Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-04-28


from an officer on board the Missouri
Steam Frigate, did not come 70 mana q :
early as the writer kindly INTENDED y
should. but is even now the first auihehuc
and ineligible account OF It that we q 0o'
readers have had:
U. S. STEAM FRfGsrE Mlssoehs'
PoYoxAc RIVER, April ., 1887
MrssRs. EprroRs 1t IS with ieelngs
Ilacara,ed with the keenest sorrow that
will herein make an attempt to give you
/ !, acco,,nt of heart-rending scene that
| have this day Witnessed from the deck
ac this ship, involving the loss Of a nobe-
hearted. generous, and high-minded mess.
mate and friend, Lieut.. Borden, and IF
teen OF this ships crew. Yesterday (Sun-
day) we made Cape Henry, and took on
board pilot TO ron US into the Chesa-
peake, who gave US to understand that he
could not pilot US more than halfway on
our course towards Washington, as he was
not ACQUAINTED with the Potomac river,
but at the same time assured our captain
that his father bad been branch plot on
the Potomac since the last war. In con
sequence of this statement the ship was
safely brought to anchor last evening
about 10 o'clock, in twenty fathoms water
| Just after she had entered the last name
river. The pilot went on shore, ana re-
turned this morning with his father, who
Immediately got the ship under wegn' anp
ran her on her course win press VI
steam that carried her through tae wafer
a, the rate of ten knots an hour, untll a.
bout II o'clock, A. NJ, when he ran her
b;oL nm. ujb her 5omS almost ont Of 'cafer,
on an ousfer bed. Every effort was made
nm the instant, to back her off, but with
ont success, and then commenced the
work of tightening her forward. The
heavy Paxhan guns were transported
from the forecastle aft to the man tran
som. the water in the forehold started,
and the provisions broke out and sent TO
the after part of the berth deck; the bow
ers and one Of the waist anchors let go
the boats were boisted out, and immediate
preparations made for carrying out astern
the larboard waist anchor, with sutii-
cheney of chain cable to heave her OIL
Accordingly the anchor was weighed be-
tween the launch and liieboat, and the
chain coled away in the bottom OF the
launch, under the superintendent OF 1t.
Borden, Mdshipman Renshaw and the
boatswain. After they had gone about
two hundred yards asern oil the ship, and
while paying out the chain in twenty faith
oms water, preparatory to letting go the
anchor, the heavy chain began TO run out
with such tremendous force that 1t carried
the gunwale Of the launch under water
All hands instantly sprang for the lie
boat, but she being lashed TO the launch,
was likewise carried down by the combin.
ed weight of the anchor and men; and,
in moment, about twenty-five officers
and seamen were struggling, and many
yainIy struggling, for their lives. Happy
was il for those who were then carried
down by the massive chain, and who did
not rise again to catch one last and ago.
nizing look at the bright heavens aud The
coming aid, which despair whispered could
not reach them in time 10 save them from
sinking beneath the wave which must roll
DER them until that water shall give up
its dead. Immediately every boat from
the ship was rushing to the rescue, bui
unfortunately could not reach the drown
ing men until many had sunk to rise no
more.
Commander Mackenzie, with his boats
crew, rescued Mdshipman Renshaw and
three men; but poor Borden, the noble,
warm-hearted, dearly beloved friend of
all who knew him, was not a strong
swimmer, and ere the boat could come up
with him, he threw his arms DER his head,
and sank 10 rise in life no more.
a general gloom pervades the ship,
fore and aft. When il was known be-
yond doubt that Borden was drowned,
there was not dry eye among his friends
and associates, messmatts, and brother
officers assembled in the quarter deck
However deeply we may deplore the loss
of 50 many valuable and excellent men
besides him, yet they were as strangers
to us, and it did not come so intimately
home to our feelings. But, indeed, it was
a dreadful scene, and one that will never
be effaced from my minds eye, as | stood
on the taffefel and saw a number OF our
strongest men struggling in their dying
agony, ubblng the water from their lips,
and throwing aloh their arms for succor,
ere they sunk beneath the relentless wave
C.rovpr