The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-07-29 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,—In looking over the Liverpool Mail of the 26th
instant,my attention was arrested by an article bearing the
above title, and referring to the wreck of the ship Halcyon.
The following is a correct statement of what took place :
As the British brig Fanny was on her passage from Hayti
to Liverpool, on the 12th of June, at 4 p.m., we descried
two large ships under easy sail; on going aloft saw a
wreck between them, about three points on the lee bow,
immediately kept the ship away for the wreck, cleared
away the boats, took in all steering sails, royals, topgal-
lant sails, hoisted up the ensign and the number, 4910,
" What ship is that ?" Before coming to the wreck one
of the ships made all sail and proceeded on her course,
without showing any colours. When within a short dis-
tance of the wreck, saw people getting over the ship side,
and smoke issuing from the house on deck and the cabin ;
passed within twenty yards of the wreck, she proved to be
the United States' ship Halcyon, of Bath ; fore and main-
mast gone by the board, mizenmast under the top, broken
mast laying about the deck, supposed by me to have been
taken aback carrying a press of sail; rudder in its place,
but wheel and steering Beer off it ; the bulwarks all in
good order, and the ship appeared in very good trim ;
should have boarded, had it not been for the fire ; hailed
the boat that had just left her, asked from what port and
where bound to, was answered from Mobile to Liverpool ;
asked the ship's name, but was not answered ; at this
time the Fanny had only the topsails and jib set, and the
ship had stood about two miles to leeward of the wreck,
and still showing no colours; steered the Fanny right for
the ship, and set more sail, passed under her stern, she
proved to be the United States' ship Connecticut, of New
York ; hailed and asked from what port and where bound
to, and was answered, " twenty-three days from Mobile to
Liverpool ;" asked her longitude, was answered, " did
not know ;" asked if they had taken any people off the
wreck, after some time had elapsed was answered, " they
had taken 200." From the manner of the person that
was conversing, he did not wish to have anything to do with
us ; I told him we had come from Hayti, bound to Liver-
pool ; desired him to report us if he got home first ; did
not know anything about the other ship until I arrived at
Liverpool ; sent my report on shore at Crookhaven.
By the ship showing no colours and steering out of my
track, it was the opinion of all hands that she did not wish
to speak or have any communication whatever; by this time
the Halcyon was all in flames. Was asked for no assist-
ance, and the first ship out of sight ; made all sail and pro-
ceeded on my course; the Connecticut passed the Fanny
the next morning without speaking or showing any co-
lours. 1 was ready and willing to render any assistance
that lay in my power, but I was looked upon as an in-
truder.—l am, Sir, yours, &c., EDWIN KITE,
Master of the British Brig Fanny.
Liverpool, July 28th, 1851.

HANGING NO JOKE.—One day last week, John Lane,
of the parish of St. Giles, labourer, asked his lately be-
trothed bride if she would take a walk with him, to which
she consented. When they came near Woolly Lodge, he
said to his wife, " Now, my dear, I'll go and hang my-
self ;" to which she replied, " Thee may'st, if thee wot."
He then deliberately walked into a wood, took off his
neckerchief, and suspended himself to a tree. His wife,
seeing him dangling in mid air, bawled out " Murder !"
and ran to him, caught hold of his legs, and bore the
weight of his body on her shoulders. Soon after two
persons arrived to her assistance, who cut him down ;
but had he continued one minute longer, he would have
paid the penalty of his life for his rash and foolhardy ex-
periment.—Devonshire Chronicle.