Star.
London, England, 1807-10-21 00:00:00

THE FELIX SCHOONER.

The following irverefling narrative of the lots of hitt
Majefty's fchooner FELIX, is given by the only fur-
viving man of the crew of that vete!. It is dated
from Santandero in Spain. The man is now ferving
on board our fquadron cruising before Rochefort :
COPY OF HINRY ELLARD'S NARRATIVE OF THI LOSS
OF HIS MAJESTY'S SCHOONER FFLIX.
" Santander.
go Honoured Captain-4 take the liberty of fending
you thefe few lines to inform you of our misfortune in
being cart away in your fchooner, on the night of the
zsd January lag, between twelve and three in the
morning, on the,oaft that lies 4pnfite the Fort. at
the entrance of Santander, v here every foul perifhed
but me, being 79 in number, including nine prifoners
that we got exchanged, being Pent here for them as a
Cartel. We arrived here on the 18th of laid month,
got our prifoners on board on the 19th after twelve,
when it came on to blow fo firong, right in the har-
bour, that we could not put to lea, being to anchor
under the Fort, from which they hailed us, ordering
us to put to fea. We told them we could not, as the
wind was tight in the harbour, that if we did we
fhould be in great danger, and the weather looked ill,
and the wind right dead on the (bore. They told
us, if we did not go out immediately, they would
fire into us, which they did about eight o'clock, and
at twelve in the night gave us another (hot, at fenr
in the morning a third, then blowing a gale, and at
eight in the morning fired again on us, fo was forced
to weigh anchor, but it was impoffible to get out,
the wind blowing fo flrong from the N. W. with a
terrible lea, fo was obliged to anchor at the entrance
of the bay, the fea breaking over us every inflant,
and the gale Rill increafing. We rode out all that
day in the greaten danger, was forced to haul down
our Cartel flag, and hoilled the Englith flag Union
downwards, and tired a number of guns in diftreft
but no afliflance attempted to come near us, though
a French brig, as I have fince heard, and feveral
American merchantmen, offered to aflifl us, but the
heads of Santander would not permit them to come
near us. We flood in this Rate all the night of the
zoth, the gale continually increafing; on the 2111,
we hove eight guns overboard, the fea running fo
high that it washed our boat overboard, together
with a gt eat number of our hands, no one remaining
on desk but was lathed to different parts of the
fhip, in which we flood until the 22,1, not knowing
what to do, the fca running mountains high, nothing
hut death before our eyes. The Captain, Lieutenant
Mitchell, the Pilot, and myfelf, were all that could
be Peen aboard ; the bulwarks being all Rove in, we
were lathed to the ring bolts on the quarter-deck, the
fea flying over us every infant. About twelve a fea
carried away our malls and bowfprit, fu that nothing
remained but clear decks, and a bare hull ; we lay
lathed until two in the morning, when a fca parted
our cables, to that we did not know what to do. I
fpoke to Captain Cameron, and perfuaded him to
jump overboard, for in five minutes we Ihould be
all to pieces on the beach, and murdered by the
wreck ; we immediately unlathed ourfelves, and
jumped ovetboard, where I held Captain Cameron
by the head for fume time, until the Pilot, or Mr.
Mitchell laid hold of me by the leg, at which time
I was obliged to let go Mr. Cameron to clear my-
felf ; at length a fea hove me on the (bore, where I
crawled upon my hands and knees, not being able
to walk until I was clear of the fea, where I lay until
half pari fix next morning, almoft dead, no perfon
being three to aflill me. I rote and went towards
the hills, being fo weak from the blood I 101 l from a
dreadful wound I received on my head and feveral
parts of my -11, that I could not go any further.
At length a Spaniard took me up, and dragged me
to his houfe, where I lay for fome time bleeding ; at
daylight they fent for a dorflor, who dreffed my
wounds, and ordered me to be put to bed. In this
fituation I lay feveral days, until I was a little re.
covered, when they took me from thence, and put
me in prifon, whe:e I remain, naked, half Rarved to
death, and eaten up with dirt and vermin—no one
to ant me—the Englifh Agent came once to fee
me, and told me that he could not ant me, as the
Spann Government had me in their charge, and
only allowed 5,1. per day, which fcatce keeps me
alive. Ifh told be happy to be able to relate
verbally to you all this, but I am afraid it will be a
long time, as lam kept fo dole confiaed. I should
have fent you this account before now, but had no
opportunity ; at length a friend has offered to deliver
this to our Ambaffador at Litb,n, to have it fent to
you, Ea."