The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-10-10
FROM TIIE PACIFlC.

T0in the new OK american OF oasu'o"y.
We have been favoured with the peru>
sal OF letter from a young gentleman on
board the &. G.. =. I.au,aro, living in the
harbor of Valparaiso, TO his brother in
in this city. Its dates are Of the 4th and
18th Of June The following are ex-
tracts -
"The ship Franklin is now at Cal-1,
The scene Of all n,y niscries, where she IS
to winter. The Dolphin, capt. Conner.
arrived here yesterday, and sails again in
a day or two, Tor the leeward coast.
"There has been an unusual mortality
in the city lately, as you may conceive,
when Inform you that within z days no
less than 900 persons have died OF COM
plants incident TO the season. We have
had great drought, and il rain does not
! fall soon, the crops will be ruined, Pro-
cessiops are going about petitloning for
rain, and three Gsys ago a subscription
of $500 was raised to purchase new dres.
| ses for TWO saints, in the Cathedral, by
this supers,ilious, Infatuated people, tha,
they nigh, lend their aid in procuring a
| fall of rain!
'JuNE l9--Ihe Blossom sloop OF war
has Just arrivetl--also Eve other vessels.
| hasten TO inform you of the particulars
off most dreadful gale OF wind experien-
ced here on Monday, The 18th OF June.
by which many fine fellow has met a
watery grave, and property 10 an immense
amount has been lost. Eight ships, fonr
briggs, two sehooners, and one cutter have
| been los, in the bay besides three captains,
mates ofvessels, and .hirty,six seamen.
On Sunday. 18th June, the gale commen.
| ced, wind al north, with some rain. Al
2 p. NJ commodore Wooster went on
7hore, att he returned on board. The
sea had risen considerably, and i, blew
pretty fresh, which caused high surf on
the beach The comtnudore's gig cap.
sised twice and filed, and he was finally
obliged 10 swim off TO her, having lost a
trunk OF clothes which he had in the
boat The O'Higgans frigate was lying
astern OF us in our wake--said ship is at
| present tlsmantled, and is about to under
go thorough repair. AS soon as the
commodore arrived on board, he hailed
the frigate to be prepared to veer cable
IN case we should part, in which we were
fearful would happen momently. At s
o'clock let go the larboard anchor under
foot and freshencd the hawse it was then
blowing tremendously. AZ midnight the
gale increased, and the swell was very
high. At 3h. l0m. the shank OF our best
bower anchor broke short off Just above
the flukes. The ship Immediately drove
and brought uponthe hawse of the UEIig.
| gins, about twelve feet from the lib boom
The commodore fired signal gun of dis.
iress, and burnt blue lights, but no one
dared to come to our assistance The
night was dreadfolIy darS. and i, began
TO rain hard. We hailed the frigate re.
4 49, ~ Si'p ~ ~..ain ~aLia and wee,
! away upon the larboard bower. bu, re.
ceived no answer While we were in This
s'a'e OF suspense, the Lau,aro driited
Immediately aihwart bawse of the
'flgste, and III moment her bow
spirit, which was not very small ope.
snapped close To the head. By this time
the Ofiiggins had ripped part of our
stern of, ard soon after, lost her own
head rails and cut water. The night vas
extremely dark, and the O'Higgins was
pitching IN most terrible manner-keeI
out, 10 to the height of 80 feet every
'ime she Tell ripping off large timbers,
and iron knees from our stern. BY this
Tune we were nearly cut down to The wa.
Ter edge; the sea was pouring into her
Stern every moment, and all hands ex.
pected To go down together.
Ahe commodore pcrceiviDg that both
SHIPS must inevitably go down, if we
were not soon separated, dispatched an
oihcer and ten seamen on board the
UbIgg'ns, to slip her chain and yeer
away. They fortunately succeeded in
gelung on board, after running great
FISK OF swapping the boat; two boats
having been dashed TO pieces in the
act OF lowering them from the davis.
us soon as the chain was slipped, the
cable was veered away, and fortunately
Tor US all, We swung clear. Had this |
service not been executed when il was.
we should all have gone down.
"The Peruvian brig OF war Conrresso, |
which arrived short time since from
Cailao, with dispatches, broke adrift
during The night, and was firing signal
guns OF distress without being able to
nave assistance rendered her. ige heard
CITES oil distress on every side, and all
OF u, anxiously awaited the appearance
OF daylight. Our situation was. i'll
possible, rendered still worse, by HAVING
stranded our ldrboard bower. and
destruction appeared inevitable. The
" .. corvette Chacsbuco, dIifted near
The rocks ahpnt 4 ,,cI<.L . r |