Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-18
Ertraordinarn occn,reucc.

BesToN March,
Extract Of letter from l1r. Richard Skinner, 81
ftoston, Il passenger on board the French Jr,g
BIanctte bound from Baltimore to Netc Or
ieaas, dated Canpeachy, Bay Of MeIico, Dec
25th, 1916.
= You will have no doubt been uneasy on my
account, not hearing OF our arrival at New-O
leans.-lou may perhaps have given lis up for
lost we escaped being SO very narrowly .On
the 18th November, we struck on a reef of
coral rocks. about 6 leagues from N!mtanzas,
at o'clock at night; Immediately all was
fright and confusion, and all suhordnation at
an end, the sailors refusing TO obey the orders
OF their officers, and Immediately attempted TO
get out the boats-tiic jolly boat they stove in
getting her over the side, the long boat they
succeeded in getting out without injury, and
then set TO work making up their Bundles of
clothes, and put them into the boat-they also
put INTO the boat. d small cask of water and
bag Ut bread, and then insisted on leaving the
orig immediately; the captain and myself rep
resented to them the danger of quitting the
vessel at the beginning of the night, in small
boat, with twenty-three souls, aud as we sun
posed ten or twelve miles from the shore, with
dangerous reef of rocks between us and The
shore; no intreaties of ours however would
prevail upon them 10 abandon the rash project
and they gave MS to understand that if we
would not 90, they would leave us to our fate
on the brig thus situated, with no other boat
we were obliged to comply, and with all the
passengers, including the wife of the French.
Consul, with three small children, the eldest
unuer four years OF age, went into the boat
After quitting the brig, we rowed aboui one
hour and half along the reef and the mate
WHO Kept sounding every moment, announced
from 3 to fathOms of water-on which OBJ
served to the captain and sailors that we were
evidently on the rocks tina { the boat struck
we must all perish, aud ihe only chance 10 save
our lives, was to stand Oft from the reef until
day light; one of the sailors immediately pro-
posed thar we should return to the brig and
wait tor day which seconded making every
observation n he IN af
approaching the reef in the night, or remain
ing 1T sea in SO small a boat, with so Inanv
souls or board. They agreed at last 10 return
tor the brIg-and having a compass in the boat
we stecred back North, having steered nearly
South from the time we left her. After rowing
about two hours, we discovered the brig abou;
two miles distant, which convinced us she had
drifted of! the rocks and having all sail SET She
was going from u.s. this discouraged all for
momcnt--but on my observing that we neared
her fast they set too with redoubied force and
after two hours more hard rowing, we got on
beard, and TO our great ioy on SOUNDING th.
pumps, found she did not make more water
than ordinary; we Immediately trimmed all
sail. and stood oil till daylight, and the next
day passed the Havana, continuing our course
for New Orleans-t was about one chance tn a
hundred our regaining the brig some part of
the Jolly boat which was stove, got entangIel
III tue ruddcr, and the steering sail had rot in
10 tue water, both OF which served TO keen her
broadSide TO the wind-had she got before the
caught her. When we arrived within about
sixty miles of the Balize, we had violent Gale
of wind from the North and lay too two DAYS.
hut the vessel suffered so much, the leak in
creasing, and the sIeathing going from her
bottom, the captain thought proper to bear a.
way tor the Havana, to repair damages; but in
running over from the I'ortugas, we fell TO lee
ward of Bayn Henda audit blowing fresh from
the y. +. we were Obliged TO tack shin and
stand to sea in three days beating off and ON
the dangerous reefof Coloredas, we lost sixty
miles to leewari and seeing no prospect OF
heating mp to the Havana, and being in danger
OF going OIL the COloredas in case the wind
veered to the Northward, we consulted which
was best to be done in our melancholy situa-
ton. To have sieered TO New-O Orleans was
rtsk!ng all, for in case should encounter a
mother gale at the mouth of the river. we had
not sufficient provisions and water TO have
reached the Havana thus situated, with two
small casks OF water, and a small quantity of
provisions, we bore away for this place, and
arrived the 10th Instant, having been on very
short allowance Of provisions and one glass Of
water per meal. We have nearly discharged
the cargo, which done we shall heave the brio
out and repair damages after which reload
get provisions and water, aud proceed TO New
OTieans-Our expenses here will be heavy.
aud will not fall short Of 1000 dollars.