The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-02-26

| AUTHENTIC Account OF THE Loss OF
THE UNITED STATES SHIP OF WAR PEA
cocK.-Through the attention of a cor
respondent al Washington, we are ena-
bled to lay before our readers, this morn
ing, the first authentic account, detailing
the particulars Of the loss of the U. 5.
ship Peacock, one of the Exploring Squad
ron. 1t is contained in all eXuacl of a
letter from all officer of the Explor ng
Slnadron to his friend in Washington
Guy. We have already, some time since
announced the loss OF the vessel, but the
particulars have not before been made
public Bait. Sun.
CAMP PEACOCK, ASTORIA,
Columbia Rirer, July IS, lSli.
.'Ol the 2lSl of June we left Honolulu.
and arrived at the mouth of the Colum-
bla River on 'he evening Of the 17lh OF
July. The following morning, Sunday,
lS.h,) the usual religious service was
performed, after which "aIl hands were
called TO work ship into port" and IN a
lie" minutes we were close in with the
breakers. Alter standing along them
short time, the ships head was h,.uied
up, and stood mo what appeared to be
The entrance to the river, and as such.
had not only been repres nted by our
chart, but reported by Inc officer aIoll
ana Others VINO were constantly on the
look out. We mad stood in not more
lhail i've rrlnutes, when the ship sud
derry snoalet her water and struck. e.
loris were Instantly made to get her by
the wind and haul of; but heavy sea
md strong current rendered the attempt
useless. The launch and first cutter were
called away for the purpose If taking out
d str am anchor and cable, and no sooner
was the cutter low cred than heavy sea
dashed her To pieces. The ship cuntin.
ued 10 lorgo into shoal,s water as the sea
lifted her from the bottYm. against which
ahe ihumped with great violence, aud i,
was soon ascerIained thai lh,r was bul
nine feet water under her chains. Men
were stationed at tn pumps, and every
eXerilon made that the urgency of the
case could suggest; and, Notwithstanding
The perll"us situation Of the ship. and all
on board, the greatest order was observed
by the officers and men. Toy ard sun SCI
canoe attempted to come of 10 us from
the klalsop shore, near Point Adams, but
/ did not slccecd, owing to the heavy SEA
and thick fog which soon gathered "a
round US. We hred signal guns of dis
tress, AUD night soon closed from gu,
eew The terrific scene, while the heavy
=, b'cakers continued To dash their utmost
! Jury agansl our ship, Which We expected
couii" .."ld togelher but short time.
We yemiured upon an gviul night!
Tue ship constantly constantly humping
-, While every timber, fore and aft, threaten
:. cd To crush into atoms. The lop-galanl
, ma. is and rigging were sent upon deck.
aud durlMg the hight many articles were
Il throNn overheard for Tho purpose ,Ilig l.
ening the ship; and it became cvid mt that
the vale, was rapidly increasing in the
= ships hold, al huu4h it was endeavored
to conceal the fact, uniI had nta IL
=. reached the ber,h deck,
=, a. direct d by the captain. proceeded
!, To co|Iecl my books and papers and "hol,!
myself in readiness To leave the ship at Il
:. moments watnIug,n and, with The aid OF
DR.. Il. and Others of the scrnllGc corrs
+ soon had ihen. prepared. Al this lime
lie berth deck Was flooded by The rush
= at water from the pumps, down the hatch
Mays. and my DO k, papers, aud otLer
, u atcIs "ete floating about The ward
room.
i H. the dark 81, ON of night, in a stu
1 alton like ours, with heavy sea ncca-
'IonaIly breaking over the spar deck.
) here appeared to be but hrrle chance OF
anything but waery grave! With sad
/ ucned courage, however, each attended
: /" his duly, while all knew their danger.
The heavy -urgm & and constant crashing
OF limbel> m'ttr he nig long and drea-
~ ome-but the morning again dawncd
. upon us.
1t was near 7c'ciock in The morning OF
the 18Th, eioru we could venture to hoist
ont our launch or lower our boats for
the purpose OF Icavlng The wreck. AT this
lime ca oe was seen approaching, which
got alongsid, as our boats were being
lowered with men for the shore. II con-
tained John Dean, and four indians
, Dean was the bearer of dispatches from
/ Capt. Wilkes to Capt. Hudson. He cx-
. pressed his regret that he had not been
| able to reach MS in "a canoe the previous
evening, which he said he had found it
impossible to do, after the greatest effort
on the part Of the Rev. Mr.. kone, of the
Methodist mission and himself The
only proptinus moment for leaving the
wreck now presented itself, and the cap
tain ordered that no clothing or any 9th
er baggage should be permitted to go in
the boats, for fear of their swapping.
The boals were Immediately despatched
with both officers and men to the shore.