Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-09-20
Tbe Constitutional asat,lo.
LOSS OF THE SHIP O,CAyN

| OF nf tlat
ship than has hitherto been published. Mr. Sanwood
makes very favorable mention OF the nautical skin and
ability OF Capt. Lewis Tienchman.
The suterDgs of the unfortunate crew of the O('ao
as Orally communicated 10 indescribabiy pain
iu-it AS almost miracle, that any OF them were res
cued from the waves, to relate the world the parcp
lars OF their shipwreck. We understand that Mr. ca
d one OF the passengers who had resided several
IN valparaiso, and who returning from visit 10
ms friends IN America, had property (princpallv oub
looms and jewclry) board the ship valued at between
II and 10000 dollars, all of which was lost Mr..
otanwood speaks IN and grateful terms of the hui
nane and generous attentions bestowed upon the Off
GERS, crew and passengers of the O'Can by the Eng
iish and American residents at VALPARAISO
Boston Gag
Extract from Tic private journal Of Mr. Stan1ood.
.4prt 22.-At ~, A. NJ. observed 81 O3 s. land in
sight, running along TO the southwark nearest about
or leagues, very bold aud mountainous shin in
sight, under reeed opsa and fore courses ON the Wind
apparently eDdeavoring TO get 10 the southwark. AT
81 minutes past meridian, all hands al dinner fore and
a'' ree was deserted about point under our Ice
apparently miles distant The ship was then running
al the rate of miles hour with ROYALS ont and wind
nearly ait lncning little 10 the westward The helm
was put hard to the staboard bring her TO the wind In
maui oil shore, but before it could be DONE she struck
WIN Tremendous force on some submarine rocks. Her
nam topmast immediately over the side and the
sup went to pieces with astonishing rapdity the break
ers daslnng her in great fury--onrboat ,ashed
and could not be gcf at until il had bilged-snall bo,
soVe and among the pieces of the wrecL-the quarter
BOAT parted with the captain in her. from her dayit falls
ana was soon out of reach. Our situation was truly
dreadful, expecting the next breaker youId opt;roIy
inguit u.s. Mr. Cady, passenger, with one of the
boys, committed themselves to the mercy of the waves
ON piece OF the wreckaso, the chief officer with one
Oh the seanen, leaving 5 the wreck The rnasts
soon went over the sde-sern posts came off and tho
deck was left apparently free from the bottom and
and fell with the heavy breakers-sea covered with tho
cargo as far as the eye could discern There appear
nd h Ito hnr1o nf, -.
the ship, which under crowd of SAIL was still far
to ecward of us-nigit sets in while we are ennloveJ
IN constructing a rait--wind increasing and sea ma
king fast-we are compelled to seek safety in the tons
OF the masts, all of which lie to wndward and are The
means OF keeping the deck from going to pieces
brig passed us at about miles off aDnarentIr
not aware OF there being any dangers near Duripe
the night the weather excessively coda strono
wind and heavy sea, which made the breakers very
vioientwere obliged TO desert the quarter deck ere
1t was dark as appeared TO he fast going TO pjeces
ali look refuge IN the tops, the wDdlass which
was washed away about IL o'clock; we had timely M
ice OF lis going, lite moving Yolenty; observed
light same time about ~ N W.; commenced strIEsino
the bell of the ship, in any boat should be near
.londaH-Wind has abated, find the quarter deck
stu good and preferable to present situation as we
are nearly under waterhe bow settling fast with the
weight of the chain cable and four anchors two hent
and over the bow, and the tops rolling us under water
every moment and numerous fragments of the wrccl,
dashing against and wOunding us-two of the searnen
| exhausted w
are Obliged TO lash him in the fore top which hes
! the bow. at z, not deserving the Ship we dashed
through the breakers, guided by our bower cable and
reached the quarterback which we found nearly sepa-
raeu ana held only by the cable from the Storage and
rev panks, which caused considerable comfort as
1t would prove safer raft than any we could make
NJ Is mist clearing away, deserted the ship 10 leeward
ABOUT or mles-soon observed she had her STAR
BOARD tacks on board, and headed nearly I'D TO the
wreck We gave three cheers and went 10 work cut
Ting away the quarter deck from the main and cutting
the cable when we found it still held after search il
was ascertalned TO be the stump of the rn;zzep
alter several Intellectual attempts to clear it. we gave p
ana turned our attention to the small boat which law
across the bow and stove two seamen oalIontv updor
took the dangerous task of getting her alongside the
quarter Geek, which, after nearly hour they succeed
( cd in doing-we repaired her by breaking I'D box
containing furniture, and three were TO ro to the
snip aud inform them of our situaton-while dclibera.
ting, heavy breaker broke the quarter deck com
pletely clear OF the wreck and launched off before
the sea and wind at the rate OF miles per hour having
tarpauin holsted on broken and one oar TO steer
with, which enabled us to run along wind abeam
had opportunity of examining I'm. snot b;ch
had been so fatal to 1t appeared to be sunlen
rock, not more than 90 rods square and had about
feet water on it, it did not break at all on our first stri
sunset 1t commenced TO break high and
at night tue rollers were terrific completely burying u.s.
The reef which we deserted, appeared about IA or
miles III shore of us bearing about E. which she,y IT,
sell 10 be high out of water, and chain Of scragcy
oldCh roCRs--sea Always breaking very high them.
On first leaving the wreck were drifting directly ON
to them but by help of sail and steering we cleared
thern-at | A. NJ. ship very near, showing American
colours, which we repeatedly cheered and soon saw
two whale boats coming towards us-at 10 a. M reach
ed the ship, which proved TO be the Enterprise of Nan
tucket Capt Reuben Weeks, who treated us very hn
nanely supplied us with clothes and food and pronis-
ed to land us at Valparaiso.
'4Pr't 21-Commemces with light airs and pleasant;
found all our advenureTs safe and picked up before
night We suffer much from being so long in the water
ieet and legs much swollen and bruised by the pieces
OF wreck passed some flour and ooxcs-aso pieces OF
the wreck. Midnight light breezes and pleasant
noon, more overcast. Running the coast along land
remarkably high, mountains in land covered with
snow.
.4P,1I 26.-~At4 P. NJ. run into Valparaiso and hove
too Was boarded by the boats of the American fri.
gate United States and the Captain of the port took
friendly leave of Capt Weeks, and went on board the
IfTIgate, and from thence to the sbore many people
around us, nquiriug the particulars of our Disaster
Mr. ii. Jerauld who has long been resident here took
me under his charge; supplied with clothes out o.
his own wardrobe and invited me to stay with him IN
could better my situation" This humanity from
stranger greatly affected me. had no reason TO OK
/ DC gO oil b,,kt eI