Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-12-31
MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK.
81. johns. (Newfd.) NOV. 90.


On Sunday the 10Th inst tn biret
transport iiarpooner, Joseph BRYANT
master, ftoa Quebec, bound to England,
va, totally los at St Shott's near Cape
Pine, where II. II. ship Comus, Capt.
Brainer, was lately wrecked
The Harpooner sa led fcon Quebec or
sunday the 9th October having Oh
board Se5 men. women and children eX-
elusive. of the ships company, principally
the 4th royal veteran battalion, under the
command Of capt. Prime and lieut.. My
,rca, one of tue Oldest snba!terns IL his
majesty's service he is 70 years OF age.
ANA was the last person vino Quilted the
wreck, having remained the'e' 10 hours,
She had also detachmcnts of the follow
ag regiments royal artillery. artillery
fi ivers, 10th, ,T6II, 99th, l0St! De Wat,
tevile's. and Gtengary fenoibies under
the command OF Capt. Wilcox, 1854 regl-
ment. 700 much praise cannot be De
stow ed on this gentleman, for his lndeta
.tigabe exertions ard perseverance, III
saving q number of the distressed passen
gers.
They had moderate weather down the
river and gulph and at the time she
went on shore was going about five knots.
supposing they had been much to the
cas- Yard the fog for several days bad
prevented an observation being taken.-
She struck about 9 o'clock at night; when
the master called all hands forward ,whicli
brought her by the head, and occasloned
her to swing round with her stern to the
shore. The wind increased and blew a
heavy gale the masts were cut away,
and the large boats stove to pieces sooH
after she struck. The stern boat having
been lowered Down, some or the crew
succeeded in getting on share. but eouid
not return through the great surf. The
vessel lay on her beam crds, and the sea
MAIDS passage over he:. TT this tlaie
she tonk FIRE in the cabin, BY the Candle
El!ling on some spirits, and by the h'e
from the cabin steve !; the water soon eX-
tingaished it. The people collected ~
deck. eIingiog 20. the weather side ana
other parts of the ship, forming solld
mass.
After many fruitIess attempts, they at
last succeeded ia getting a rope on shere
from the stern, by tying It to dog which
happened to be on board, who swan with
IL to the shore about day lisht; when the
storgest made their way over the heads
cfthe rest. to take advantage Of the only
means left to save themselves by tins
rope Many persisted on the deck +; 9TH
els were washed overheard With parts oil
the wreck wheL the ship fell to pieces
about II o'clock, A. M most of whom
we're drowned. 1t is difficult to pant
the horror of the scene. Children cling
ing to their parents for help; parents
themselves struggling with death, ana
stretching out their feeble arms to save
their children, dying within their e asp
After getting ON shore they remained
on the rocks tor the night; and next day
found a house mile distant occupied by
hshcrmen, who could afford them no O.
Their relief but fire and shelter and that
but for few.
On the 18th about four miles farther
on the road, t:ey were met by Messrs-
Holden and Sinclair from Irepasscy with
a party of men bringing provisions, shoes
and other necessary articles for their ac
COMMUNICATION. who went at the instance
of capt. Scott, ensign Giceson and the
master Of the vessel they had proceed
ed to TrepasGey on the 9th tor that pa'
pose. After distributing their t'meiy
nourishment and waiting until they la'
partaken Thereof, they returned with them