Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-06-27
CEce Of he TYmes. ]
PORTSMOUTH. Va. June a03P. NJ

might easily have been deceived ns to
the boats speedily sinking by the OBJ.
security Of the night and spray.
The steamer besides had six boats.
| On the other hand il is said nearly
all the passengers were asleep at the
time--thus narrowing their chances OF
safety.
The following more particular ac-
count of the above melancholy catas-
trophe, is from the Wilmington { N. C. }
Advertiser, and was gathered from the
mate of the Pulaski, who escaped the
wreck
AT about IL o'clock at night, while
off the North Carolina coast, say thir-
ty miles from land, weather moderate
and night dark--the starboard boiler
Exploded, and the vessel was lost, with
all the passengers and crew except
those whose names are enumerated
among the saved in the list to be found
below. Names omitted. |
We have gathered the following
facts from the first mate, Mr.. Hbberd,
who had charge ofthe boat at the time.
Mr.. Hibberd states that at 10 O'Clock
at night he was called 10 the command
of the boat, and that he was pacing
the promenade deck in front Of the
Storage house-that he found himself
shortly after upon the main deck, lying
between the mast and side of the boat
that upon the return Of conscious.
ness, he had a confused idea Of having
heard an explosion, something like
that Of gunpowder, Immediately before
he discovered himself in his then situ>
alton. He was induced, therefore, to
rise and walk aft, where he discovered
that the boat midsnips was blown en-
lirely to pieces-that the head of the
starboard boiler was blown out, and
the top torn open-that the iimbers und
plank on the starboard side were for
ced asunder, and that the boat took in
water whenever she rolled in that d.
rection. He became Immediately "a
ware of the horrors of their situation,
and the danger Of letting the passen
gers know that the boat was sinking,
before lowering the small boats. lie
proceeded therefore TO do this. Upon
dropping the boat, he was asked his
object, and he replied that it was to
pass around the Steamer to ascertain
her condition. Before dong this,
however, he took in couple of men.
He ordered the other boats to be low
cred, and two were shortly put into the
water, but they leaked SO much in con.
sequence Of their long exposure to the
sun, that one OF them sunk alter fruit.
less 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
a fruitless attempt 10 bail the small
boat, the Pulaski went down with a
dreadful crash--in about 45 minutes
after the explosion. boats now
insisted upon Mr.. Hibberd's directing
their course to the shore but he resisted
their remonstrances; replying that he
would not abandon the spot until day.
light. At about 8 o'clock in the morn
ing; they started in the midst OF the
waiing of the hopeless beings, who
were floating around in every direction
upon pieces of the wreck, TO seek land
which was about thirty miles Distant
After pulling about thirteen hours, the
persons in both boats became tired and
insisted that Mr.. Hi5berJ should land;
this he opposed, thinking il safest to pro-
coed along the coast and TO enter some
one Of its numerous inleis, but he was
at length forced TO yield 10 the general
desire, and 10 attempt landing upon
the beach little East of Stump Inlet.
He advised Mr.. Cooper, OLGA who had
command of the other boat, and cou-
pie of ladies, with two children under
| his charge, to wait until his boat had
first landed, as he apprehended much
danger in the attempt and should they
succeed, they might assist him and the
ladies and children. There were ele-
ven persons in the mates boat, l'aving
taken two black women from MIR. Coo
pers.) Ofthese, two passengers, one
of the crew, and the two negro women
were drowned, and six gained the shore
After waiting for signal, which he
received from the mate, Mr.. Cooper
and his companions landed in about
three hours after the first boat, in safe
ty. They then proceeded short cis,
across Stump Sound, to Mr.. Redd's O
Onsow county, where they remnlnee
from Friday evening until Saturday
morning, and then started for Whining.
ton. The mate and two passengers
/ reached here this morning 18th June.
about 9 o'clock.
II From the Buffalo Commercial OF the 10th.
Il AWFUL CATASTROPHE.