The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-07
From The .Nsic York Journal Of Commerce
WRECK AND BURNING OF THE SHIP
AllNERGA-RY AN EYEWITNESS

RLNA AMI BURNING Ot The SHlf
MiNERVA-BY AN EYEWITNESS.
HAvASA, October %, 1881.
After leaving New York, nothing occurred
worthy OF notice, having had fine weather and
avnrable winds, until Wednesday morning,
9Th instant, about half past o'clock, when on
he Bahama Banks / was aroused fran my
,er,h by the shnck of the sliIp striking on the
rocks Mos. on board being aleep at tho time,
you may well imagine. scene of confusion
md CONSERVATION. In an instant all were on
Arck-i was too dark 10 discover much, except
hat we were aground but as soon as possible
The boat was lowered. and the depth OF water
around the ship ascerianed, which proved TO
DO ~ fnet, our ship drawing IA. The sails
were Immediately clewed Up, and customary
measures taken by carrying out anchors, &c
to secure the ship from drifting further upon
the bank. At 9 o'clock, orders were given to
tighten her, which was done by getting out The
lime (thero being something more than lO0U
casks on board,) soon as possible, in hopes
tina, tho ship might float with the evening tide
we having discovered il to be ebb tide when
she struck, by the appearance of rocks near
end directly astetn ss Us. We must have p tss-
ed very near them, and had the ship struck
them she must have bilged instantly, as we
were going AZ knots at the time.
Ana now, amid The lamentations and faint
ing Of women and children, the crew and pas
senyers commenced getting out the lime, lay
ing aside the merchandise and more valuable
part Of the cargo. The wind blowing from the
Ne and there being heavy sea, the ship con-
tlnued rolling and striking hard, which occa-
stoned great anxiety, as in case of leak the
effect Of communication with water ana lime
was too well known 20 leave any doubt OF the
rrsuh We continued our exer.ions without
T.. .aNNa hs
fore, ~ NJ, when the cry of "A Sail. Sail! -
arrested our attention, and the joy and trans
port of many was in proportion TO their terror
and despair before For short time ouI la.
boris were renewed with redoubled energy
The sail discovered was at E. standing direct
ly towards us. Signals Of distress were hoist
ed on the Minerva, which were answered, and
the vessel, which proved TO be the Spanish brig
Leon, which lay to and anchored about three
miles distant, that being as near as her own
safety would permit
Our boat was now despatched 10 inform them
oi our situation. and their commander, Capt.
Bernardo de- Soto, kindly offered to lay by till
morning, aud if we did not succeed in getting
tho Minerva off. (Which we still hoped, y TO rem
der us every assistance in mis- power. About 6,
/. Nj, all sail was hoisled to force the ship from
tie rocks, if possible. The wind being fresh,
go forward, in which she succeeded for short
distance, but soon struck again. We were now
nearly, and some Of us quite exhausted, and
covered with lime, which was very suiiocating;
but our snip, contrary TO the expectations OF
all, leaking very little, we divided ourselves in
10 parties for the relief of each other in our la
Dor through the night, las one could work
but short time without rest,) and continued
tightening the ship as fast as possible. Al
morning Tide, about o'clock, having lighiened
her considerably by hosting out about six hun
dred casks Of lime, quantity of iron, hay, &c.
we again endeavored, by hosting sail, 10 force
the ship into deep water, but without success,
it only tending to increase the leak, which now
kept both pumps gong. Signals were made to
The Spanish brig for assistance, and orders Civ
en- to throw every thing Jour baggage except.
ed) overheard, as it came to hand. Wines,
liquors, merchandise, and furniture were now
given TO the waves as fast as the exhausted
state of all hands would permit, and notwith-
standing our present danger, | could not but
regret tho sacrifice Of property, particularly
the furniture, which was rich, and belonged 10
passengers on board.
About o'clock, A. NJ, THURSDAY, 20th) the
leak increasing fast, the jolly boat was des.
patched TO the Leon with part of the women
and children, and some light articles of bag
gage. About 10 O'Clock, what we had SO much
feared took place, and the cry Of fire was heard
throughout the ship. | was between decks
when the alarm was given, and looking down
The aft hatch, deserted the fire in a flame sew.
eral feet in height. / will not attempt to de-
scribe the scene which for a short time ensued
among above fifty persons, on board burning
snip with heavy sea, and but one boat TO save
ail-the "ther boat not having returned from
the brig. But it was no time for idle lamenta
ton, and VIC soon succeeded in smothering the
tiames for the present, though we were well
aware OF our situation.
Our only signal guns were fowing piece
and pistol, whsh were discharged in rapid sue.
cession Qill our ammunition fal!ed) to hasten
assistance from the Leon. In tho mean time
all hands were employed in making RATS, as
last resort, and in pumping the ship. which
was now striking violently against the rocks
and taking in water very fast.
About u, A. our boat returned accompa.
MED by that of the Spanish brig. The thee
boats, our long boat included, were now filled
with passengers, very little baggage being al
lowed, and despatched to the brig 1t requr-
ed considerable time and our greatest exer.
lions to reach her, loaded as we were to the
waters edge, with a strong current to the
Westward and a rough sea, which often broke
oversbe boats, to the no small danger of their
upsetiing or being filled. And when at length
we arrived safe on board the Leon, we were
completely drenched and exhausted Part oil
the crew and passengers were still on board q
burning ship, and the boats were soon manned
by the most hardy TO return to their assistance
and n possible 10 save the baggage and some
provisions. About o'clock an American shin
was seen passing about miles to windward
which took little or no notice of us, notwltb
10 Of
still flying on board the Minerva The Span.
lsh boat, having rugged a sail, reached the shin
first, and took load of passengers for the brig:
but our small boat, on her arrival at the shin,
was despatched TO the assistance Of the long
boat, which had been drilled BY the current
about two miles to the leeward of the shin.
and had cast anchor Both crews, in the end,
were obliged 10 abandon her and return 10 the
ship in the small boat, not being able to pull her
against the current
These movements learned afterwards. be.
ing on board the Leon, at the time, where a
few minutes before 10, p. NJ, | was aroused from
Z doze Oh the deck by the cry of -" The shin !
! he ship Singular as it may appear, the FIRE
mad been kept down by closing the matches
&c., tince 10 in the morning, whe il first took /.
but now, having communicated with oils. snir.
ITS, naval stores and the like, and the chm bs
ing already heated, it defed all restraint. and
apparently burst from all parts of the shio Al
the same instant. Every eye was riveted, and
ior lew moments not word spoken. m,
our thoughts were soon recalled TO the upce,.
tainty of tho ate Of those who were on hoard .
and the long absence Of the boats had alre.dy
created fears Of some new misfortune n
about thirty minutes Of the most intense snrie.
'y, the cry Of They come," was heard and in
a short time every soul was safe on board !:
though they brought not the least article of
baggage or provisions, as when the fire horst
upon deck, it's violence was such a, obl;r.d
those on board TO jump TO the RATS and into ihs
sea Ia the Hnmna ILL IL. L -