Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1838-07-03
WRECK OF THE PULASKI

WRECK or THE PULASKI
The intense interest taken by the public in N, reci
ta or the details Of this heart irndng disaster has
induced 10 sec from OIL the sources shn our reach
all particulars that we can rely upon auhcntc. Tho
annexed narrative is derived from Information which We
procured, IN person, frnm II Coopet ESQ 81 G. yun
county Georgia and Major James T. Heath OF ihs "a
~ two al The survivors, The arrival Of the latter
mongei Us, at the moment when the vhoe city had
given him up lost excited the most plaaeafable sen.
taiinn aud was the occasion OF universal Joy.
The steam Packet Pulaski, Capt Dubois, sailed from
Savannah, en- "Wednesday the I2ih of June having on
boltd about 80 passengers She arrived at Charleston
t4e same nicruo n, and sailed the next morning, with
O. additional passengers In the afternoon tie wind
was from the East aud produced heavy sea, which
retarded her progress aad required full pressure Of
steam. At halt past ten, the wind continued fresh with
clear siar-gi nnd there was every promise Of fac
night. At II clock the satboatd boiler exploded with
luous violence, blowing OF the promenade deck
above and SCATTERING the siarhOatd side about midsh?s
the time time the bulk between the boil.
and forward cabin stove in, the stairway 10 II
blocked up, and the bar-room swept away. The head
Of the boiler blown out and the top rent fore and
AFT In consequence the larboprd boiler and works
being comparatively unnIured the boat keecd 10 that
side and the stnrboid side kept OF the water
except when she rolled, when the sea rushed in at the
breach. The boat continued 10 settle rapdly, and in
bout 40 minutes, the water had reached the prone
deck above the ladies' cabin Previously To this period,
the ladies', children and gentlemen, who were in the
after part Of the boat, were placed the promenade
deck About the time the water reached that point the
boat parted in two with tremendous crash, and the
bow and the somewhat out of the water but
the latter again continued 10 sink until the water reach
ed the deck, when il separated in three parts upset. and
precpated all on it into the water. Many then regain
ed the detached portions. The gentlemen who occu.
pied the forward cabin, took refuge the extreme
point Of the bow, when the boat broke two and cunp
10 it and the forcmast others had placed themselves
settecs, and the fragments of the wreck
There four boats belonging the boat two being
swung to the SIDES and two placed the top of the prom
enade deck. The side boats were lowered down. within
Eve minutes of The explosion. In that the sarboard side
the first mate Mr. HILBERT Mr. Swift and other person.
had placed themselves r that the larboard side
Mr. H. Cooper with Mrs Nightingale and child and Mrs.
aser ana ne, son who were under his charge Captain r.
Barney and Solomon belonging TO the crew. and color
ed women BY direction OF the mate Of the launch
ed oil the deck boats and her but from her
long exposure to the sun her all open she i'm
mcdately filled, and Mr. HILBERT removed the men his
boat The boats met when the second proposed
to Mr. HILBERT TO strike for the land had on board as
many es il could with any safety carry ths he declined
do he said he TO sny by the wreck until
daylight, and had yet room for persons. Both boats
then continued to about the wreck until the Mates
boat had picked up as many she could carry when Mr.
Hilbert yielded TO the proprey consulting the safety of
those in the boats by going the land stay
would endange them, without ao-ding any aid their sui
ering friends and they LEFT the wreck three A. NJ The
boats took N. W. being favored with heavy sea
and strong breeze from S. f.
near the beach Mibber then waited until the second
boat got up and informed them that who were the
boat refused to row any further and insisted landing -
MIR Copper united with tim in protesting against this
from the heavy breakers which ashng the
beach, far as the could reach obviously
great peril Being overuled, they submitted make the
attempt The mate who had previously taken the col
ored from the second boat proposed the
aud rcqoss'ed Alr CouPer be effect
ed landing and prepared aid the ladies' and children
The first boat then entered the surf and disappeared for
several minutes from those in the other boat having
instantly swamped Six of the persons in her viz Mr. Hib.
bert, Mr. Swift MIR Tappan MIR Louchenberg and est and
Brown of the landed in safety An old gentleman sup
posed be Judge Rochester formerly of Buffalo N Y but
recently of Pensacola MIR Bird of Georgia the two coored
i women and boat hand, whose name is unknown wero
la at uiipt,E
sunset when finding the night approaching there be-
my no appearance OF aid or change the wind which
blowing freshly IN to tho land aud the persons in the boat
having previously refused any further Sir Copper re-
! luciantlY consented to attempt the llndnr
/ Before making the attempt, it thought necessary
prevent the infant OF Mrs Nightingale which only sew
months old from being lost lg it 20 her person which
was done Jr'l as the sun was setting, the bow Of the
boat was turned 10 the shore, and Mr. Cooper scung and
two men at the oars she pulled into the beakeshe
rose without difficulty upon the first breaker second,
coming out with great violence, struck the from the
hond of Of the The boat thus thrown
70 the trough Of the aud tho succeeding breaker struck
her broad do, and turned her bottom upwards Upon re.
gaining the surface Mr. Couper laid hold Of the boat and
discovered that OF the party with the
ton Of Mrs Nightingale were making for tho shore;-gf
her for few moments be saw nothing bat presently feel
ing eomeing ike the dress of female touching his foot
he again Owed down and fortunate enough grasp her
by hair The cur continued TO break over them with
great violence bul acr struggle, in which their strength
spent its last efforts, they reached the Shore utterly worn
out with fatigue watching hunger Thirst and the
intense aud overwhelming excitement Besides this the
indies and children suffering severely from the cold
lie party proceeded short distance from the Shore where
the ladies' laid down uppn the side Of sand hill and their
protectors covered them and their children with sand to
prevent them from pershing Meantime s0me Of the party
went in quest Of aid and about ten oclock the whole Of
them found kind and hosptlble reception shelter food
and clothing, under The root Of r Sgleo Redd Of Onsow
county.
Mrs Nightingale is tho daughter OF John A. King, rsq
Of New York and grand daus of the late
Rufus King Dunng tic whole Of tie penis through
WHICH they plsed che aad Mrs Frazer dspayed the highest
qualities o oritutc ard hc,on. They the prcseryl.
ton Of TIER own and their cildren's lives under Prov.
dcncc % tie coones nttepdy and Grnnes Of sir Coop
or and h asligilr and 70 the oldnoss with which they
seconded ihe saI humane eort o. that gentleman IN
their behalf.
On Monday, they reached Wilmington, where they fouad
deep rymPaily Tor Their misfortune peWlding tho whole
city, and generous emulation among It's Inhabitants
: der them every possible assistance.
The forward plYt Of the boat AFTER her separation con
rnued 10 A1lt On Il Maj Heath aud twenty.one
= others. We have had long Conversation with MaIor
Heath IN which he related with great minutoness every
thing attending the preservation Of The persons who were
on tic wreck with hi. II o. impossible convey in words
any thing than faint idea Of the suffering they under.
went, Of tie many narrowing ard dsressng cfcum-
stances which occurred dunng ,be four days thsy were on
tLo wreck.
Boz short time previous TO the explosion was remark
81 By one ~ tie pos.cacfs 10 har Heath that the ,u,e
shpHoi thirty inches 81 Stem. On The attention of te