The native American., 1838-05-05
From the Ha itdr Nordscotian.
NOBLE CoNDUCTo OF AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN.
HER MAyEsTY's SHIP HERCULES,

HaHfar Harbor, 2sth March, 1898.
Mr.. HOWE. SIR: May beg the favor of your
giving insertion to the following statement:
On our passage from England to this port,
when in latitude 80 N. and longitude 40 W., we
observed sail haul up for US, apparently with
the desire OF speaking the ship. l Immediately
closed with her, and found it to be the American
ship Commerce. from Charleston, bound to
Liverpool, commanded by Captain Perry, and
that his object in communicating with US, was, TO
beg that we would take on board part of the crew
Of the Elizabeth Caroline Of st. Stephens, New
Brunswick; which vessel he had met, dismasted
and waterloggcd, in latitude 80 N. and longitude
45 W., and had taken all the crew off the wreck
SIX days previously.
These unfortunate persons had been 23 days
on the forecastle of their vessel, lashed to the
windass, exposed to every sea, with barely sutfi-
cient food to sustain life, and all the water they
had remaining was but two gallons, when the
Commerce fell in with her.
My motive in detailing to you these particulars,
| IS principally to express my admiration and that
OF all those under my command, at the generous
and humane conduct of Captain Perry, as it has
been made known to us by the men belonging
to the Elizabeth Caroline.
| 1t appears that the Commerce fell in with
this wreck by the merest chance, about halI-pas
nine at night, on the 4th of March; and that on
hearing the cries of the crew, the Commerce i'm
mediately shortened sail, wore round, and went
close alongside of the waterogged vessel-Cap-
tain +. hailing them in these cheering words, as
the men themselves have represented Keep up
your hearts, boys there is too much sea to board
| you now, but will never leave you till take
you off,; and through the night he twice orthrice
passed round them, repeating these consoling
words, and offering to yeer to them water and
provisions, if they were in the immediate want
of either.
! These generous assurances this brave sailor
rigidly fulfilled, and after perseveringly keeping
close to the vessel for two nights and day,
blowing very hard all the time, he at length
succeeded in getting the people all out Of her
into the Commerce, where he clothed them, and
treated them with kindness, which, as they
gratefully say, they never can forget or will cease
to acknowledge.
| In thus making known the exemplary conduct
of Captain Perry, it is with sorrow that have to
draw disgraceful contrast on the part of yes
i sci, barque rugged, which on the very morning
of the day that the Commerce fell in with the
Elizabeth Caroline, hauled up within three miles
of the wreck, and took in her studding sails;
|yet though the weather was then fine, she bore
up again to the eastward without offering the
-
slightest assistance, her object thus evidently
seeming to have been plunder; and that on dis
covering living persons on board Of the Elizabeth
Caroline, which would have rendered this de-
sign abortive, she at once abandoned them all to
their fate.
For the honor of the two nations, it is to be
hoped that those who acted thus inhumanly did
not belong to either England or America, though
the Of the shipwrecked vessel lregretto say,
believe her to be English; but to whatever country
she may belong, l trust her name, and that OF hel
unfeeng master, will be brought to light, in order
that the man who could act so heartless-so crue
apart, may be held up to the execration Of man.
kind; and thus receive the punishment which he
SO well deserves.
have the honor to be, sir,
Your very obedient servant,
]. TOUP NICHOLAS,
Captain II. N. Ship Hercules.