The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-10-04 00:00:00

SHIP WRECK.

We are indebted to a correspondent for the following
interesting account of the loss of the Wanderer transport,
off Barbadoes, with detachments of the 25th and 93d re-
giments :
" St. Ann's, Barbadoes, 28:h June, 1833.
"Our protracted troublesome voyage was wound up by our
being shipwrecked on a reef of rocks three miles from the land,
on making this island,.at three o'clock on,the morning of the
Ist instant. About half an hour before this happened; my ser-
vant awoke me to say the land was in sight, which I saw dis-
tinctly from my cabin. Shortly after, when I was dressing my-
self, the ship struck with a tremendous crash, which unshipped
the rudder, and rendered her unmanageable. 'll was immediately
on deck, and such a scene presented itself as I shall never forget
—the deck crowded with upwards of 300 men, women, and
children—the sea washing over the ship, and her bottom thump-
ing against the rocks—that I expected every moment she would ,
go to pieces. I immediately called the officers together in the
cabin, with the agent for transports, the captain of the ship ; I
told them we had a fearful and a most responsible duty to per-
form, for upon our coolness and firmness the lives of all on board
depended, and whatever they might think of the danger we were
in, it was their imperative duty to conceal it from the men, and
to appear cheerful, and encourage the men in the performance
of their duty : for my own part, I told them it was my intention
to be the last on board as long as the ship stuck together ; but
any other officer who wished to act otherwise, might consult his
own feelings and sense of duty. They all said they would re-
main with Me and see the last of it. 1 then addressed a few
words to the met, and said I had every confidence they would
do every thing required of them, only their safety mainly de-
pended.on their preserving order and regularity, and obeying
the orders they received.
Two-thirds of the men were ordered below, to give the others
room to stir, parties were told off to work the pumps, and to
throw the guns overboard, except two kept to fire signals of
distress, but they could not be got to go oft' so we likewise con-
signed them to the briny deep, and had recourse to small arms,
and hoisted signals ou the rigging. In this most unenviable
situation we remained upwards of two hours, until day began
to dawn, expecting every moment the ship would go to pieces.
The moment it was light enough to look out for a landing
place, and to ascertain our position. it was determined to land
as many of the troops as possible, with the ship's boats but
unfortunately one of them swamped in launching, and was
afterwards saved after a great deal of labour ; and the long boat
was so much disabled as to be only able to make one trip. I confess
at this time I thought there was no hope for any of us ;
fortunately, at this moment a boat was seen approaching the
ship, manned by eight negroes in a state of nudity; the sea was
running so high it was with much difficulty it could get along-
, side. The women and children were then ordered into that
boat, and two of the ship's boats being ready, the sick and the
men least likely to be useful in working the pumps, after which
the men from the detachments of each. regiment, but haying
only four small boats, it' was nearly two o'clock of the day
'before the whole of the men were lauded. During al:this time
we were Standing up to our knees iii crater under a burning sun.