Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-13

From tie n. Y. Conn. AdrcrtiSer Of 7uesdqy.
o.

ton, which arrived below Sunday, had gouc a.
shore IN the gale on tho East Bank, was noted
IN the shipping Intelligence ofthis paper last even
nag. The ship has been totally wrecked, as will
be seen by the following interesting narrative OF
the catastrophe, by one who shared i'll the pcrils he
describes.
PAcKET.-It is always highly satisfactory to record
acts that reject credit upon humanity: But when
Offices are rendered by which the lives Of fellow
beings arc rescued az 1t were from DEATH and I'M
der circumstances that might with less virtue and
generosity be offered palliation or excuse for
their omission, it is less due bencvoencc and
humanity, than accordant with sincere rclinrs of
gratitude, to give TO tho public the names of those
who have thus cmincntly distinguished themselves
and the attending circumstances under which they
acted.
Tho wreck of the ship President, Captain VIII
son, on the cast branch of the Romer breakers, on
SUNDAY night, was accompanied with circumstances
truly OF an appalling and almost hopeless naturo.-
| The wind had been, and blowing violently
| from tho n. W., and although every prccaution
was used by the pilot (who was taken on board in
mo auernoon) 10 get q sure and safo anchorage
the violence of the tempest increased TO that de-
gree By three O'Clock Monday morning. that sho
dritted with two anchors for distance and then
first struck. The night was remarkably cold and
dark, and tho deck, rigging, spars, and sails were
entirely covered with ice. AT about o'clock tho
water burst through the bottom, and in the
space OF half hour, tho cabin was filled to the
| sky lights, and every individual on board (2O in
nuTnhor) was driven TO find safety OH deck and seek
Protection from the ncCmcncy OF the weather uuder
The root over the stern part of the ship. Dy this
| time the main, mzen and foremasts had been cut
away; they had fallen with crash, the effect of
which, at period perilous and awful cannot
possibly be described and at which tho stoutest
heart would have trcmbed. The wind continued
uhaDated; the deck was one complete sheet of ice;
the Spars and rigging that remained increased in
bulk tcniold by tho thick ncrustation with which
tho severity of the weather had loaded them and
nearly every individual, benumbcd with cold
standing staIuc-liko with clothes entirely frozen
aid covered with sect and ice, under the oofupon
the quarlcr-dcck, anIously gazing towards the
eastern horizon, ami ready to catch the first light
OF the mornlng.-Thc light of the rising sun wac
never more ardonty and sincerely anticipates for il
was hoped that discovery OF the wreck carly
In the morning, would bring immediate relief
The only remaining hope under Providence du-
ring TINS period OF intense anxiety was the substan-
iia! character OF tho ship, and that she would not
P;Ft until All on coard could be rcscUcd Thank
heaven, the hope realized Although the
"ihd had rather increased than diminished and
wave alter wave had tunuItuouslv rolled over the
snip ior several hours, plungng her more and more
upon INC breakers, and with violence that seem
ed to force even the timbcrs from their places she
sui kept together, but her sides were breakinr in
on her arboard and starboard quarter Tho silva
ton OF The individuals board at this time was
truly awful. The violence of the wind. tho
DARKNESS OF tho night; the occasional crash
ing OF spars; the continual swocpinp of tlo
sea over the whole length of the ship, and
That lndcscribabiy moaning sound of wind
as 1t swept through the ice-bound rigging. can
only be appreciated by those who have experienced
similar situations. When daylight broke the reali
| ~ was idced realized the danger could now he
conceived: the wreck truly such one that
Wild less than the miraculous interposton of \
hlid providence, all must inevitably have persisted
AT about 10 o'clock y. II. the iollv boat was
got ready and party of seven elnbt rcd and made
tor the land,-wiich fortunately they reached
| IL was pcriIous, bat equally to remain on the
wreck In the boat were Captain Wilson. Mr.
Chisholm, passenger, and several of the cro,y II
is due TO Captain Wilson to state that his sole oh
Ject III leaving the ship, and | can add a praise
worthy o2Ject' was, to hasten to the city, should
the beat succeed in reaching the shore; and TO
dispatch efficient means to rescue tbcsc rc
manning on the wreck. The coiduct of CAPTAIN
wilson was throughout every way commentaries
ana aciuntod by a deep sense OF the responsibility
dcyoyed upon him during this critical period
The situation Of those remaining on board. he
came every moment more Perilous; the wind in
creased, the sea was necessarily dashinp Violently
over the shiP;and the weather was BECOMING if nos
siDic more cold and sevcrc.-rhc only hone that
co"Ia reasonably be entertained was relief from the
Guy ms state OF feeling continued until nearly
O'Clock r NJ. and rStiI nearly hope Itself could no
longer be sustained. When it is considered how
much was suffered under the several irving cir
cumStaEccs OF the wreck from its commencement
II could hardly DC expected that much physical or
mental energy could be exercised AS the .sIost
fond hope was gmnorng to its final cxfino,,;sy,
Gehl,' san was soon discovered boarinr down
Tor tho wreck, from Staten Island The cG5ct v,as
eiccjric moment before almost every one seem
ca moro ready to yield, to fail without STRUGGLE
lhan make one effort to be saved. The havoc and
tuinuit around had been gazcd upon with pccu
I'dr apathy. But now every thing appeared to re-
ne" INC ana animation. At about o'clock p NJ
'"e schooner anchored within three quarters of a
mile OF the ship, near as she could possbIv Won
tnro' among the breakers and shoas.-By one OIL
thoso extraordinary efforts that in trying times
can sometimes DO accomplished, the long boat was |
anEchod at nearly tho same time the schooner cast
eF anchor. in the morning with all assistance on
"oaFd, IL could not DO accomplished. Every ind;
1Iuual was soon embarked in the boat and with /
cohunucd oaillng out tho water, sho wss enabled
20 reach the schooner at about O'Clock 2. NJ.
o Idr. real tho mato Of tho shin and y;Iio vy,s
tho last TO leave the wreck, much is duo, for his
Po'scy'ranco cooinoss and judgment, during the
most hopeless period OF this disaster.
ne schooner, that came to tho relief Of tho
s9iPWTcchod at such propitious moment. was Tho
Maj. c. Howard Capt. sylvia. accorr "',s INC
CapI; 2eaiuen OF Staten Island; who with Il nenc
FouS humanity that cannot be too hipblv orrrSc:.,
c"' anu under circumstances that womb l,,ro !
"'"stcu many from such an atfcrnpf rceo.1cd ~
L'''' own hazard number Of their fellow boino-
iIo" WateTy grave. Gratitude for such acts 5ri
9isIh'cTcSlcd '..mHnty and Kindness is lhsiinc
S''oTy individual who has thus been rescued rrci,,
4 oo"ih winch would have been inevitable il, n C,,,
moro hours, but for such benevolent and ,croro,-
%5"ohs' IS deeply impressed with a sense Of tbc
'',,s'iIoh they owe 10 t,.eir doljycrcrs
no individuals rescued from tho wreck b,. tIc
1"S 81 Oh Captains Sylvia and Seaman are
The Pilot Mr-
Dir. Neal, tho mato of the President
Lieut.. John Ti~LoIl II X 4 .,,-.e.--