Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-04
DREADFUL SHIPWRECK.

We have already mentioned the shipwrcck Of
the brig Mary Francis, Capt. John Kendall, on
her passage from St. Johns to Liverpool. The
following more particular sccoun, from the
Captain, published in the Hampshire eng
Telegraph, is one of the most distressing de-
scriptions we have ever seen.
"Sailed from ST. Johns, Jan. lS.-Feb. l.,
strong gales from the w N W.; carried away
tile man,opmast and mizen-mast head; hove to-;
got boats sails in the main rigging. to keep
the ship to the wind AT II p. IN. shipped a
heavy sea, which washed away the cabouse,
ioiy-boat, and disabled five men. Feb. 2, clear
ed away the wreck and made sail before the
wind; strong breczes. Feb. S, | a. m strong
gales with heavy sea; clewed the sails up,
and hove to-head to the southwark; shipped
a sea, which carried away the long boat, com
panion, tiller, unshipped the rudder, the best
bower chain, and washed'a man overheard, Who
was afterwards saved. At II 10, another hea-
V, sea struck us, which stove our stern in. Cut
away our fore mast, and both bower anchors, to
keep the ship TO the wind; employed in getting
what p,., i,ions we couid-by Knocking the
bow port out, saved so pounds Of bread and FIVE
pounds cheese, which we slowed in the main
TOP; got the masters wife and female pas
-
low, tightening the ship; most Of the people
slept in the top; at day light found Patrick Con-
ney hanging by his legs TO the catharpins dead,
from fatigue; committed his body TO the deep
Feb. s, al a. m. saw strange sail standing to-
wards us; made a signal of distress-stranger
spoke 10 US and remained in company twenty
four hours, but received no assistance, the a.
merican making an excuse that the sea was
running too high. Made tept of spare can
vas on the forccastle-put the people on short
allowance Of quarter of a biscuit day.--Feb.
8. Saw brig TO leeward: strong gales. Feb. 9,
10, a. m. Observed the same vessel 10 windward
made the signal Of distress, stranger bore up
and showed American colours.-Feb. 10. He
spoke to US, asking how long we had been in
that situation, and what we intended 10 do-if
we intended leaving the ship?-answered yes;
he then asked, if we had any riggng?-answer-
ed yes night coming ON; aud bowed hardsaw
no more of the stranger Suffered much from
hunger and thirst On about Feb. IL. Saw
large ship to the norlhward, did not speak her;
wore head to the norlhward. At this time all
our provisions were out--suffcred much from
hunger, having received no nourishment for
nine days.-Feb II. Departed this life, James
Clarke, seaman, read prayers, and committed
his body to the deep; we were at this time on
half gill of water day, and suffering much
from hunger; during the whole period of being
on the wreck, we were wet from top to toe. Feb.
%. John Wilson, seaman, died, at 10 a. m; pre-
served the body Of the deceased; cut him up in
quarters, washed them overheard, * hung them
uD on pins Feb. % J. Moore died, * was thrown
overheard, having eaten part Of him, such as
the liver and heart. From this date to Satur.
day the 9th of March, the following nu m Der Pc
rished from hunger. Henry Davis, WEIGH
boy; Alex Kelly, seaman; John Jones, appren-
tice boy, nephew of the owner; James Frier,
cook; Daniel Jones, Seaman; John Hutchinson,
seaman; and John Jones, boy; threw the last
named overheard, his blood being bitter; James
Fricr, who was working his passage home, un-
der promise OF marriage TO Ann Saunders,
the female passenger, who attended on the mas
tiers wife; and who, when she heard of Frer's
death, shrieked loud yell, then, snatching
cup from Clerk, the mate, cut her late intended
husbands throat, and drank his blood, insisting
that she had the greatest right to it-a scuffie
ensued, and the heroine (the words Of The mar
rator,) got the better Of her adversary, and then
allowed him to drink one cup TO her two!-Feb.
81. On or about tn!s day an English brig hove
in sight-hoisted the ensign dewnward-stran-
ger hauled his wind towards US, and hauled his
foresal up when abreas, Of US, kept his course,
about one mile distance, set his foresal, and
we soon lost sight of him; fresh breeze, with a
little rain-the sea quite smooth, but he went
off, having shewn English colours; had he at
his time taken US off the wreck, much OF the |