The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-08 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIPHERCULE S.

During the night of Thursday last this fine vessel,
reported to be nearly 500 tons burden, belonging to
New York, was wrecked off Deal, near the Goodwin
Sands, and the crew had a narrow escape from
drowning. The letter received stated, that the Her-
cules left Shields on Monday last, early in the morn-
ing, bound for New York, with a general cargo. At
about ten o'clock at night on Thursday, the ship, in
bearing through the Downs, with a fresh breeze from
the westward, struck with considerable force on the
Brake sands, where she became a fixture, notwith-
standing the exertions of the crew. Immediately on the
captain finding it impossible to get his vessel off he fired
signals of distress, which being seen by several Margate
and Ramsgate luggers, that are continually on the look
out for vessels in distress, he quickly obtained assist-
ance, when it was resolved to tow her off. Several
warps were made fast to the different luggers, and
after many attempts she was again got afloat. Pre-
parations were then made to make for Ramsgate, to
ascertain the nature of the injuries she had sustained
by striking on the sands, but all of a sudden it was
discovered that the ship's hold was rapidly filling with
water. All hands instantly turned towards the pumps
which were worked vigorously, in the hopes of
checking the leak, but upon examination the water
was found to increase instead of diminishing, pro-
ducing, as may be conceived, great alarm, to the
master and crew. They still laid to the pumps,
the crews of the Ramsgate and Deal luggers now
and then taking turns. But it was now
observed that if they did not quickly leave
her, she would carry all on board to the bottom ; for
by that time the water was within three feet of the
deck, and she was going down head foremost. The
master, seeing the imminent danger, had the boats
lowered, and some of the crew having saved part of
their clothes, the ship was left to her fate. The boats
had scarcely reached more than 50 yards before the
Hercules disappeared in several fathoms water. The crew
were shortly picked up by one of the luggers, and pro-
ceeded to Ramsgate, where they landed in safety, at
about four o'clock the following morning, though

much fatigued by their excessive exertions.
The remaining luggers kept cruising about the
sunken ship, saving the different articles that floated
from her, which they landed. From the position in
which the vessel lies, and the strong currents con-
tinually running over the spot, it is considered im-
possible to raise her, consequently she is a total loss.
She is stated to be fully insured at South and North
Shields, but the amount we are unable to state.
Since the above was written, a report has reached
Lloyd's, which states that the vessel is sunk in about
four-and-a•half fathoms at low water, the North
Foreland bearing north by west.. In consequence of
her lying in the track of shipping to and from the
Downs, and her three masts standing, though all her
rigging and yards have disappeared, the Trinity
House brethren have placed a green buoy, marked
"Wreck," off the spot, in order to prevent disasters.