Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-01-22
From the NeU York Mercantile Adrertiss,
TIE SHIP ROBERT FULTON

Dprn
sal of his private journal, from which we extr,s.
the following particulars of the loss Of that sbu
Sailed from New York on the Sd Octobp.
1850 with light breeze from n. w. and Mo,
SAINT weather, bound TO Liverpool, with one HIM
dred and fifteen persons on board. includpo
Capt Britt0n, officers. crew and passengers
Nothing of interest occurred till 18th Oct >,
O'Clock on the morning of that dav, the wind
blowing fresh from N w. saw BRIG abou, twa
points on the larboard bow, and when aoout
quarter Of mile distant from her, she hOisted,
signal of distress. Capt Britton for the purposs
of afording her assistance, hauled up with the in
tention OF passing under her lee, when she sud
denly fell on board our ship. The briggs ib
boom first carried away our foretopsail = she tier
struck with tremendous force our fore chains,
and carried away syery thing attached thereto
stove in the timbeS and split one Of the main
deck beams. In an instant thereafter she strurk
us second time on the main chains, and carried
away the lower rigging. the main topmast back
STAYS drew out the chain bolts and stove in s..
veral timbers. She then struck third time q,
the m,zen chains, and carried away her ow n bow.
spirit. with our miLen mast. chains, rigging. &c
and again stove in several timbers, and drew The
cham bolts out Of the side, knocked the DIank,
off the counter, carried away the stern boats and
did other serious, damage.
=. The Robert Fulton was reduced "a
wreck, heavy running, and the wind blow.
ing strong, she was in very dangerous situa
ton, and very me Iancholy prospect before al
on board. No chance or choice now remained
for Capt. Britton but to keep the ship before the
wind and steer for the nearest land, and III.
Western Isles were the nearest. distnt about eOO
miles. All hands were busily employed in .eeur
ing the masts and clearing the wreck. while the
passengers were necessarily occupied at the
pumps. the ship leaking very badly. Preventer
shroudes were SET and every otter means resort.
ed to, to secure the masts; we nailed stripes Of
taurpaulin over the broken parts, and blanket,
and planks on the counter, to prevent the water
from rushing into the ship. At every heave Of
the sea, the ship still made large quantities Of
water, and the passengers having been several
days at the pumps. in despair of their almost hope
less situation, and worn out with fatigue, all
Capt. Brittons exertions could scarcely pacify
them. or keep them at labor.
"On Esd Oct0bcr-fiye DAYS after our acci.
dent, the British barque Mary Catharne, from
Liverpool to Charleston, hove in sight, we hoist
ed signal OF distress. on seeing which she bore
down TO US. We made known our melancholy
situation and requested the captain to take US Oh
board, which he refused to do, on the plea, thai
he had not sufficient water and PROVISIONS
having ourselves sufficient we offered TO supply
him with all that might be necessary. At length,
by hard pleading, the Captain of the barque con-
sented to take on board of his vessel only three
cabin passengers, which having done, he mme.
diateiy filled and bore away, leaving all on board
of sinking ship to the mercy Of the ruthless
winds and waves. Two DAYS thereafter, on the
18th October, by great exertions, and every soul
almost worn out with anxiety and fatigue, We
made the islands of COrvo and Flores; the form.
er bearing n. F.. by n. and the latter n. f. dis.
tant about three leagues. At 6 o'clock A. NJ
Captain Britton called together the officers pas.
seDgerS and crew to consult, as to what course it
was best in this emergency to pursue. 1t was the
greatest danger, that they should run the ship
ashore on the first place possible. At @ p NJ.
being then abreast Of the island of Flores. the wind
died away, but soon thereafter light air sprung
up from the East. when Captain Button, select.
ed the smo0thest and the most convenient place
to effect landing, being small inlet about six
miles to the west of Point del Grade; he let 20
the larboard anchor. but finding no bottom, he
was obliged to lei the ship drift until she struck
the rocks. No human being was discovered, to
render US in our perilous situation, any assist.
ance. The only boat which our accident left u,
was launched at p. NJ. the natives now came
crowding TO the beach, in great numbers, many
of whom swan to the shir-and by their kind
assistance hawser was made fast to the rocks
which enabled the passengers with greater par,
of their baggage, to land in safety; but for thl
assistance so opportunely offered, it would have
been impossible to have effected a landing. as our
boat was in very damaged condition.
"Shortly after the ship struck, she bIlged and
filled with water to the between decks. At nine
O'Clock OIL that evening Capt Brtton despatch,
ed letter to the American Consul, who came
with all despatch. with boats and men. By b,
assistance and with srea: exeiton we succeeded
in saving about 40 brIs. flour. with some sail
and rigging, when Che ship went almost to pieces
The Consul sold the wreck by auction, at aprlcs
not stated"
-sxeaEHas-
O,athe existence Of .4nin,alculae in !Snow.-rls
following account was sent by DIR. J. Z. Muse
in letter to lr. Silliman.-" When the winter
had made considerable progress without much
frost. there happened heavy fall OF snow. APprt'
bending that might not have another opportuD.'
ty of filling my house with ice, threw in snow
perhaps enough to half fill it. There was after.