The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-15 00:00:00

LOSS OF CAPTAIN PRIAULX.

In our last we noticed the death of Captain
Priaulx, master of the cutter izEo/us, Southamp-
ton trader. This melancholy event took place
under the following circumstances. The dEo/its
sailed from Guernsey for Seuthanapton,
Thursday evening. The wind was then blowing
from the south-cast. Bet Ween three and four.
o'clock next morning, they perceived a large
ship, which turned out to be an American, to
windward of them. They strove for 011ie time
lo avoid her, hoisting up a light, ancl,hailing her
as soon as she came within hearing. The ship,
however, continued running before the wind,
until Capt. Priaulx and two of his men, who
were upon watch and the only persons upon
(-tech, seeing that there was no probability that she
would alter her course, endersoured to avoid her
by tufting up and passing under her bows. Un-
fortunately they had not sufficient time to do this,
and the ship still continuing her course, struck
the JEolus on her weather-quarter, within a few
I;‘et of the stern. The cutter's bulwarks were
carried away, anti several planks of her side stove
in, but happily this damage was above the
water-mark. Her mainsail was also torn
by the ship's bowsprit, and the topping
lift being broken, the boom fell upon
and damaged the cutter's bulwarks on her
lee quarter. Captain Priaulx, and the two
men who were with him upon deck, expecting
that the AEo/us would instantly go down, laid
ii6hl of the bob-stay of the ship's bowsprit,
Captain Priaulx first, and the two men after-
v3rds ; the men with much difficulty, and after
a tong struggle (the Americans giving no assist-
" :hice whatever), succeeded in reaching the deck ;
but Captain Priaulx having laid hold of the stay
lower than they did, and being, moreover, en-
rumbered with a sea-jacket, and withall a heavy
min, could not succeed in even get,ting his legs
;,eroes the stay, but kept hanging by his arms
iwtil, being quite exhausted, he dropped off and
was seen no more! 'f he two mtn, so far from re-
ceiving any sympathy or assistance from the
crew of the American ship, were grossly in-
sulted ; and their repeated entreaties to
he put on board their vessel, which
they perceived had not gone down, were unavail-
ing. Those who were below in the cutter, when
tlie collision took place,—two men and a boy
,11;10 belonged to" the vessel, and several passen-
eers..—instantly jumped upon deck, in time, it
appears, to perceive that Capt. Priaulx and the
two men who were on the watch, had laid hold
o)f the ship's bowsprit. Finding that no boat
was coining to them with those who had saved
themselves on board the ship, they were coin-
pelled to put out their own boat ; and the only
two sailors belonging to the crew embarking in
it, proceeded to the ship to fetch their shipmates.
*Whilst they were doing this, the cutter being.
;?ft to the management of the cabin boy, who, it
appears, was totally unacquainted with naval
tactics, continued her eourge nearly before the
wind, under her jib and foresail ; and proceeded
so far in this manner, that it was not without the
Ireatest difficulty that the four sailors succeeded
' in reaching her.—Hants Advertiser.