Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-10
From the Barnstable Journal.

DISTRESSING SHIPWRECK.
The following particulars of the loss OF the
Nantucket Mail Packet were furnished by
friend:
"The Hyannis and Nantucket mail packet,
sloop Caroline, James Scudder master and
owner Of the sloop, and James and Ebenezer
Scudder, sailors, with FIVE others, passengers,
viz: Croker MarchanI, Freeman Marchant,
ESQ. of this town; Captain Swain, of Nam
,ucket; Mr. Loring Howes, Of South Dennis |;
and Mr.. Brooks, Of Sciluae, sailed from Nam
tucket, OIL Friday, the oath February, al hall
past - o'clock, P. NJ. for Hyannis. Al two
O'Clock thick snow storm set in, but the WIND
..s ;ss.ss bat tlUe lhsy. Yel ~
they supposed to be the one placed on the
South West Ground, near Hyannis harbor.
Under this impression, they changed their
course, and Immediately struck upon the rock,
while, if they had not seen the buoy, and conse-
quenily not changed their course, they would
have avoided Them. They got out an anchor,
and made some exertions 10 get her off bu,
the tide falling, the sloop suddenly and unex-
pectedly upset-leavlng TO the crew and pas
sengers, eight in number, no other hope of rs>
cape but their small boat. Ii was with great diff
Guilty that all got INFO her; and having but one
oar, the others being dashed 10 part Of the
vessel then undet water, they made but slow
progress through the ice
The night was very cold and stormy their
boat soon became leaky, from their continual
exer,ions in rolling, III order 10 break a passage
for her through the ice. In ten hours they
re ached Simpsons Island, west Of Osterville,
" which did not afford them a shelter from The
Storm, which then had increased 10 a violent
gale. Here they remained till three O'Clock on
walking backward and forwards 10
prevent freezing, when they discovered vessel
The Golden Hunter, of w elIfleeD lying aground
At short distance, and hey resolved TO attempt
10 get on hoard Of her, finding that all must
perish if they remained much longer on the isl.
and. In going to the vessel, their oar was lost
overheard, and Mr.. Marchant Jumped into the
water and recovered it. On board the Golden
Hunter, the survivors, all of whom were more
Or less frostbitten, received every attention !
which their situation required; and on Sunday |
we're landed at Coatuit.
Their suffering, from the commencement
If the storm till they arrived on board the Col. |
len Hunter, can be more easily imagined than |
described. For more than twenty -four hours |
hey were wet and exposed to the storm while |
n the boat, they were obliged 10 use their shoes
o bail out the water, TO prevent sinking. One
If their number, Ebenezer Scudder, aged l3,
lied of the cold, and was left on the island
lanes Scudder, aged 20, brother of the former,
lied, Of cold and fatigue, soon after he got on
BOARD the Golden Hunter.
The Caroline was Of about twenty-eighl
ons 5urthen, and valued at eight hundred del
ars no insurance. Nothing was saved from
he wreck. Captain Swain lost his trunk, and
wo thousand dollars, in bank bills and gold,
belonging to himself and Others. The mail.
which was larger than usual, was left sied to
he rigging, and will probably be lost. The
argo consisted of small quantity of salt and
few barrels Of oil, belonging principally to F.
darchant.
There is no blame attached to any one for
his loss. Captain Scudder, skilful pilot, was
I the helm when she struck. They sounded
egularly, and kept sharp look GU, from the
me they left Nantucket; but in consequence
the thickness Of the weather, the strong west
rly current, and ice, they were swept from
heir course. The case of Captain Scudder is
July distressing. In addition to the loss of
is vessel and other property, his own personal
lfFering, he has to lament the death of two
,ns, who were promising young men. The
der, (JamesC death was occasioned rather by
eng exhausted, in his exerlions to save others,