The Sun.
London, England, 1821-08-18 00:00:00

EARL MOIRA PACKET.

FARTHER PARTICULARS.
iFrom the LIVERPOOL COURIER, August 15.1
[Continued from our Paper of Yesterday.]

The following Narrative, written by a Gen-
tleman who was upon the wreck, will be read

with interest :
" The Earl Moira, Dublin packet, left the.Pierhead on Wed-
nesday last, about twenty minutes past six in'the evening, w,th
about 110 or 120 passengers on board, about 30 or 36 of whom
were cabin passengers, and five ladies among the number.—
The Captain took the helm down to the Magazines, and then
sent the mate forward to bring a seaman to supply his place.
Although the wind was W.N.W., we had a very pleasant sail
down to the Reek ; outside of- which, we had to encounter a
head-wind, blowing very fresh ; and, evening coming fast upon
us, soon convinced us that we had to experience weather we
did not calculate upon on leaving Liverpool. The Newry
packet, which sailed after us from Liverpool, on coming round
the Rock, and observing our dangerous situation, immediately
put about, and sailed back to Liverpool. Before we lost sight
of her, we struck upon Burbo Bank, with a shock that alarmed
all on board, and "caused instant inquiries for the Captain, who
ordered the crew to haul over,' and desired the passengers to
go to the bow of the vessel ; which failing in bringing her off
the bank, an anchor was carried out in the boat, and in about
twenty'minutes we found ourselves again in deep water,—
While the Captain was giving directions on this occasion, it was
remarked that he spoke in an incoherent manner, and we were
shortly but too well convinced that he was quite intoxicated.—
Many of the cabin passengers, in their exasperation, were for
'tying him to the mast, and giving him a round
,dozen each; others
were for throwing him overboard ; while some, with less heat,
but more prudence, strongly advised returning to Liverpool.
In this confusion we proceeded, and were very soon again
admonished, by another shock, tkat we were in hands totally
incompetent to manage the vessel. A fter beating upon Mock-
beggar Wharf some time, we found all attempts to get her off
unavailing, and, being pacified with the assurance that the
vessel was staunch and strong, and' able to weather out the
dreary night that was to follow, many retired to their beds soon
after ten o'clock; not to sleep, for the dreadful beating of the
vessel wholly prevented that, but with a silent and thoughtful
anxiety for the return of that morn which, with the flood-tide,
we were promised would relieve us from our perilous situation.
The mainsail had been clewed up, but still the vessel labbured
very hard, and about eleven o'clock, with the assistance of four
or five cabin passengers, the crew got the boom on board, and
took in the reefs ; after which she lay more at ease. Some had
fondly promised themselves that between twelve and one o'clock,
at low water, we should be dry; but, alas ! no such thing : the
surges were such, that, although there could not he more than
three or four feet water around us, the stoutest heart must have
shrunk to encounter them. The moon refused to shine upon
us, and the dreary scene was only enlivened by here and there
a star, and the Lighthouses on the shore, the nearest of which
seemed little more than a mile from us. The unfortunate man
in whose care so many souls were placed steered the vessel for
near an hour, between twelve and one o'clock, giving directions
to the men, as if he considered she was under way, repeatedly
falling down upon the deck, while such of the crew as saw him
viewed him with mixed feelings of contempt and indignation.
Reed, the steward, behaved in the most praiseworthy manner,
and soothed, the agitated feelings of the passengers in the most
tender and cheering way ; but these cheering hopes were again
damped, about half-past two o'clock, by a gentleman coming
from his bed, in the state-room next the hold, in consequence
of the water coming into him. Break of day appeared ; the
tide rolled rapidly towards the shore, and the wind blew a
gale in the same direction. These conspiring elements, which,
we had fondly hoped, were to relieve us from our distress, but
increased it the more, each succeeding wave driving us further
in land. Soon after three o'clock, the poor passengers that
were in the hold came on deck, crying the water was fast in-
creasing in the hold. The pump was now got to work ; but, alas !
the pump was unavailing, the hold filled rapidly. A signal of
distress was now hoisted by a passenger, the crew refusing to
do it without the captain's orders, and we.had soon the pleasure
of seeing it repeated from the Lighthouse on Bidston-hill. The
water had increased so much in the hold, that it was deemed
expedient to hoist two fine horses out, to prevent their drown.
ing. On getting them on deck, one of the grooms wished to ride
one of them to the shore, but was prevented by the other, who
seemed very unwilling to part with them from on board. The
packet had now fallen considerably on her side, the lee gunnel
being under water • and the waves, from about five o'clock,
breaking over us with tremendous force. We anxiously looked
around for assistance, and made fresh efforts to induce a small
boat, which lay at no great distance to the westward of us, to
approach. No gun or powder was on board, belonging to the
packet ; but fortunately a soldier (who, with his two com-
panions,_had a deserter in charge) had three rounds, which he
fired. The boat approached, but not to render us assistance ;
nothing would induce the two men in her to come alongside :
she passed us, and, dropping under our lee bow, came to anchor,
and there picked up such valuables as floated from the wreck.
Between five and six o'clock vessels began to pass up channel,
towards Liverpool, but, as they were inward-bound, and their
boats, probably, not at liberty, none of them, came to our as-
sistance. Our situation now became dreadful: many had
climbed up the rigging ; the deck was no longer tenable, for
one tremendous wave had swept away the boat, cabin deck-
light, water casks, and, in short, every thing, and with them
10 or 15 poor souls from the forecastle; five or six clung to the
braces at the stern, but each wave thinned their numbers, and
the shrouds now were the only place of comparative safety, and
the difficulty of getting to them, from the deck, was every
moment increased by the overwhelming force of the waves,
each of which seemed to mark out its victim. In this state
we remained till about half-past seven o'clock, when a sail
appeared to the westward, which the steward, who was on
the shrouds, declared to be the Iloylake life-boat. She came
between us and the land, and released 30 poor sufferers' from
the topmast and upper part of the shrouds, and sailed for Li-
verpool. When she came alongside, some manly voice cried
out, " Let no man get into her till the women are safe." But,
alas ! the women were all at the bottom of the shrouds and
under them, and, consequently, the whole length of the ves-
sel's mast from the life-boat, and, exhausted as they weree
unable to reach her ; one only, I believe, was saved in her.—
Before the second boat arrived, all the women were no more
but two ; this boat could only take eight. A long and fearful
suspense followed ; the deck burst up, and spread wreck and
confusion around ; the mast sunk to a level with the sea, and
hope seemed to quit each remaining sufferer ; not a word was
heard, and as the mast rose out of the water and fell in again
with every wave, each seemed to fear being crushed with some
of the loose pieces of wreck which rolled about us with de-
structive violence. A third boat now arrived to release 12
more: and as we parted from the 15 or 18 remaining, they
cried put, with !piercing accents, " Will you leave us ? Two
boat:, more, one a pilot-boat, soon came to their assistance,
but, alas ! 12 only remained to be saved."

the subsequent narrative, also written by a
gentleman who was among the last taken off the
wreck, will likewise be perused with interest:—

" _The Moira packet was to have sailed at five o'clock on
Wednesday evening, the fhh instant. A few friends and myself
took our passage by her, no other packet sailing on that day.
There were from 25 to 30 cabin passengers, many of them very
respectable. The vessel, however, did not sail until half-past
six from the Pierhead, owing, I believe, and as I have been
given to understand, to "the captain delaying on shore. When
he came on board], he was so intoxicated as to be rendered
totally incapable of conducting the vessel, and, indeed, unable
to stand without support : this was observed by many, but every
person seemed to think that his crew were sufficient to conduct
her in such moderate weather as it then appeared to be. The
first obvious' error was his running the vessel upon a bank near
half-past seven o'clock, about four or five miles from the Rock ;
but after great exertions on the part.of the passengers and crew,
she was got off, and could, without doubt, have been broUght
back to Liverpool safely, as the wind was fair. The Newry
packet did return : this the unfortunate captain would not per-
mit; the men would only obey his orders, nor could the pas-
sengers be persuaded to act together. They depended upon
two or three seamen, who were not insensible by intoxication,
to conduct the vessel to sea.

" The' second or third tack after this time, and after refusing
to yield more than once to the rudder, she struck on a bank,
about a mile and a half from the shore, about the same distance,
from this side the Lighthouse, and at the moment the unfor-
tunate captain seized the helm, when all exertions to clear her
were found vain and useless. The tide was sufficiently low to
afford hopes to the passengers that the vessel would lie safe
until morning, as the crew assured them that she would then
float, and be got off' without damage. The captain was at this
time perfectly insensible. On these assurances, it was resolved.
to retire and leave the deck to the crew, who were to attend

to the management of the vessel during the night. She beat,
much for an hour longer, and then seemed ":3 t e y , (in conse-
quence, no doubt, of the tide returning), until about 5 o'clock
on the morning of the 9th, when a scream was heard in the hold,.
and repeated several times. On looking round, I perCeiVed water
entering the cabin ' • I repaired on deck immediately, and in-
quired why they had not pumped the, vessel, or sounded the
pumps, to apprise us of the danger. The seamen informed
me, that they .had no orders tO that effect. All the passen-
gers now became alarmed. One pump was put in readiness,
but the water was, found to gain on them, notwithstanding
the utmost exertions on the part of the passengers and crew,
and by six o'clock was even with the hatchway, meeting the
waves on deck. The wretched appearance of the passengers,
with:the exception of a few bold fellows and one young married
Lady, was rendered truly distressing : in fact, it would be im-
possible to convey the least idea of the deplorable situation 'of
the females : indeed, many of the'men were equally as helpless.
Some were already incapable of making exertions through fear,
and others so careless, that they required to be urged to make
them. The boat.had been stove at night, and lying; on deck
unfit for sailing, yet might have been put in order, if we had
been apprised of our danger ; but now the time was too short,
the confusion too great ; -the sailors fled to•the shrouds, which
first induced me to look that way for protection. The luggage
had been piled on this boat, and many thronged upon it; every
moment seemed to increase the danger. Two valuable horses
that had been in the hold were got out before this time, and
were thrown overboard ; they took different directions, neither
making to the shore ; one swain towards Liverpool, the other
out to sea.' 'The last time I saw the Captain• was in making
some exertion to get the horses overboard : even then he was
incapable of action. While this was taking place, the crip-
pled boat, in which the greatest part of the cabin passen-
gers were seated, arid the luggage placed, forced the skylight
against which it lay and went overboard, leaving those who
had been upon it to make the best of their way to a rope or the
shrouds ; those who had not strength remaining to rush there,
or swim.to the fallen bowsprit, were compelled to hold by the
next object, whether the.railing or a rope. In a quarter of an
hour more, at seven o'clock, the deck gave way, commencing
at the stern, and breaking up to the main hatchway nearly at
once. The railing andttern by degrees drifted off, until almost
nothing remained but the deck before the mast, and the side
to which the mast was attached ; perhaps. these would have
given way also, but the weather was by no means bad, and the
tea, although swelling, by no means boisterous : to this circum-
stance alone the survivors owe their safety. A boat had been
at anchor within hail from the time I went on deck, with two
men in her, (if such monsters deserve the name,) who saw the
whole progress of our danger with the most mortifying indiffer-
ence: they baited their hooks, threw them out as cool as though
we lay at anchor, and, , to be near witnesses of our distress,
bore down upen us when we cast anchor, within fifty yards
between us and the shore, evidently remaining to pick up any
property that might drift within their reach; there they re-
mained, refusing the offer of twenty guineas to take even the
women (who were then all safe) on shore. After sufficiently
mortifying our feelings, and seeing no prey coming; (for the
luggage did not, at this time, begin to drift,) they hoisted sail
very deliberately, and left us to our fate. The feelings this.
excited in the breasts of all the sufferers it would be difficult.
to conceive, much more to describe. Many vessels passed
within view, some quite near. About seven o'clock a Pilot-
boat, No. 11, did so ; she, however, went into Liverpool, and
brought out two small boats, which arrived as the wreck was
cleared. There were also several fishing-boats, American and.
British vessels, and two steam packets: they seemed to com-
miserate our situation, and afforded us the assistance of their
prayers, no doubt : their prayers were heard, for about halfs
past seven o'clock, the lifeboat from Hoylake was in view,
and shortly after approached the wreck. Before the life-boat
appeared, , and after the departure.of the friendly fishermen,
two or three bold fellows (One, I believe, an officer) stripped
and plunged into the ocean, with the assistance of a spar or
box, hoping to gain the shore : their courageand strength made
us hope every thing for them, and, although it was far froiraa
prudent choice, we prayed heartily for their safety. Should
they have reached the shore, I hope they will afford us the
pleasure of a communication through, the printer.

" When the crew of the life boat attached themselves to the
wreck by throwing their grapple into the rigging, those sailors
to whom the lives of the passengers were intrusted that I have
already noticed, being upon the top of the mast, (by this time
weighed down nearly upon a level with the water,) were the
first to get on board her, leaving helpless females and weak
men to shift for themselves: many plunged into the sea to
gain her ; some sunk to rise no more, and many were lost this
way. It is solely to that cause I attribute the resolution of the
crew of the lifeboat in sheering off before they had taken near
so many as they certainly might have done; nor have I the
smallest doubt but more would be lost in making the experi-
ment, than they could pick up by their best exertions. I saw
some go down quite near her; some also returned to the wreck.
While the lifeboat was in view, several passengers, already
weak and insensible, dropped from their hold and drifted off;
among the number I perceived the unfortunate Captain, who,
although the author of all our sufferings, I am persuaded every
person forgave. Several women were washed off about the same
time ; the dying shrieks of these poor creatures were truly ter-
rific.
Another boat now appeared, in view, and shortly after
came up; these were regular traders in saving lives, and made
their bargain accordingly ; after getting a few persons on board
they sheered, off. A second boat of the same description arrived
about eight o'clock, and bargained in like manner, refiiSing to
take any but those who paid largely, neither of them taking
half the number they might have done. A fourth boat, belong-
in; to Hoylake, coming from Liverpool, behaved differently,
taking all without any bargain, and using every exertion, with
greet peril, to take off the dying, which, with the assistance of
another boat from Liverpool, an two brought out by the Pilot-
boat, No. 11, they finally accomplished, about half-phit eight
o'clock.

" From my own observations (and I have had an opportunity
of learning they were pretty correct) I think there might be on
board, altogether, about one hundred people, and that, perhaps,
forty to fifty were lost. This, however, is mere conjecture, and,
no doubt, will be better ascertained hereafter. There were but
two females saved in my view ; one the lady already noticed,
who behaved, throughout the trying scene, greatly superior to
many of the stoutest men ; the other the wife of a soldier, who
was very careful of her. Some females t saw drifted off about
the same time as the Captain."

The following letter from the Rev. AUGUSTUS
CAMPBELL, the Rector of Wallasey, contains
some interesting particulars of this distressing
event :

WALLASEY, AUGUST 13, 1821.
Sea—l hope you will permieme, through the medium of
' your paper, to give as much contradiction as I possibly can to
the r9ort which appeared in the " Liverpool Mercury," re-
specting the conduct of the inhabitants of Wallasey, during the
late wreck, and to state that that report is not to be credited,
that, indeed, if I am to be believed, it cannot possibly be true ;
for of the six bodies which were cast up when that paper went
to press, leolemnly affirm not one was stripped, and Mrs. Mar-
garet Doran's was the only one that could have been plundered
of any thing valuable. Her body was picked up, not by the
Wallasey men (and for them alone' I wish to answer), but by
John Sherlock, of Moolse, and he gave up as much property
as a person in her condition was likely to have about her, to the
Coroner. Of the other-five, three were infants that could have
nothing, and the remaining two were poor women who from
their appearance, could not have had any thing but the clothes
that covered them. Upon Mr. M‘Leish's body, which was
found on Friday, by a Wallasey man, there were a watch worth
30 or 40 guineas, and 22 pounds, which I have in my posses-
sion. Thus, 1 hope, I have proved that the Wallasey men are
I guiltless of the crime which has been imputed to them. But in
addition to this, if you can afford me room, 1 will endeavour to
show that their conduct Merits honour instead of reproach.
There were 1:!-,; boxes, of different descriptions, brought into
the village, all of which were announced to me with perfect
honesty and good faith. Fourteen of them were locked, and,
therefore, could not have been plundered; of the remaining
four one was a band-box containing female apparel, which was
carefully preserved by the Custom-house officer's wife ; another
was Mr. Delap's desk, which was open, and full of valuable
papers, of which, I believe, he has not lost one ; and the re-
maining two, which belonged to poor men, were given up to
their owners without any reward. Now, I put these facts in
competition with the reports which the Mercury refers to, leav-
ing it to the public to strike the balance ; and I appeal to Mr.
Kean' Smith and the other Gentlemen who have recovered their
property to testify, whether, for their liberal conduct, they ex-
perienced any thing but good faith and disinterestedness on the
part of those Wallasey men, who have ueen, I must say, un-
fairly aspersed by insinuations which, in spite of their vague-
ness, will be easily credited by those whose habit it is to " think
evil." In the absence of proof, accusation should be silent ;
for calumnies like these, and a niggardly disposition on the part
'of the owners, too common on such occasions (though, I am
happy to say, not SQ on this,) are strong temptations so disho-
nourable concealment ; and though honesty, in the abstract, is
an admirable quality, yet it is rather difficult to persuade un-
lettered men to persevere in the practicp of it, when they gain
by their perseverance neither credit nor Deward.—l remain,
Your faithful and obedieneServant, •
AUGUSTUS CAMPBELL, Rector of Wallasey.
Will you permit me to add, that the IVallasey men couldnot, '
as is reported, plunder the wreck, as they have no boats, and
could not get at it at all till yesterday ; and that William
Evans, of Seabank, saved ten men in his boat ; in return for
which his sons were accused of having stolen a gentleman's

watch, which -was afterwards found to -have 7 -been carefiity
placed under his pillow at the inn where he slept

. The following letter has been addressed to us
by Mr. D'AGUILAR, one of the owners of the
packet, and we willingly in-sort R
Sin—A statement having appeared in the Vercury of yester-
day, relative to the unfortunate shipwreck of the Earl Moira
packet, I deem it but an act of common justice to the owners of
the vessel to mention such circumstances connected with it as
will enable the public tO form a just estimate of this melaneholy
event.

The vessel being freight:d and ready for sea, I gave the ne-
cessary orders for her to proceed to Dublin on 'Wednesday last,.
At six o'clock in the evening, I cominuniceted these direc-
tions to the Captain, in person, and the vessel sailed very soon
afterwards. .
The captain, at the time of this personal communication, was,
in my judgment, perfectly sober. He held a considerable con-
versation with me, on matters of business, and I never heard
any man speak more clearly or intelligibly in my life. The
crew was composed of the usual complement of six men, besides
the captain and the mate, alleof whom knew their business, and
had long sailed in the vessel ; the captain in particular, Edward
Owens, had been at least ten years commander of the Earl
Moira, and I solemnly declare, I considered him one of the
most skilful, as well as popular, captains in the.employ.
With regard to the vessel herself, no painS or expence were
ever spared to render her perfect in her equipment; and to
show how complete my own confidence would have been in her,.
I hope I may be permitted to state, that the late lamented death
of my respected relative, Captain Phibbs, at Dublin, the news
of which reached me that very hour, had alrepdy determined me
to proceed in her on this occasion, and that I was only prevent-
ed from doing so, by the after reflection that my presence here
could be more immediately useful to his family.
It is unnecessary for me to add, that no one can more sincere-
ly deplore the catastrophe that followed than I do, together with
the owners in general. The observations that have been made
on the intoxication of the captain, it were as vain as unbecom-
ing to me to combat, ignorant as I am of all the circumstances
that occurred after his departure. I can only aver, that he we'
sober when he left.me, and had never, on any occasion, awaken-
ed a doubt upon the regularity' of his conduct since I knew him.
The evening, toq,' was by no means threatening at six o'clock,
and the vessel sailed without any one momentary feeling of aP"
prehension, on My part, of her safety. I deem it, likewise, bt3
justice to the memory of the unfortunate captain to state,,tll3t
I am assured by. one of the survivors of the crew, Henry. Tiny
ledge, the under-steward, that he exerted himself to the last to
save the vessel, and when all was lost, still clung to the rig_ging
and refused to quit the ship. He was still there when iteet4
the steward? came away in the life-boat, at eight o'clock. and
far from being the first, as stated in the Mercury, was, in faet,.
one of the last who met his fate on this melancholy occasion
.--
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Nova cotia, Aug. 11, 1821. JOSEPH D'AGUILAR-

SPORTING INTELLIG EN CE.

STATE OF THE ODDS.-BETTING-ROOM, AVG. 27•

YORK 3OGS. STAKE.
sto 2 agst Statesman I 6to 1 agst Sandbeck
5 to 2 agst Androssan

ST. Lrcrtrt
11 to 1 agst Sandbeck
15 to 1 agst Statesman
20 to 1 agst any other.