Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-29
SHIP WASHINGTON

SHIP WASHIN GTON.
Extract OF letter ffotn Capt. Salisbury, of tie
ship Washington, belonging To Providence, Rhode
Island, dated LINTfS, Oct. I'd, 1929.
We arrived here the Ash of August, after q
short and pleasant passage of97 days IRON the Rock
of Gibraltar On the 9th of AUGUST II blev tho
most treaendous lubricant typhon, that had been
known for many years. 1t commenced at daylight
when we let go the best bower anchor, and vcered
5oor 90 fsthoms, and the whole of the chain cable
except enough to clnch to the forenlast-rot the
top gallant nasts down, the royal-nasts yards and
top gallant yards were sent down the night beforel
and were IN the act Of getting the lower Yards and
topuiasts down. when the cham parted. Immediate
~ PAID out the whole of the best bower, which held
on about twenty minutes, when il also parted. l
then commenced heaNng in the broken cables, with
the intention OF going 10 sea, If Posslbe, but the
wind shifting suddenly, from northeast TO south
rendered that measure impossible. was then inthe
NEST PcTpleSins s!,uation that &c imagined In
the most violent hurricane, surrounded by rocks and
islands, both cables parted, and the worst ever
Inexperienced breaking over the ship fore and aft, ta-
king the boat from the quarter; the weather so thick
that il impossible TO seeInore than ships length
ahead. Ia fact II was with the greatest Difficulty
that we could any thing, asthe and sand came
withsuch force as to carry all betore them At this
time had the ship under goose wing Of fore
sail which, however,, did not stand long-and the
ship, although she had oil the outward cargo OH
board would scarcely stand hen her broadside came
TO the wind under bare poles. In the mean time
had rot stream and spare anchors lashed togcth
or, aud the chain beat TO them, in hopes the weather
would light up enough 20 sec he land, that might
find some shelter; but this was no: the case as
could see nothing until had passed drited with
In about 100 yards Of the rocky isiet situated the
north of the nine islands. then found it impossible
to keep the ship aoat without trying the horrible
experiment of cutting every thing By tie board, which
Ihqd concluded to do, bat almost without hope, "a
Tie remaining anchors were so light-they were
However let 90, bat without the least effect as &c
checking the sbipj AID we Immediately saw rocky
mount ain to lecward, and the ship driving directly
yyl hon ehO sln
iounlered, and probably some OF the crew persisted
1t was then almost OF sand but by the great
good fortune, wc saw beach inside the rock. 1
then determined TO the n2sts, and3 II possible
run the ship on the beach. | immediately slipper
tho cham and set the remaining part of the oTsesai
which assisted her in falling OIL and shon blew away
Nv object in doing this was to save tho cargo, It pos
sbie--t he slim Sad become secondary cOnSfdera
ton; indeed had no hope of saving her, except BY
chance; itwus out Of the question. to 60 any othoi
way han to shore The ship stopped gradually anS
with but little humping, as tho sand was all IN mo
/ ton aud the ship worked into u about icct A Gu
the topinasls away prevent her driving too far up
but we sUcccededin saving the yards and saiis with
] some damage. We struck 20 about ono O'Clock u
y Tho afternoon and at sunset u quite moderate
and The water had LOT her bow far as the maiI
oliaGnels. -
Il immediately sent the earliest attenuation TO Nv
\ Russell also TO Mr.. Macao, aud Fceeived the mos
\ prog,pi assistance from Mr. Stnrgcs, as 70 was sons
limo before Mr. Russell could reach the place OF M.
Wreck. / now commenced getting the spurs. rlg
rue &c. on shores took every thing OF the suP an
ON the second day commenced dscharging the car
yn The Chinese were troublesome az first, benz
disposed 10 carry or every thing that was porla'S'
/, but Ms. Sturgis insisted on some protection ifor
/, tho Nandarins which was OF length granted, an
the whole cargo discharged without losing coy thing
Ny next object was otsy 70 get The shiP etoat agar
(, which was very difficult Job rs we had no iHalena
10 work with ond could got 20 assistance excel
h from the Chinese farmers, 90 Get on and carry ava
Il thc sand which WIS attended witl. much trouble
. M would run in on TIE succGclhg high tide WI
al lest Obliged 20 dave pIloa round Tie bow and
+ tho lafb0aYd side Of Che ship oud make On oabonl
a mont or wharf, watch was tedious work NJ
4 StuFris sent me an anchor from Macao, weighi
n gO0O lbs which was placed l2Q iathoms from a
!, sinpin four feet watef at low tide, On Which we
I, tr,,ng purchases aRdsuccerdet ON the 2Sh 10 nc
y viva the slim OF, very much 20 tho surprse OF
who bad seen her.
~ While ashore, wu suffered much from tlo ne
N being exposed TO The sun ON hot sandy beach, WI
ltho thermometer ranged from 100 to ils but, ma
a, ~ the credit of my oficcrs and crew, thc'o Yves
Dissatisfaction or wurIpnrin0