The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-24
OFFICIAL
REPORT OF THE LOSS OF THE UNITED
STATES SHIP PEACOCK.
u. S. SHIP VINCENNEs, !
BAY OF SAN FrANCIsCo, {
Upper California, October 81, l04l.

u. S. SHIP VNCENNEs,
BAY OF SAN FrANCIsCo, (
Upper California, October 81, l04l.
To the honorable the SECRETARY OF THE NAVY:
SIR have now to report, what | have expected
long since might occur to one of us from the DANCE
nature of the service committed to the Squadron
under my command, the loss of the United States
| ship Peacock on the 18th of July, the bar of the
Columbia River, in attempting to enter it, agreeably
to my orders to Captain Hudson in pursuance ofin-
sructions from the Department.
The Peacock, as had the honor to inform you in
my letter dated November 10, 1910, was ordered to
leave Oahu the ID December last, and after
duous and dangerous cruise o228 days of which only
% were passed in por) to the Phsnix, Samoan, Ell
lice, and Kingsmil groups of islands, far to the
westward the PIscadores thence northery through
range of shoals and islands heretofore said to ex-
is) to the Sandwich Islands, where, after taking on
board supply of water and provisions she proceeded
for Columbia River off which she arrived on the l7th
of July, the day previous to the accident
| Captain Hudson was furnished by me with direc-
tons for entering the Columbia, which obtained of
| Captain - Of the ship -, at Oahu, who had
just arrived there from the Columbia, and
| oCPShuCo
chart also accompanied the directions which
sidsred correct.
Twas gratifed in being able to obtain the inorma-
ton, and furnished copies each of the vessels of
the Squadron, placing much confidence in them, hav-
ing been unable to obtain any information which
could be relied on to enable to encounter the diff
culties and well known dangers which exist there.
These directions apparently drawn up with care,
although there existed in my mind some doubt, from
their giving only magnetic bearings, generally of little
value, and particularly SO in this CASE my expe-
rience, from recent survey of the bar has since
proved
To these must be imputed the loss of the Peacock,
which Captain Hudson implicitly followed and held
| in his hand at the time he made the attempt to
the bar appears by his report hereafter
Pied am we'll satisfied that such the case, from
the fact of Captain Varney, master of the American
brig Thomas Parkins having the same part
of the sands in following the directions, copies
ofwhch he obtained from me at Oahu but draw
ing only feet Of water he entered without accident
The following is copy of Captain Hudson's re-
port to me of the loss of the ship:
son the morning of the 18th of July, obtained
soundings in 100 fathoms off the Columbia River, af
ter which had light and battling winds from s. by E.
to S. W., made Cape disappointment the same after
noon, and through the night had light airs and Gains
accompanied with dense fog. On the morning o.
the 18th, between and g. the fog cleared off, and we
had light breeze from the southwark and eastward
with pleasant weather, Cape Disappointment in sigh
ahead distant 9 miles. Until meridian hat
light southerly breezes. At 9, got cast of the
lead and found 40 fathoms water; at 10. IS OBJ
tanned soundings in IA fathoms, and wore ship of
shore At Ii wore again and stood in. At merl-
dian the wind out moderately from the
southwark and eastward; and weather little cloudy
Soon after meridian being off the entrance through
the reef, called all hands to work ship into por-had
lieutenant looking out the foretopsall yard, and
myself the orecaste and occasionally in the fore
rggingstood in, according to my directions through
the channel passage, until brought Cape Disap
ponment to bear N. E IA E. by compass and was
leading up to it to bring Cheenook point to bear E.
E. when we discovered the sea breaking ahead of us
Believing myself rather too far to the southwark wore
SHIP and run short distance until clear Of the break
ers and where the passage appeared smooth and clear
of break, both fro n below and aloft, when again
stood in, and in less than 5 minutes the ship touched
The helm was Immediately put lee, and every effort
after hump and the heave of the sea- forced her end
and rendered her manageable. Every sail was i'm
mediately furel Stream-cable and anchor got ready
for running out lst cutter hosted out launch ready,
and Lieut. Emmons sent to sound in various direc-
tons about the ship in of the waist-boats The
wind had now got to the N. and W., and gradu-
ally increasing, accompanied with haze and fog, and
the ebb tide meeting the ocean swell, producing, in
few moments, dangerous combing sea, which stove
the LIST cutter with careful hands in her. and moor
ed with lines to play her from the fore and aft parts of
the ship and rendered her perfectly useless. 1t was
with great difficulty and hazard Lieut. Emmons got
alongside after sounding, and his boat taken on
board,
"The ship was now lifting and striking heavily,
and the had been furious the launch
over the side like fate with the cutter in
deed, boat could have lived about the ship. Had
the pumps rugged sent the royal and top gallant yards
masts and rigging deck, and every thing of weight
out Of the tops to lower masts from switching
over the side Finding the ship making wa
ter fast, divided the watches in gangs at the pumps,
and kept them going from that time until the boats
left the ship Had the guns buoyed for heaving
board; got pendant tackle the foreyard ARM and
swung the arboard bower clear of her bottom she
quarerng to the sea, her after body lifting
with every SURGE coming down heavily and the ship
with all forging end.
81 was in hopes, by this process, to bring her head
to sea- aud have her strike fore and aft on her keel
our iren tler now broke off some six or eight
inches from the rudder head rudder-blaces and PIN
tails gone, and the rudder thrashing about violently
with every sea, unable to escape through the rudder
port and acting, when its head brought upon the bot
tom, lever pry upon the transom and stern
Frame until it finally ground its way OUT commenced