Litchfield enquirer., 1839-06-27
THE FATE oF THE HoRNET.


 IS re-puhlished an article from the Neao YOfA
 DtspGtch, in which some cFedence appears to
 be given to the tale Ofa sailor now settled in the Far West, of his being survivor, with
 i've others, of the crew of the U. s. sloop of
 war Hornet, lost some years since in the Gulf ot Mexico. He is reported to have stated that the Hornet was making for harbor,
 when she struck upon . rock; and that he knows of the escape from the wreck of no persons except himself and his five compan- ions." "They were drifted ashore upon the island of Cuba, whence after different chln- ges and fortunes, he is found at the West"
 The statements here made by this soi-di- sant sailor of tho Hornet arc so palpably false that they would not obtain from me, at least, contradiction, but for the reason that at diff terent and distant periods tho fate of the Hor- net has been with me subject of interesting investigation, near the place of her destruc- tion.
 Before proceed to relate the result of my inquiries, Iwill offer but a word of comment upon the miserable attempt at deception practised by the pretended survivor of that lamented vessel and crew. It is known off, \ cially that the Hornet was at anchor off Tampico bar, on the coast of Mexico; and that violent moriher coming on, she put to seq, and has never since been heard of; that she then foundered there can be no doubt, and that all on board perished with her is nearly equally certain. Some remains of the boats of the Hornet, it is understood, were subsequently found upon the adjacent coast | of Mexico.
 How the survivor in the West contrived to get ashore upon the island of Cuba, nearly l one thousand miles from Tampico. will ap- | pear to a seaman somewhat miraculous; and that the Hornet should have struck upon ! rock in making for harbor is apparent to any ono at all acquainted with the coast of Mexico to be Q SiIly he, for there Is not Q sim gle harbor for vessels of this class upon the whole Mexican coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Vera Cruz, about l6O miles south of Tampi- co, admits large vessels between the island and the city; but it is no harbor in mortimer. A few months before the loss of the Hor- net, the writer of this communication was in Havana, in command of an armed vessel !; the Hornet made her appearance of the Mo TO, and sent a boat into the port to comrnuni- cate with the Consul, MT. Rodney. It came on to blow gale ofwind, and the boat could not return. An invitation was given and acc cepted for the officer and men to remain on board tho vessel under my command. The next day the weather moderated. and the Hornet came into port. This small act of courtesy led to an acquaintance with Capt. Norris and his officers, which of course from knowing the sufferers personally, augmented the deep regret felt by every American at the sad event which took place soon afterwards. About one year after the event alluded to, while landing cargo of valuable merchant dize on the coast of Mexico at the mouth of St. Ander, was informed by m American gentleman, doctor, then there, that he was at Tampico at the time of the loss of the Hornet. He was to have been passenger in her; his trunk and baggage were on board, and he was prevented from ernbarking by the suddenness of the gale. He stated that the Hornet was at anchor oil the bar of Tann- pico, about three miles from land; her boats were on shore, inside the bar, taking oil some provisions and that, before tho work was accomplished, owing as he supposed, to the strong indications of . mortimer. the boats were suddenly recalled to the ship by signal, and accordingly instantly abandoned their task and repaired to their vessel. The bo0ts were instantly hoisted in, the Hornet weighed her anchors, and, little before dark, stood off to sea under close reefed top sails-thc norther having fairly set in, and with great violence. Two or three other vessels also put to sea at the same time. He saw her still standing to the eastward until night, and the storm closed the view forever.
 Ii was after lapse of several years, that, in tho city of Tampico, was repeating to several of my countrymen-sea captains and others-the statement of Dr. - relative to the Hornet. The relation being ended, one of the persons present, Capt. -, well known as having been many years in the trade between Tampico and New Orleans, informed us that he was in command of one ofthe schooners which lay of tho bar of Tam- pico, and put to sea with the Hornet that eve ming. He stated that the wind commenced Blowing violently from the north; hence 1t had been considered merely mortimer of un. usual violence. Such, he said, was not the fact, but that it partock more ofthe character of the West India hurricane, for that. between eight and nine o'clock at night, the wind sud- denly shifted from north or n. west, to south. east, and the change was made with such vi- olcncc that the vessel, being In ballast only, was instantly thrown on her beam ends, when he was in imminent danger and mo- mentary expectation of miserably perishing. With the closing night he had lost sight of the Hornet and other vessels. On that aw- ful night, while clinging to the rigging of his capsized vessel. which it required the utmost excrtion of his strength to effect, the sea hay ing been lashed into fury by the opposing winds, amid the roar of the tempest and rush of waters, suddenly rose above the storm tho shriIl sound of the boatswains call. lie was instantly aware of the proximity of the Hor- net, and suddenly she burst in sight, scud- ding north or quartering before the gale for a moment it appeared to him she was bent on his annihilation, to run nm over and down; he essayed to hail. boolless effort ! Before his sfifed words were half uttered, unheard and unseeen, he was passed within twenty feet by the Hornet-the last time, probably. that ever human eyes. other than those fated to perish with her, beheld her. She came and went like phantom ship. He could have almost touched her, % close did the approximation seem. Iasked. did he or could he note at such time the appearance of .he vessel remarking that any recOllec-