The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-16 00:00:00

THE WILLIAM BROWN.

The Post of this morning contains the statement of
John Messer, one of the seamen of the William Brown,
who was saved in the long-boat. his description of the
horrible scene enacted in the boat does not tend to re-
lieve the mate from any of the odium which public
opinion has placed upon him for his barbarous treat-
ment of the unfortunate passengers. After describing
the loss of the ship, &e., and the embarkation of a por-
tion of the passengers, he goes on as follows '—
Before leaving us, the captain addressed the boat's
crew encouragingly, desired us to keep our hearts up,
not to quarrel or fight among ourselves, but to be ad-
vised by the mate, and to do what he should desire us.
He then bid us good bye, and in fifteen minutes or so
*as out of sight.
During the whole of the day the weather was ex-
tremely cold, and tile sea very rough. We rigged a drag
with our oars in order to keep the boat's head to the sea,
and to break the force of the waves.

Towards night-fall the mate consulted in a low voice,
with several of the crew, about lightening the boat. I was ,
aft at the time, with my back against the stern. 'At last
he said to me and another man, who was near me, " Well, I
I suppose you have no objections to lending us a hand to
lighten the boat?" I inquired how he intended to do so?
and while I was speaking I heard a splash alongside, and
the whole boat was in an uproar—the work of death had
commenced. The other man and myself both remon-
strated against such cold-blooded proceedings, and said
If we are to die, let us die fair—let us cast lots."
" Very well," said the mate, " they will throw you
overboard next." I then drew my sheath knife, and
swore that whoever should lay a hand on me should
share my fate. The mate then called a tall negro, one
of the crew, aft, to toss me overboard, but when he saw
my knife, he went forward again and lent the others a
hand. My companion stuck close to me during the
whole of the heartrending scene, determined to defend
himself to the last. •
One old man, a native of Ireland, when about to be
seized, fell upon his knees and entreated them to
spare his life, and he would give them all he had.
He then drew from his purse a number of sovereigns,
and offered them to the crew, but they were thrown
aside and himself thrown overboard, lad about
18 years of age requgsted time to
say his prayers, and
when he concluded, he said 44 lam now prepared—l do
not wish you to throw me overboard—l will go myself,"
and he stepped off the gunwale of the boat into the sea.
Of all who wore thrown overboard, not one, to my know-
ledge, succeeded in getting on board again. There were
no hands cut off nor any blood spilt ; neither did any
one, except the young man already mentioned, jump
overboard voluntarily.
Thu R040111;0 passengers offered no 1 resistance—
prayers and entreaties were all they used. " Oh, spare
me ! spare me !" several of them cried, even while they
were half overboard. I will not attempt a description
of this awful scene—it would melt a heart of stone. I
bellove there were sixteen thrown overboard.
The boat was baled out after she had been lightened ;
she then rode very well, and made but little water. The
following morning
I discovered a sail, and communicated
the fact to the mate, who said—" By God, Jack, you're
a lucky fellow ; you have saved your life." The ship
that picked us up, as is already known, was the Crescent.
So s>'rArlg inpripr indignation against the negro, that,
up'rn reaching 'itTe CreseenVs deck I seized a heaver and
held.
All it at his he, i•• •
• All of the crew in the boat, excepting the mate and
another man, were foreigners, or as sailors say, Dutch-
men, that is, men belonging to the continent of Europe.
Upon our arrival at Havre in the Ville de Lyon, the