Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-28
loss OF THE EARpooNER.
HENRY

Dec. last, VIII he found interesting.
LONDON, Jan. ).
The following affecting narrative OF the me-
lancholy disaster, has been sent by one of the
survivors,
On the 26th October, dctachments of the
18th ROYAL Veteran Battalionand their families,
withafiew belonging TO o tn er corps III Canada,
in all $50, embarked on board the ship Har-
pooner, Joseph Bryant master, and sailed from
Quebec OH the afternoon of the - til, bound to
Deptford; in charge of Captain Prime. On
the passage to the Gulph the weather prov
ed boistesous, aud the wind contrary-not a
sight OF land, nor an observation Of the sun,
could he depended upon for several days. On
Sunday evening, November 10, few minutes
after o'clock the second Mate, on watck, cal
led out" the ships aground" at which time
she lightly struck OH the outernost rock Of ST
Shots in the Island of Newfoundland She
beat over, u proceeded short distance, when
she struck again and filled; eIcircled among
rocks, and the wind blowing strong, the night
dark, ana very heavy sea, she soon Tell over
on her larboard beam-ends; and, to heIghten
the terrorand alarm. II was perceived iIghted
candle lad communicated fire to some spirits,
in the IN Ster's cabin, which in the confusion,
was with difficulty eNtlnguished, Ihe ship still
driving over the rocks ,hermastS were cut away,
by which some men were carried overheard
The vessel drifted over near the high rocks to-
ward the main. In this situation every one be-
came terrified; the suddenness OF the sea rush
ing in carried away the births and stancheons
between decks. whenmen, womena ana children
were drowned and many were killed by the
force with which they were driven against the
baggage, casks. aud slaves, which fioated be-
low. All that possibly could. got upon deck,
but from the crowd and confusion that prevail
ed. the orders of the officers and master to the
soldiers and seamen were unavaing-death
staring everv one in the tace-the ship striking
on the rocks as though she would instantly up
set The screeching and pressing of the peO
pie TO the starboard side was so violent, that Sc
veral were muck hurt.
"About eleven o'clock the boats on the deck
were washed overheard by a heavy sea; but
even from the commencement OF the disaster,
the hopes of any individual being saved were
very slight, and, from this circumstance, COM
bined with it appearing that the bottom OF the
ship was separating from the upper deck while
the surf beat over her most violently, ii was
considered as impossible. From this time I'M
iii O'Clock the next morning, all on the wreck
were anxlousiy PRAYING for the light of day to
break nron them; the boat from the stern was
lowered down. when the first mate and tOur
seamcn, AT the risk of their lives, pushed off TO
the shore; the with difficulty effected land
ing upon the main land, behind a high rock,
nearest TO where the stern OF the vessel had
been driven. 1hey were soon out OF sight, 81
it was feared they were lost; but it was
dained by Providence, these deserving men, in
scrambliug mp the rocks, made their appear
ance they hailed us from the top and reported
their situation say ing to return was impossible,
as the boat was STAYED the log line was thrown
from the wreck, with hope that they might
lay hold OF II, bat darkness and the tremendous
snrf that beat rendered 81 impractlcablc. Dur
ing this awful time of suspense, the possibility
of sending line to them by i dog, occurred
to the master; the animal! was brought aft, and
thrown into the sea with line tied round his
middle and with ii he swan towards the rock
upon which the mate and seamen were stand
ing. I is impossible to describe the sensations
which were excited at seeing this faithful dog
struggling with the waves, and, reaching the
summit of the rock, dashed back again by the
surf into the sea, until at length, by his eXer-
ha tcif In fitpf n m N
being on board, Il stronger rope was hauled and
fastened on the rock, and by this rope the sea-
men were enabled to drng on shore from the
wreck number OF souls. \ about six o'clock
i'm the morning of the llth, the first person WIS
landed by this means; and afterwards, by an
improvement in rigging the rope, and placing
each individual i'll sings, they were with great
er facility extyicated from the wreck; but dur
ing the passage tlither, it was with the greatest
difficulty that the unfortunate sufferers could
maintain their hold, as the sea beat over thcm
some were dragged to the shore in state of in
sensibity, lieut.. Wilson was lost, being unable
toliOld on the rope with his hands; he was twice
struck by the sea, fell backwards out of the
siiiigs, and after swimming for a cOnslde-
rable time AMONGST the floating wreck, by
Which I've was struck on the head, he perish
ed Many who threw themselves overheard,
trusting 10 their safe ~ by swimming, were
lost-they were dashed to pieces by the
surf OIL the rocks, or by the floating OF the
wreck.
noon Of the 18th, ab0ut30 persons were saved
by the rope, several of whom were hurt and
mainted. At this period, the sea beat iuces-
sanity over the wreck, and il being evident the
deck was separating, the only means OF saving
the distressed sufferers failed for the rope,
by constant working, and 10y swinging across
the sharp rock, was cut sn two. From that
hour, there being 10 means OF replacing the
rope. the spectacle became more thdn ever
terrific the sea beating over the wreck w''i
greater violence. washed numbers overheard
their heart-rending cries and lamentations
were such as cannot he eXpressed--faIniiics,f a-
Tiers, mothers, and children clinging togetherl
The wreck breaking ap, tlie stern from mid
ships and fOrecastle, precpltated Az on IT IN
10 one common destruction. Under these
melancholy circumstances tirs hlH'ircd and
SIR souls perished--Snd the survivors have TO
lament the loss Of dear relatives aud friends.
"Jhe officers and men Of the Royal Veteran
battalion who were returning home after
long and ardious service in Canada, and other
remote climates have now lost their ail-the
savings Of many yeats, what they had looked
mon wiih pleasing hope Of making them
selves and their families comfortable with, on
retiring from tie service Of their mag and
country. Bv this unfortunate event the orphan
daughter ei Surgeon Armstrong lost her father,
mother brother aud two sisters aud tie wite
and surviving daughter of Lieut.. Wilson are
Ieft wholly destitute. The disaster was so sud-
den and unlocked for that not an article otbag-
gage was saved not even money! OF which
some had considerable sums, TIE produce Of