Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-06-29
DONH ESTIG.
(from the Baltimore Chronicle, June %.
WRECK OF TILE Pulaski

of the details of this most heart Iendinp disaster has in.
duced ns In SEEK rom the within our reach, all
particulars that rely upon as authentic. The
annexed narrative is derived from information which we
procured in person. from II. Corper, Esq Of Giynn
county, Geo, and Maj James Heath of this city two
OF the survivors. The arrival flhe latter amongst u.s.
the moment when the whole city had given hIm up as
lost excited the pra,urabe sensal,on and was the
occasion of universal Joy.
The Steam Packet Pulaski Captain Dubois sailed
from Savannah on Wednesday, the 18th Of june having
board about 80 passengers She arrived at Charles
ton the afternoon aud sailed the next morning with
TO additional passengers In the afternoon the wind
wasres from the East and produced heavy sea, which
retarded her progress and required full pressure OF
steam. AT half past 10, the wind continued fresh with
clear Starlight and there every promise OF fine
night. ALI o'clock, the starboad boiler exploded with
tremendous violence, blowing off the promenade deck
above and SCATTERING the sta board side about mdshps
al The same time the bulk head belween the boilers and
forward cabin Stove in, the stairway 10 1t blocked
up, and the bar room swept away. The head OF the
boiler was blown out and the top rent fore and ait In
consequence Of the laboard boiler and works being
paratively unniured the boat heerd to that side, and
the starboard side kept of the water except when
she rolled when the rushed in at the breach The
boat continued to settle rapidly and in about 40 minutes
the water had reached the promenade deck above The
ladies' cabin. Previously to this period, the ladies' chill
dren, and the gentlemen who in the after par, of the
boat placed on the promenade deck. About the
time that the reached that point the boat parted
in two with Tremendous crash, and the bow and stern
continued sink until the waller reached the promenade
deck when it separated in three parts, upset. and pre-.
cptated all it into the water. Many then regained
the detached portions. The gentlemen who occupied
the forward cabin, took refuge the extreme point oi
the bow when the boa, broke in two and chung 10 ii and
the foemas others had placed themselves settees,
and the fragments OF the wreck.
There were four boats belonging 10 the boat two he
ing swung the sides, and two placed the top OF the
promenade deck. The side boats both lowered
down, within five minutes Of the explosion. In that OH
the starboard side the first mate, Mr. Hilbert, Mr. Swift
and other person had placed that on
the larboard side were Mr. John h Copper, with Mrs
Nightingale and child, and Mrs Fraser and her son,
who were under his charge, Capt r. w Poole and
and Mr.. VIM, Robertson all Of Georgia. Barney and
Solomon, belonging TO the crew. and two coored women
By direction of the mate two OF the crew launched one
of the deck boats and got into her; but as from her
long exposure TO The her seams were all open she
Immediately filled, and MIR HILBERT removed the men TO
his boat The boats met, when those IN the second pro
posed to Mr. HILBERT 10 strike for the land as II hau on
board many it could with any safety carry tins
he declined do, he said he determined TO stay
BY the wreck until daylight, and had yet room for more
persons Both boas then continued to row about the
wreck until the Mates boat had picked up as many as
she could carry, when Mr. HILBERT yielded 10 the pro-
prey of consulting the safety OF those IN the boats by
going land their further stay would endanger
them without aordng any aid to their suffering friends,
and they left The wreck al ) 2. NJ. The boats took a
a. W. course being favored by heavy sea and strong
breeze from f.
A, II o'clock they made the land, and at 3 P. NJ were
the beach. Mr.. HILBERT then waited unit! the Sc
cond boat got up, and Informed them that those who
in the boat refused 10 any farther and insisted
on audng-Alr. Copper united with him in protesting
against this measure from the heavy breakers winch
were dashing the beach, the could reach,
it was obviously of great peril Being overruled,
they submitted TO make The attempt The mate, who
had previously taken the two coloed women from the
second boat then proposed 10 lead the way and re-
quested Mr. Copper TO lie off, until he had effected
nd WI
The first then entered the surf and disappeared Tor
several minutes from those in the other boat, having
been Instantly filled with water Six OF the persons IN
her VIZ; Mr. HILBERT, MIR. Swift Mr.. Tappan, Mr.
Leuch,enberg and West and Brown of the crew landed
in safety An old gentleman, supposed TO be Judge Ro-
chester formerly oil Buffalo, n Y, but recently OF Pen.
sacola Mr. Bird oi Georgia. the two cooIed women ana
boat hand, whose name is unknown, were drowned
The other boat continued keep off until about sunset,
when, finding The night approaching, and there being
appearance Of aid change in the wind which was
blowing freshly in 10 the land and the persons IN The
boat having previously refused TO attempt 10 70" any
further MI Copper reluctantly consented TO attempt The
landing
Before making The attempt it was thought necessary,
to prevent the infant OF Mrs. Nightingale, which was
only months DID, from being lost to lash II TO her
the bow Of the boat .hnre and NJ:
Copper scung, and two at the oars she was pulled
into the breakeTs-she without difficulty upon the
first breaker but the second coming out with great vio
lence struck the from the hand OF one OF the row
ers. The boat thus thrown into the trough OF the
sea- and the succeeding breaker struck her bfoadslde,
and turned her bottom upwards. Upon regalnIng The
surface, MI Copper laid hold OF the boat, and soon dis
covered that the rest Of the party, with the exception OF
Mrs Nightingale. were making for the shore-of her,
for few moments he nothing but, presently feel.
ing methng ike The dress of female touching his
foot he again Owed down and was fortunate enough TO
grasp her by the hair The surf continued 10 break
them, with great violence, but after struggle IN
which their strength spent lis last efforts, they reached
the shore utterly out with fatigne, watching, hun
ger thirst and the most intense and overwhelming ex.
element. Besides this, the ladies' and children were
suffering severely from the cold. The party proceeded
short distance from the shore, where the ladies' iaio
down upon the side of sand HILL and their protectors
coc.red them and their children ooM sund, TO prevent
them from perIshng. Meantime some Of the party went
in quest Of aid and about 10 o'clock, the whole Ut them
found kind and hospabe reception, shelter, food, and
clothing, under the roof Of Mr. Sglee Redd, OF Onsow
county.
Mrs Nightingale is the daughter of John A. King,
Esq, of New York, and grand daughter OF the late
distinguished Rufus King During the whole OF the
perls through which they passed she and Mrs Frazer
displayed the hghes, qualities Of oftude and heroisn
They owe the preservation of their and their chI
drens lives, under Providence, to The cooIncss nep,
dy and frmness OF MIR Copper and his assistants, and
10 the steadness with which they seconded the wise and
humane efforts of that gentleman in their behalf
On Monday they reached Wilmington, where they
found deep sympathy for their misfortune pervading
the whole city, and generous emulation among It's na
bilanls to render them every possible assistance.
The forward part of the boat, after her separation, con-
tinued float On II Major Heath and 81 others
We have had long conversation with Major Heath, IN
which he related with great mnuleness every thing at
tending the preservation of the persons who were on
the wreck with him. 1t is impossible TO convey IN words
any thing more than faint idea OF the suffering they
underwent or OF the many narrowing and distressing
circumstances which occurred during The four days they
were the wreck.
But short time previous 10 the explosion, it was re-
marked by of the passengers to Maj Heath that the
guage showed 80 inches of steam On the attention OF
the Engineer being called to this fact lie replied that 1t
would bear with safety ~ inches Maj Heath had Just
retired to the after cabin number of passengers were