The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-13 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK.

YARMOUTH, ISLE 61 WLGirr.----Ort the afternoon of the
7th inst. hie Majestp's schooner Nighingale, commanded
by Lieut. George Wood, on her passage from Plymouth to
Portsmouth, struck on tile Shingles. A signal of distress
was made, by firing guns, &c., and immediate assistance
was afforded by Mr. Burnidge, pilot, of Cowes, and also
by Lieut. Cruse, R.N., and his boats from Sconce Point
coast guard station, who rendered every necessary assist-
ance to get the anchors out at low water ; a galley from
the Stag revenue cutter also reached the vessel just in time
to he of great assistance at low water. About 6 p.m. the
wind being light from the N.W., and remarkably fine
weather with smooth water, the vessel lying, on her lar-
board bilge, no doubt was apprehended by these on
board of the vessels getting off without any damage ;
hut on the flood tide making, the sea began to
rise with the greatest rapidity, and -the boats left
the shoal and anchored in deep water in safety, ready
to come alongside if required. All hands were em-
ployed on board in shifting the ballast from the run for-
ward in the hold, securing the hatches and preparing to
make sail, not doubting hut she would get off. About
eight p. tn. the sea became so great, that it appeared
dangerous for the boats to come alongside, and the foresail
was hoisted on the foremast, in hopes that it would assist
the sea in lifting the vessel off into deep water, every eye
on board anxiously watching the Hurst Lights, to see if the
vessel changed her position, but to no effect ; the chain was
unshackled and veered nut, the vessel striking hard on the
ground ; the sea became terrific, and now the vessel la-
boured much, the starboard bulwarks partly stove in, and
the sea making a clear breach over the vessel, which
alarmed the poor sailors who were working at the
pumps : but being cheered up by the officers, they
again went to work ; but a heavy and frightful sea now
struck the vessel, which washed every soul from one side
to the other, the companion and fore -scuttle were washed
away, and the vessel filled instantly ; the shrieks on
board at the instant were horrible, every soul expecting
moinentary death, and as she now fell on her beam ends, it
was with the greatest difficulty all hands could gain the
weather rigging. A halloo was made by every one on
(.ldatt:l hands
gave
board, as signal for the boats, but for more than half an
hour they were kept in a dreadful suspense, it being very
dark and no boat seen ; every one became hoarse, and being
wet, the
themselves
seaen ebreakingl:cs toov
despair;er lr iin
bevenerty‘mdbi't'dectioitoh o
, all
at last the joyful sound was heard, " The boats are in
sight." They had the greatest difficulty in getting along-
side, which they (lid one by one, the people lowering and
• throwing themselves down any how they could into them.
The number of persons saved was 34, 30 of whom con-
sisted of the officers and crew, and the remaining four
persons were, Lieutenant Cruse, R.N., Mr. Bennett, chief
officer of Hurst station, Robert Dixon, a deputed mariner
of the Stag revenue cutter, and Air. Llurnidge, the Cowes
pilot, whose vessel took all hands on board from the boats.
It is a painful duty,to state that the Commander's wife pe-
rished on board ; the heavy sea which filled the vessel
washed the surgeon, who had Mrs. Wood round the waist,
fro.o one side of the vessel to the other, and down the
hatchway by the mainmast, where she perished ; the Sur-
geon with the greatest difficulty saved himself. The poor
Commander, who appears to be worn out in the service,
being crippled in both .hands, and having been more than
thirty years a lieutenant, during which he has fought Many
battles, and who has been severely wounded (his dear wile
sharing those dangers with him), endeavoured to extricate
his wife, and got the assistance of a man ti put a
rope around her, but to no purpose, she was dead ;
her last words to her husband were, " Ah, my dear
children, may the Almighty spare one of our lives for your •
sakes." Lieutenant Ci use endeavoured all in his power
to persuade Z.lrs. Wood to leaie the vessel in one of his
boats, long before any danger was apprehended, and painted
out his house near the beach, but no, she would rather be
with her husband. He then endeavoured to persuade her
to gn on board the pilot-boat, where she would be near;
but these solicitations were not accepted, and the poor lady
seemed determined to await the danger. She h,•;.;., left
three children. A pour unfortunate Lieutenant Cord, of
• the Royal Navy, a passenger on board, and who was in-
sane, was also drowned on board. Several of the of
and seamen, including the Commander, were very much
wounded, bruised, and hurt—the latter person was with
great difficulty saved.

Viscount Melville, and Mr. Secretary Peel,
visited the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday.

In the Insolvent Debtors' Court yesterday,
John Preston, who carried on the business of a baker in
Chapel-street, Westminster, was sentenced to six months'
impriSoninent for having fraudulently assigned the lea ~e of
his house for a debt, to the injury of his other creditors.
The assignment is void in law.