namely,
to remain with us on the raft, as a security in himself
that the brig would not leave us until all were rescued
The raft's muster-roll was at once got out and twenty-
five names called over, commencing with the invalids,
all of whom were to go off in the canoe to the brig.
The writer's name was among the first called out, but,
for certain pressing reasons, which need not be here
mentioned, he preferred remaining on the raft till the
last. The canoe started with twenty-five passengers,
and was anxiously watched while the attempt was
made to pull her through the breakers. Atter a
struggle this was accomplished, and their oars got out,
and they were about to hoist the sail, when a sea struck
her and turned her broadside on the surf, into which
she was driven, and back on to the reef, narrowly
escaping being capsized. Her crew said she was
overloaded, so twelve only were sent in her ; and
this time she got over in safety, and made towards
the brig, on beard which they were placed. She
returned about four P.M., bringing the brig's small
boat, which alone came through the surf, the canoe
stopping outside, as they were afraid she would get stove
if she struck the reef in the middle of the boiling
surf. The small boat took off seven passengers to the
canoe, and returned tor seven more, with which she set
off; but, when in the middle of the surf, one wave
seemed to lift her high in the air, then dash her round
broadside on, and capsize her. She turned over and over,
and was swept back on to the reef, full of water, the
people who were in her being scattered about in the surf.
Fortunately, all of them, after a little, got a footing on
the reef, in four or five feet of water, and reached the
raft in safety. The boat was baled clear of water, and a
few more seamen put into her, with extra oars, and only
four passengers allowed to go. This time she got safely
through the surf, and alongside the canoe, which went to
the brig, the small boot returning to the raft. It was
I now getting late, and the brig stood out to sea for the
night. We dealt round the sugar and water and biscuit,

with some rashers of ham in addition, which we prepared
from our own stock. A lantern, sent from the brig on
purpose, was then hoisted on the oar signal-staff ; and
we passed a pleasant night, compared with previous ones,
enjoying a secure sleep, with the little boat alongside,
and the brig not far off.
TUESDAY, FEB. 16.—A1l astir at 6 a.m., but no appear-
ance of the brig. At 7 A.M. each had two tottles
of wine,' an " Alacran cake," and a rasher of ham. At
eleven A.M. the brig hove in sight, coming from leeward;
and by two P.m. she hove to, and sent off the canoe to
us. We now saw it was hopeless to attempt getting the
people conveyed through the surf, which appeared to
roar louder and rise with greater violence than before ;
and, should the boats strike the reef in trying to get
through the surf, they might get so much injured that
the brig might he compelled to leave the greater number
of us behind ; besides, it was dangerous for the brig to
be kept so near a lee shore, should a •'norther " spring
up. It was, therefore, proposed that the canoe should
come through the surf to us, to be employed with the
small boat in carrying us all at one time across the reef
t6l the southward, to the small island, where the brig
could go round and pick us up. This was agreed on
as our only chance of all reaching the brig in
safety. But there was no time to be lost ; there-
fore Captain Parsons gave orders to us to embark
forthwith, no one taking with him a single lag
more than was on his back. Some were disgosed to
think this a se, ere order ; but when it was explained
that we numbered so many it might almost be im
possible to get the boats to clear some of ihe sunken
rocks which studded the entire extent of the reef, and
that our lives depended on the boats d, awing not one
inch more than our oan weight could make them, all
set about embarking with eheerrulness ; before doing
which, however, every one knelt down on the raft. and
we offered up our united and fervent thanks to Ahnrglity
God for his goodness. We took with us a few bottles of
wine, a little brandy to mix with the water in case
drinking too freely of the latter raw might be injurious,
and a ham ; but with feelings of regret OD the part of
all, we were compelled to leave the two poor black pigs,
the sole occupants of our raft. It was also with some
regret we were obliged to leave behind a case containing
some dozens of ready-made shirts and flannel vests, so
much needed by all. But there was no help for it, our
minds being made up so suddenly to cross the reef.
Captain Parsons was the last man to step from the raft
into the canoe. The arrangement was that the small
boat, in charge of the chief officer and nine men, should
take the lead, with the canoe in tow, the small boat
steering by compass and guiding the canoe.
There were 42 people stowed in the canoe, and 10 in
the small boat. At five P.M. we shoved off in silence, all
looking back at the raft, which had stood our part so
long, with feelings mingled with regret, sorrow, and joy.
Our voyage, we knew, was attended with great danger ;
for, were our canoe to rua on a rock or reef, she might
turn over and drown perhaps the whole of us, in fathoms
of water alongside. The second officer took his stand
in the bow of the canoe, as she was obliged to take the
lead, and assisted by one of the natives of Sisal belong-
ing to the boat, with poles sounding, he kept a look out
for reefs and danger. Sometimes we used the oars, and
at others the sail, the canoe often grating over the reefs,
which made us shudder, till we had gone three or four
miles in the dark, when we thought it best to come to an
anchor, about eight P.M. This was a trying night to all,
much worse than the raft, as we were all huddled to-
gether in a sitting posture, the wind blowing fresh, send-
ing the spray over us, and a heavy dew falling. It was
bitter cold, too, and it was with great delight all hailed
the first glimpse of returning light.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17.—Sunrise brought us a lovely
morning. We offered up our thanks to God for his
protection and goodness, and set sail towards the south.
After many times touching on the rocks, at eleven
o'clock A.M. we reached a small island, on which there
was a hut, swarms of birds, piles of wood, and lots of
our wreck, which had floated about ten miles, boxes,
spars, clothes, and some dead bodies. The people in the
small boat landed, thinking it was Perez, but, as we
found it was not that island, the boats then were kept on
their course to the south towards another small island,
which was seen about five miles off. We now had some
bread and cheese, with a little brandy and water, for
breakfast. About two P.M. we reached Perez, on
which we landed, observing the brig, at the same time,
about ten miles off, making towards us. Perez is about
one mile long and one mile broad. Bird Island
is about the same size ; and another rather
longer island lies a few miles to the east-
ward of both. There are a few good huts
at Perez, built of the wreck of some ships, and
thatched with cane leaves. In one but there are about a
dozen butts of fresh water, kept there by the fishermen
and turtlers, who resort thither from Campeachy and
Sisal. There are a few shrubs growinu on the island,
which is all formed of sand, the highest part not bring
more than 10 feet above the sea. We lighted a fire n
one of the huts, broiled some bacon, and with some
bread and the fresh water we found in the casks we made
a good meal. The sun was very hot all day. It we had
but had the luck to be cast away on an island like this,
it would have been a perfect paradise compared with
our late quarters on the reef, where we had five days and
five nights of much suffering.
The brig came round near to Perez, and the canoe
in two trips placed us all in safety on her deck by 5 P.m.,
when she set sail towards Sisal. On board the brig there
was everything in the shape of kindness to tn.; and on
the followii,g day we reached Sisal, where. having re-
ceived for a week the utmost kindness and hospitality,
we embarked on board the Emelio for Havannah, where
we arrived on the 3d of March.
When the inhabitants of the Havannah learned how
nobly Captain Camp and Mr. Villaverde, his chief mate,
bad behaved in our rescue, a subscription, headed by the
Governor-General, was commenced for their benefit, as
a mark of how much their conduct was esteemed by all.
In a short time it had amounted to 4,000 dollars. When
the two noble officers for whom it was intended heard
about it, they at first refined to accept any part of it. to the
rno..t kind and generous manner offering it for the benefit
"of the widows and families of the poor men lost in the
Tweed! The Consul and all concerned said this should
not be, observing that the subscription made by the
people of Havannah was for their two noble-minded
countrymen ; and that surely " at home," the country.
men of the poor sufferers, on hearing of the sad cuss-
trophe, which would bring destitution to many a poor
family, would as handsomely " do their duty."
It is to be hoped that the Government, and the Royal
Humane Societies, will not overlook the noble and
humane conduct of the captain and chief officer of the
Spanish brig Emilio. Her owners would not accept
any return for the four days employed in rescuing the
shipwrecked people off the reef.
The Tweed steamer was launched in 1841, having
been built by Mr. Charles Wood, at Greenock. The en-
gines were made by Messrs. Caird and Co. She com-
menced running in January, 1842, and at the time of
her loss was almost as good as at the first day of starting.
Captain Parsons is a master of 22 years' standing in the
Royal Navy. He joined the Royal Mail Steam-packet
Company's service in 1842, as chief officer of the Dee,
for one voyage. He then commanded the Medway for
one voyage ; after which he exchanged into the Tweed,
in which he had made five complete voyages to and from
the West Indies, three of which were to the Gulf of
Mexico. Many of the Tweed's men had been in her
since she first started running, and almost all had been
several voyages in her, some of the men having followed
Captain Parsons from ship to ship for ten years.

THE MURDER AT COCKHURNSPATH.— FURTHER
PARTICULARS,—The vicinity of Cockburnspath, on the
morning of Saturday, the 27th ult., was the scene of a
most unnatural murder. The particulars are these :
A party of Irish vagrants, consisting of a mother, named
Mary Gartie or Morran, and her sons and daughters,
James, Patrick, Mary, Helen, and Michael Morran, and
Francis Cannel, no relation to them, but going along
with them—all of them in appearance in a most desti-
tute condition—made their appearance in Cockburnspath
on Friday, and during that day solicited charity in the
village. They lodged there all night, lea% ing earls on
Saturday morning for the south. The boy Michael was
weakly, and apparently newly recovered from the small-
pox, and about the age of twelve years. He was along
with them when they left. They had not been long
on their way, when a man going along the road, at
a Vt r3' short distance from Cockburnspath, heard a
groan, and looking into a drain that passes under-
neath the road, found the boy, with a stone which
weighed ninety-two pounds placed upon his chest, and his
bead tied up in a bag. When he was taken out, life
was fast ebbing, but he lingered on for two hours, when
death put a period to his sufferings. He was soon recog-
nised as one of the party who were seen in the place the
previous day. A search after them was immediately
made, and they were overtaken at Reston, and brought
to Dunse for examination, which continued until late
that evening, and was resumed on Tuesday, when they
were committed, and sent to Greenlaw gaol. The part.-
culars of the examination have not been made public.
But we learn that the mother, in her declaration, con-
fesses to the child being hero, stating that it died, and
she having no burial place here, put the body into the
drain. They were not in that destitute condition their
appearance indicated, as on the person of the mother
was found money amounting to above 31.—Berwich
Warder.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT Bow.—Yesterday an inquest
was held before Mr. W. Baker, Coroner, at the London
Hospital, on the body of Joseph Hall, a carpenter, aged
49 years. It appeared that on Wednesday morning, the
17th of March last, the deceased was at work in some
new houses at Old Ford, Bow, and while standing on
several loose planks in the second floor he suddenly
slip-
ped and fell through the well-hole of the staircase, into
the back parlour, a distance of seventeen feet. Several
of the workmen immediately went to his assistance, when
it was discovered that he had broken his left leg. no
was removed to the London Hospital, where it was found
necessary to amputate his leg. He lingered until Sun-
day last, when he expired. Verdict, " Accidental
Death."

Songs, insulting to the King of the French, having
groat deal circulated of late in the wine.
shops the Barriers, the police ascertained from a
besa
drunken man, who possessed a copy of one, that they were
sold by a man named Guitton, and a negress named
Barber, who frequented such places under the pretence
of selling nuts. These persons have been arrested, and
a number of the songs were found in their possession, as
was also a list of individuals of good standing in society.
The songs which had been circulated were all in manu-
script.

IRON MASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING.--BIRMING-
HAM, THURSDAY.—The meeting of the ironmasters of
Shropshire, South Staffordshire, and East Worcester-
shire, was unusually numerous to-day. The prices
adopted at Wolverhampton yesterday were confirmed,
and the reports generally represented the trade to be in
a firm and healthy cond►tion. Although the workpeople
in the minir4; districts are said to be somewhat uneasy,
there is at present no expressed determination to seek by
" turn out " for an advance of wages.