Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-11-22


long. 49, 46', spoke brig from Boston for Fay
al. October "a. of the Western Islands, at
P. NJ. a sail in sight to leeward. ensign UNION
down, courses hauled up, and main-topsall To tne
mast: bore down, aud found her to be the snip
Robert Fulton, from New York for Liverpool,
with passengers, in a leaky condition, having
been run foul of by an English barque on the 18th
October. and sustained considerable damage
having lost the miZen-mast. sern-boat. &c; ii-
tended to put into Fayal We took from her, at
their request, the following passengers: Messrs.
r. Graves, A. Hunter, and w. Balough.
The New York Commercial gives the follow
ing letter from Charleston Correspondent, de-
failing, at length, the accident alladed to IN the
above paragraph
CHARLESTON. Nov. 10, 1850.
Mr.. Edior.-SlR-I will thank you to pnb-
hsh the following account, relative to what trans
pired ON board the ship Robert Fulton. from New
York. and bound for Liverpool, myself being one
of the passengers. =,
We left New York on the Sd Of October. with
fine westerly wind, and sliding along moderate,
" with changcable weather, until the lS'h' "lhh
blowing fresh from n. \. w. IN lat. 40, TO-
lony. "A, so, about in the morning, saw an
English balque with signal OF distress at The
masthead; when almost within hail OF her, an"
in attempting to speak her, our ship dld not an
swer her helm as usual, and. perhaps, IN cohse-
ouence of the haryte beng too near us, took The
wind from our sails, our ship at the same tine
having with her unprotected larboard side to the
stern of the barque. and iii one moment she came
with all her fnrce. pitching her bowsprlt INTO our
fore chains, which broke one of the deck beams
and three or four of her tmbers. a part OF he's
standing rigging, and backstays; the barque, al
So breaking short of to the stern oil her bow
spirit. and leaving some part OF her tackllng on
board Of our ship. Alter rcboundIn@ BACK Oy
the shock already sustained. and waiting the next
merciless sea, upon the top of which she again
came down upon our main rigging anu chains,
carving away most of her iron works. rigging,
backstays, and tearing to pieces her bulwarks
from one end to the other. She third time got
disennared from Ms. and our ship laying IN the
same unfortunate position. waiting ohiy Tor 'he
fury and force Of the next blow. "hch was d.
rected at our mi2en chains. carrying away every
kind of security for the mast then standing; also
maxim. tremendous hole III her stern, and TOOK
from us our Jolly beat. We now took our leave
uf the barquc. She drcrping away from US, not
Knowing her name, or to what port she was oouhu'
but are well aware she was much injared.
o. The next heavy sea that struck IT'S, took with
il our mi2ea mast, close to the deck, with all ITS
anpendanes. al the same time ali on board observ-
inc the broken shruuds and backstays OF the fore
an d main mast fying from one side. OF the stlp
10 the other. expecting every roll ct the snip
would dcposite the remaining masts IN the vice
ocean before any additional security could DC rem
dered; at thai t:me being all employed IN cutting
away her mizen i-s,ng III the starooara s'cf- i'f
fear the ship shOulU strike the mast and make
hole in her bottom.
This ben. accomplished. the pumps were re-
sorted to, and found, To our Joy, she made only
a little water. yet we appeared little better
than n complete wreck upon the sea.
Cy quick survey of our captain. from one
end of the ship To the other. he found 1t prudent.
for the safety Of our HUss. ship and cargo, II
possible, TO put into some ct the Westward ISL
ands. You can better imagine, than am able
to describe. the horror which prevailed CUPBOARD
during our course to that place, which was dis
lance of 800 miles; having s cabin passengers,
and 90 in the steerasc. The ships course being
now by mutual consent. for Faya. at the same time
keeping man at the mast h, adj. looking out Tor a
sail; the Captain. crew. and passengers, intend
Ing to 90 in the first ship that could take US. no
matter to what port, leaving the snip ana cargo
to the fate of the elements. d
About two hours after the accident. the win
begun to increase 10 heavy gale, which Taste
So hours. all hands having secured. as we'll as
could be done wthsur present means OF tack
ling. the two remaining ma>ts. after which, get
rins the ship under snu: sail. and keeping her he
fore the wind, we stood the gale better than was
anticpa,ed finding, however the ship made more
water, occasionally kept the pumps agoing day
ard night in order to keep her free.
Never shall forget the distressed objects on
board. watching eaah others coantenauces, and
the signing emotions that followed. Despair Was
stamped in every feature, while some tell. face
downwards, upon the deck. others ianting, and
the rest. with one unanimous voice, imploring
help from that God, who is alone able 20 save
to extend the power of his arm. and snatch Us
from watery Craze.
On the Esd ult when in lat. 42. lon. S. SO,
with head wind, which to all appearance was
likely to stand some time. distance then from
Faya ESQ miles, sail standing to the
westward; having onr flag of distress hoisted,
she bore down to us, which proved to be the Ma
ry Catherine, from Liverpool. for Charleston;
and having only accommodations for more pas
sensers. on board of which, myself of Liverpool,
Mr. VIM. Eaiougn. of Manchester, and Mr.
4 frad Hnutnn nf Nav York. took DaSSaue in |