The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-05-19
Loss OF THE ALERT PACKET.

IoNpos. APRIL 5.-The following pain
fully interesting particulars OF tins most
melancholy catastrophe are derived from
the oral relation of one Of the cabin pas
sengers, a respectable tradesman III Lily
erpool, who was fortunately saved. The
account thus drawn up was published in
the Liverpool Courier, Of Wednesday
last. II is mourDful detail,
"We sailed from the Pigcon.house,
Dublin,at half past eight O'Clock on Tues
day evening. There were,as nearly IS
can Judge, about IS passengers, inelu.
ding myself, in the cabin. Among them
were three ladies, one of who-a had an
infant about eleven IN onths old with her.
The appearance of the cabin passengers
was most respectable. We had favora-
bic breeze through the night, and made
the Welsh coast early in the morning.
Abou, ten o'clock, however, Gas have
since unders'oed) the breeze died away.
and the packet was driven, by the force
Of the eurren'y towards the West Mouse
rock. Capt. Morgan Immediately or
dered the boat a-head, in the full conf
dence that il would succeed in towing
tho packet cut Of danger. But in this he
was ubhappily disappointed, the unfortu.
nate vessel being driven, by the strength
of tho tide on the fatal rock. Ii was a.
bout halt past ten O'Clock when she
struck. was in my birth, in the cabin,
at the moment. The shock, though no,
very violent, vas sufficient to rouse me-
| started up instantly, and found the pas
sengers in the cabin in state Of confn>
sion and alarm. Immediately ran upon
deck,apd found it in a similar state OF con-
fusion. returned to the cabin, and dis
! covered, with feelings, not to be desert
bed, that the water, had, In the mean
time, made its way into it. The confu-
sion and alarm among the passengers in
creased with the increasing danger. The
ladies were screaming with alright, and
even the gentlemen were alarmed at the
imminency ofthe danger which threaten
ed'hem. Immediately quilted this scene
of horror, and, making my way upon
deck, ran up the shrouds. At this mo-
ment the water had risen to censidcra-
bic heighth in the hold, xbaffled every ex-
er,ion which was made by the passengers
and such OF the crew as remained on
board, 10 bale it out now saw, for the
first time, the boat ahead,a short distance
from the extremity of the bowsprit, with
several of the packet crew in it. came
down the shrouds, and making my way
towards the bowsprit, endeavoured to
get into the beat. was, however, pre-
vented by some persons belonging 10 the
packet around me, who stated, that if
were allowed to get in the boat there
would general rush towards il, by
! which means ii would run the risk of be.
| ing swampsd, and thus cut off the oply
chance OF any person being saved. De-
termined, howeve", TO renew the attempt,
az favourable moment. remained con
ce'Ied ~ the fore part Of the vessel.
EspyIng nv opportunity, when the
boat was ayard or two from the extremi
~ OF the bowsprit, and when had seen
the last seaman get into it, ran along the
howsprIt, but IN attempting TO get into
the boat, unfortunately fell into the sea
l was taken up by one Of the crew. who
pulled me into the boat being the first
passenger who was received into il. Al
this moment several passengers made
their way along the bowspri,, 10 epdea.
YOUR to get,iDto the boat, some of whom
succeeded in gaining it, whilst others fell
INTO the water, and were drowned. The
boat still remained at a short distance
from the bowsprit Of The vessel, those al.
ready OH board deeming it Unsafe to come
too near, for fear of rush being made
by the crowd left on board the racket
to get in. The capt. next made an At.
tempt 10 reach the boat, by plungine in
TO the wafer from the bowsprit, and
swimming towards it. A rope was
thrown towards him by one OF his crew.
which he was so fortunate as TO prasp'
and was pulled into the boat. AS soon
as he caught hold of the rope, several
unfortunate passengers who had plunged
INTO the sea at the same moment as the
captain, were observed 20 cling 10 his
body, IN the hope of saving themselves
by that means bot such was the crow.
ded state OF the boal, which as already al.
most level with the water, that tho cree
dared not venture TO take any more into
II, and they were abandoned to their fate
There were, al Ibis moment seventeen of
us in the boat. When we rowed finally
of, we left four or Eve unfortunate men
struggling in the water, with no chance
Of escape from an. untime grave. Al
boy, about Ia years of age, aud who. as
understood, was the cabin boy, was. a.
bout This time obshrved TO lash himself
to a piece of WOOd and throt, h;,,.otc :;