The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-06-27
PARTICULARS OF THE Loss OF THE
STEAMBOAT PULASKI.

From the Wilmington Advertiser ofJnne Is
|" We have gathered the following facts
from the first mate, Mr.. Hibberd, who had
charge of the boat at the time. MIR. Hlb-
herd states that about 10 o'clock at night
ne was called to the command of the boat,
and that he was pacing the promenade
deck in front of the stcerage-house that
he found himself, shortly after, upon the
main deck, lying betS cen the mast and
side of the boat that, upon the return of
consciousness, he had confused idea Of
having heard an explosion, something like
that of gunpowder, Immediately before he
discovered him self in his then situation.
He was induced, therefore, tn rise and
walk aft, where he discovered thar the
boat midships was blown entirely to pieces ;
that the head of the starboard boiler was
blown out, and the top torn open that the
rinahers aud plank on the starboard side
were forced asunder, and that the boat took
in water, whenever she rolled in that di-
rection.
He became Immediately aware Of the
horrors of their situation, and The danger of
letting the. passengers know that the boat
was sinking, before lowering the small
boats. He proceeded, therefore, to do this.
Upon dropping the boa:, he was asked his
object and he replied that it was 20 pass
around the steamer to ascertain her condit-
ion. Before doing this, however, he took
in couple of men. He ordered the other
boats to be lowered, and two were short
ly put into the water, but they leaked so
much in consequence of their long expos
ore to the sun, that one of them sunk, after
a fruitless attempt to bail her. He had in
the interim taken several from the water,
until the number made ten. In the other
boat afloat there were eleven. While they
were making fruitless attempt to bail the
small boat, the Pulaski went down with al
dreadful crash, in about 45 minutes after
the explosion.
Both boats now insisted upon Mr.. Hlb-
herds directing their course to the shore,
ilg that he would not abandon the spot un-
I'll daylight. At about three o'clock in the
morning they started, in the midst of the
wailings of the hopeless beings of the
wreck, to seek land, which was about thir
ty miles distant. After pulling about thir-
teen hours, the persons in both boats, be-
came tired, and insisted that Mr. Hisberd
should land This he opposed. thinking it
safest to proceed along the coast. and to
enter some one Of its numerous inets but
he was at length forced to yield to the gen
,eral desire, and to attempt landing upon
the beach, a little east of Stump Inlet.
He advised Mr.. Cooper, of Ca, who had
of the other boat, and a couple of
ladies with two children under his charge,
to wait until his boat had first landed, as
he apprehended much danger in the nt-
tempt, and, should they succeed, they
might assist him and the ladies and children.
There were eleven persons in the mates
boat, fhsving taken two black women from
Mr.. Cooper's.) Of these, two passengers,
one of she crew, and the two negro women
we're drowned. and six gained the shore.
After waiting for signal, which he receiv-
ed from the mate, Mr.. Cooper and his CON-
panions landed in about three hours after
the first boat, in safety. They then pro-
ceeded a short distance across Stump
Sound, to Mr.. Redd's of Onslow county,
where they remained from Friday evening
until Sunday morning, aud then started for
Wilmington. The mate and two passen-
gers reached here this morning (lstb June)
about o'clock.