Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-08-05

"is snip 1<utUdf0 INCUtoR, on ner passage rom
Calcutta. We observe that Captain Bertody
and Mrs. Nixon, have Af.ived at Norfolk from
Rio Janelro:- A. Y. Gag.
ST. PHILIP DE BENGuebA,
l@th March, 1924
Gentlemen have the painful task to
perform oil giving you an account of the
destruction OF the Edward Newton by ERE.
The impression forces itself upon me, and
| csnnot help remarking the great mercy
otGod 10 our preservation through toe Pc
riis OF boisterous ocean in oren boats,
aud finally, when our case seemed hope
less, and death Seither by sword or tamine)
appeared inevitable, by our sudden and
unexpected deliverance iuto the nan1s vi
civilized and hospitable people.
will endeavor, as well as the bewiId.
cred state of my faculties will adm /, To
give you some particulars of this distress.
lag affair. leil Calcutta on the sta De.
eember, Madras and pondicberry on the
18th of the same monIh-hsd rounded the
Cape OF Good Hope, and was making tte
most OF fair wind, with the pros pect OF
short passage, when on the 2Cth OF Febru-
airy, in lat 90, S. lon. lO4 E. This dreadful
calamity bete US. On the day above>
mentioned, al haIt past O'Clock in The e.
yening, smoke was discovered issuing
from ath the cabin deck. through tic
aper ures OF the run sGuttie, which being
instantly removed. discovered the ship to
be on fire. Every exertiun was made 10
smother the flames, bot all TO no purpose,
as by opening the hAtCh It took vent and
tanned the danes, which rushing furiously
up, filed the Cabln, and obliged Us TO re-
treat, or PERISH wbrre we were. The FIRE
followed Us so closely. and spread so ra-
pliIy under deck and the thick sulpaarous
smoke produced ny burning sa!tpelfe, hay-
ing penetrated every part OF the bull we
gave up All hope at saving the ship, and
tnrned our attention TO the preservation of
Our lives; and it was by the greatest exer-
tions only that The boats were got out, and
that we escaped sharing the fate OF our
ship II does appear almost incredible
but it is no less rue that IN 80 minutes
from the time the discovery was made,
we were all in the boats, & the ship in one
genptal blaZe,evsR 10 the royal mas, heads
The flames from alt rushed along the main
deck with such i,npetuoslty, that the in.
slant the launch struck the water lady
passenger, with three children, Zone an
lurani) were actually caught up Il thrown
into IT, There was no possibility Of get
ting below alter our first retreat from the
cabin; consequently rot an article could
be saved, either OF wearing apparel, pa
pers, OF any thing which could serve us as
food. Every thing of The stock kind was
also devoured by the fire during this scene
OF distress and confusion. We may surely
account II a providential circumstance.
that we saved Inc only SIX, containing a
bout IL gallons of water, all the others be.
ing under deck; with which, with bag
coma ming | D pounds OF bree d, with bas.
ket OF potatoes, we pushed OF troa 'NF
snip, being at the time 30 entirely envelop.
ed in smoke. as DOT 10 be able 10 discern
each other in The same boat. After pull.
ing off, we remained at short distance TO
wndwsrd, with all eyes fixed on the
shocking scene before U.s. The flames
had now got possession OF every part o!
the bull, and had ssceaded the masts, as
before slated, 10 The royal mast beads
the whole presenting one solid body OF
fre-the dense columns of smoke shooting
up and mixing with the clouds-s scene
sufficient 10 appal the stoutest heart At
half past O'Clock, our good ship being
dlsmased aud burnt to the lower deck,
(Which had previously blown up) dIssp-
peared, suus, aud nothing remained OF
her, except few floating fragments OF
burn, spars. Night closed the scene, and
left Us to realise the misery OF our situa.
ton. There remained DO hope of obtain
ing any tilDg that might float from The
wreck All the provisions being below
were destroyed with the ship, and our
small stock tire ateDed US with Starvation
We therefore had no time TO lose, but 10
make every possible exertion to reach The
coast OF Africa; aud with the help OF two
pieces OF burnt sails, and a compass, with
out charts. or covering OF any Description,
except what we stood in, we shaped our
course Gas we supposedly tor tue nearest
point ot the continent, 10 two boats-my-
self, Mrs. Nix.un and children, aud two
men, in the launch, the officers ana three
men IN the other S;rong oj'heriy winds,
and a northerIy current, greatly pro-
lrac,ed our passage, and prevented our
making the coast until the 29th' we "a"
the land, coast of Catfraria, IN lat, IS, s
= dresry sterile coast, inha by wild
negroes and wild beasts. and presenting
to us nothing but mountains OF burning
sands. and 90 the sea coast afordiDg no
fresh water. To have landed here would
doubtless have been fatal to us all; ana
notwithstanding we were reduGed by
thirst TO a state bordering on desperation,
our reason sill prevailed, and We had the
fort;tude to keep the sea, with the land ~
sight: aed alter suffering all that human
nature could endure during twenty days