The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-04-09
From the New York Sun.
Full Particulars of tho Loss of tho Governor
Ecnncr.

Fcnncr.
One of the most dreadful disasters which
has taken place for many years occurred
on the Goth ult. by the loss of the Ameri-
can ship Gov. Fenner, and l22 lives
The Governor Fenner was ten year
old ship, built at New York. and recently
repaired at Liverpool, anJstreng!hened,
at an expenditure of eco, with a NUM-
Der of iron knees. She was about so
tons burden, and was considered in every
respect one of the best and most sea-
worthy of the vessels Of her class. She
was the property of Messrs. Andrews &
Co., of New York. THE commander.
Capt. S. E. Andrews, @as of the firm,
and owned quarter osNhe vessel.
The following is tlfe account given by
Mr.. Carter, the mate of the Governor
Fenner, of the collision
"About five minutes past two o'clock,
on Saturday morning, we saw the lights
Of steamboat. 1t was my watch on
deck, and | Immediately called the cap
tain. The steamboat come up about a
point and half on our weather bow, we
having at the time our laIboard tacks on
board. We thought she was coming on
head to US. We had no light bm that Of
the pinnacle, on the quarterback ; and, !
believe, it is not considered necessary or
prudent for sailing vessels, clear of the
land, TO carry light. We waited as
much as five or six minutes to find out
what way the steamer was really COM
ing, and then the captain ordered the man
at the wheel to put the helm a-port so as
to give her a clear brcth.
If the steamboat had done the same, we
should have gone clear of each other a
long way-perhaps mile. The Cap
tain, as soon as he ordered the wheel to
be put up, went forward to look out, l
then looked over the larboard side, abaft
the main rigging, and saw the whole bulk
of the steamer. said TO the man at the
helm, "She is on board of us - This
was about Il quarter past two O'Clock.
The vessel came i'll contact, notwithsiand-
ing our ship paying off. When the crash
took place, l heard tho Captain call out
several times: "For God sake save your
selves, the ship is sinking !" The jib
boom of the ship struck the funnel of the
steamer, and her bowsplit afterwards rest
ed on her. On the third surge gave, |
believe, down she went bow FOREMOST
The railrail was the last thing saw Of
her.--She filled very quickly. She had
on board heavy cargo, including guam
tity of iron and other heavy goods. The
watch on deck at the time consisted of
seven men, the captain and myself. All
the others on board were asleep below.
The captain sang out to the man at the
helm to relieve the wheel. lie was for
merly mate Of the Belvidere, and came on
board to work his passage to America,
and we intended to make him second mate
of the ship next day. All the men at
first, went forward with me to the captain
who was standing between the night
heads, but they afterwards went aft as the
ship sunk, to be, as l supposed, on the
higher part Of her hull. stood some
time, and attempted to 60 aft, with view
to save my wife and others, by lowering
boat. She, however, sunk so fas! that
! was obliged to give up the idea in des-
pair. left the captain and went to the
starboard side.
| stood few seconds, till the water
was perhaps, two feet deep, as far aft as
the mainmast, and was fast gathering still
further aft, her head being then nearly
under. l scarcely know what afterwards
occurred. l got up somehow, into the
fore rigging and thence on to the larboard
foreyards which then crossed the steamer.
When the ship sunk so FAR that l was
from six to eight fee. Of the steamer deck,