Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-07-31

10
and the Warrington is an American ship,
owned and navigated by citizens OF the
U. States. Why, we. would ask, has the
French editor omitted these circumstances?
He is loud in his praises Of captain billing
ham, but does not mention the nation 10
which he belongs. 1t appears however,:
that the vessel which was wrecked. and
the persons whose lives were saved BY eap',
tain Dillingham;, were English.
From the Memorial Of Bordeour.
On the 3lst Of December, 1918, James
Dillingham;, captain and owner Of the ship
Warrington. being in lat. AZ, n. lon. 81.
w. MERIDIAN OF Paris, discovered brig
entirely dismantled and apparently in the
greatest distress. II was the Robert, OF
Blyth, captain Robert Clarke. who sailed
from Liverpool for New.York, and had
been buaeted by the waves during lO2
days. She had I8 passengers on board, a
mone whom were FIVE children, two OF the
latter at the breast. The eldest Of the la
dies was not more than 93. At the momen:
when these unfortunate beings were seen
from the Warrington, the sea was horrihc;
the brig half opened, made water in every
direction her captain, lashed to the helm,
struggled in vain against the pillows and
during the last "a hours, even the ladies
themselves had worked at the pumps With
the sailors, still endeavoring to delay. tor
some instants, death which seemed ines
vitable.
At the sight Of their imminent peril. is.
Dillingham;, forgetting his own safety, i'm
mediately resolved to save them. He sue
ceeded al FIRST in launching boat; but it
required all bis authority 10 make the sailors
Get out, as the greatness of the danger ap'
palled them. Indeed their fears were not
without cause, for the boat foundered at
the very moment it neared the brig, and
the men had only time to grapple the yes.
sci. Dillingham's courage increased with
the danger. Another boat was launched,
and followed by some intrepid seamen, ne
threw himself into it and steered straight
for the wreck. By his skill and daring, ne
succeeded in boarding her. All on board
wished to escape at once--but Dillingham;
by blending much firmness with mlldness,
succeeded in restraining their eagerness.
and the deliverance of some was deferred
TO secure the safety of all. Having taken
as many On board as the boat could hold
without danger, he regained his vessel
and in two other trips, not less perilous, e'-
pecially as night approached, he succeed
ed in saving all on board the wreck. One
child. alone, 10 months old, died in cap.
tain billing hams arms.
The bare perusal fthe particulars which
we have jus, stated, is sufficient TO give
true idea of the courage and presence OF
mind of this intrepid captain; but to justly
appreciate the good qualities OF his gene
rous soul, we must read the modest and
unvarnis ed account he gave to the project
of the Gironde, who had expressed wish
to learn the particulars. We shall cite the
concluding sentence oil this report, as it is
remarkable -
"When all those unfortunate beings had
reached my ship, ] forgot the dangers | had
run. even forget the risk OF wanting food
for so many additional Notwithstanding
like that occupied my thoughts. telt no.
thing but the satisfaction OF having contri-
buted 10 save the lives of those distressed
beings-they loaded me with their bene-
dictions, and was happy. Their CRATE
full PRAYERS doubtless reached the throne
of the Most High, for had only 30 days
passage"
The brother of one of the ladies came
from London to Bordeaux for the express
purpose OF thanking captain Dillingham;.
1t is in like thanks. coming from the hearts
of those he saved, and in his own breast.
that such man as captain Dillingham; finds
his sweetest reward.
Richmond, July 28.
CREW OF THE IRREsIsTABLE.
Yesterday, Mr.. Stanard, the U. States