Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-27

Tececea az me CDiee ot the .Neic Fork
Ecening Post.
LoNDoN, Oct. O..
MELANCHOLY NARRATIVE.
Taken from the surviving crew, relative
to the loss of the Admission Transport,
wrecked near Cape LaguiIlas, on the e.
vening oi the S0th May 1915.
Charles Stewart Scott, late carpenter,s
mate of the Admission Transport, aud o.
Tiers, assert to the best of their knowledge,
that she sailed from Point de Gale on or
abnlit the 4th Of April, under convoy of his
mJesty's ship AfFicaine and Vixen BRIG,
with SIX lntiiamen about the eth Nav
parted company with the convoy, owing to
stress OF weather, having blown away most
ofher sails ;.other sails were then bent, but
the weather continued very squaIly, with q
heavy sea. On the 9th, about z A. NJ.
the land was discovered right ahead, bear
Ing abont N. by w. long distance off. the
wInd then 5. $. z. A6out half.past 4 p. NJ.
still blowing very strong, hauled to the
wind on tie larbOard tack. under a close
reeied main-top- sail. and stood on till half
past 9 A. NJ. on the S0th: then surprising
the land was near Table Bay, the hands
were turned IN bnre up, steering n. w.
and set the fore-sail, intending to run fer
81. Helena continued IT'LL 10 A. nj.
when the land was discovered nearly ahead;
turned the hands up, and hauled the shin
cluse to the wind on HE larboard tack
Still blowing very hard, made all sail ,(hav
ing top sails aud coufsers set) stood on
till nearly noon, when breakers were dis
covered on the lee bow, wore shin. and
hauled to the wind on the other tack, stood
on TIL 2 L. NJ. then wore and hauled to the,
Wind on the larboard tack, continuing On
I'LL near 4 O'Clock when breakers were
seen proved Laguilas' reef, which we
could not weather on either tack, being
completely embayed; clewed up the sail.
and cut away three anchors the two bow
er cables parted shortly after. when Lieu
tenant hrice (agent for transports) RECON-
mended the Captain to cut away the sheet
cable, aud run the ship on shore, the ONLY
chance OF saving the peoples lives the ca
Die was then cut, and the ship put before
the Wind ; in about eight minutes after she
struck forward, the ship heeling to wind
ward cut away the guns, in order to heel
her the other way, which could not be eff
fected consequently she soon began to
break up. About 8 O'Clock the nasts went.
and the ship in short time was quite in
pieces. Many people were drowned be-
low, Ia consequence other heeling to wind
ward, and others chung to the wreck, en-
deayoring to reach the shore about mile
and bali distant.
Olt bfthe whole crew, consisting of $50
persons, only SIX men reached the shore
with great difficulty, upon planks, boine
much bruised by the wreck and surf, which
was very high. At day light next morn
Igg, the stern-pOst was the only part of the
snip to be seen. The beach was covered
with wreck, stores, &c. and number of
dead bodies, who were buried by thesur vi
yors--among them were Lord and Lady
holesworth, the agent and captain, with
some children. On the next day. FIST
June) considering ourselves to the westward
OF Cape Point, 1t was agreed to coast the
peach 10 the eastward, which we continu-
ed to do four days and half, subsisting
on she'll fish from OH the rocks; but fear
ing we bad taken wrong direction. it was
agreed to return to the wreck. and wa Ar.
1t in three DAYS and half.
where we remained six days, subsisting
chiefly on cask of oatmeal, which had
driven on shores by drying it in the sun.
we experienced great relief. The MIA
nance had been thrown ashore, bilged
which we proposed to repair 10 the best
way circumstances would allow, and en-
deayOur to coast along the shore. At that
time the 24rh June) being at work on the
boat, we we're fortunately discovered by
farmers son John Swarb) who was out
Shooting and we were humanity carried by
him to his fathers house, where we remain
ct, with every comfort he could afford US.
for week, ard then set off Tor Cape Town,
where we arrived on Monday evening, the
10Th June.
Before we left the country, we were in
formed that 331 bodies, thrown on shore.
were buried near the beach.
(Signeh)
Charles Stewart SOFT, and Party.
This Declaratipn vas made before me
at Cape Town, the 9th day ofJune, 1851
OF which tins IS true copy.
(Signed)
J. MIRES, Lieut.. r. N.
Resident Agent for Transports.
TIE NEGOTIATIONS.
Proccss0erbaI offhe conference of October .
Alter several confidential exDlaoaf,ons Re |