The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-24

larboard bow, &c. along the waist which stove IN
the larboard buwarks and flooded the spar deck
The water was now knee deep on the gun-deck, al
though the pumps had been kept necessarily going,
and the water was gaining fast us as TO be over
the shot lockers in the hold knocked of the lower
ceiling boards of the spar-deck buwarks to free the
deck of water, and tarpauned the halchways. The
ship at this time striking 50 heavily that had little
hopes of her holding together till daylight and should
have cut away the masts to ease her. but that would
have lett US without the of getting out our
boats should the occasion offer. AT 7, A. M of the
18th, the first opportunity that occurred when boat
could be ventured over the side or reach the shore
Lieut. Perry was despatched with the charts, papers,
and every thing connected with the surveys Of the
present cruise and Purse Speider with his books and
accounts Had the launch and three boats hosted out
some trng provisions put in the former, and all the
boats OF the ship fully filled with the crew.
officers and scientific gentlemen the marines only
taking their arms and accoutrements, and one
allowed to take any clothing but what they stood in,
prevent the numbering and swapping of the boats
Three or four o. the boats succeeded in making n
trip, alter which it became impossible om the
violence ofthe sea and force Of the current for boat
to get of or ivean where near the ship
The crews and officers in charge of the boats de-
serve all praise for their in again endea
voring to at the hazard of their own lives
we were painful witnesses at hat time of of the
boats being swamped and capsizsd in the atenpt)
and they only gave up the effort and returned to the
shore when We run ensign union up on 4e stump
OF the mizenmast.
Z" tler the boats left in the morning had
been compelled from the dreadful rolling and thump-
ing of the ship the water having reached about eig
teen inches above the brth-deck to cut away the
mass, hoping she would hold together long enough
to save those Of who remained on bard although
| such hope was any thing but fattering.
=" The boats again off between and 5 in the
afternoon, but could not venture near the ship until
just before sunset, when the remaining men, the boats
vain, captain pursers steward, and Lieu. Walker,
were released from peril and soon after dark, after
pull OF about four miles reached the encampment Of
our companions in misfortune at Bakers Bay, where
we found brush huts erected fires burning and the
gentlemen of the Methodist m ssion, Messrs Frost
and Kone and Mr. BRINE, agen of The II N Hul-
son Bay Co, from Fort George, with provisions for
our relief All that have been saved from the ship are
the charts made during the cruise the work Of the
surveys, some few journals Of the scientific gentle
men and officers, with the purser's books and ac-
counts, the chronometers, and all the boats, with the
exception Of the first cutter
| g / feel thankful to a mercfu Providence that all
hands have been saved although they have lost every
thing but what they stood in.
| /" Through the night on which we landed it was
still and calm, and had hoped the ship might hold
together until morning and we should yet obtain some
thing from her All the boats dispatched soon
after daylight for that purpose but the spar-deck and
most Of her upper works were srewn to the winds
and the waves and all that was to be seen of the
poor Peacock that had carried us safely through
many hazards for the last three years the cap OF
her bowsprit and very soon after that disappeared
:" cannot sufficiently express my appreciation of
the conduct of the officers and men, on this painful
occasion. They have continued to the last strictly to
perform their duties and carry out my orders and
feel great pleasure in recommending the n, through
you commander of the expedition to the honorable
the Secretary of the Navy"
(Signed,) CIV. $ HUDSON."
On learning the loss of the Peacock, | called fol
reports relative to the same from all the ward-roon
officers, which concur in the above statement of facts
anu pear testimony VI COoncSS pItSeHCe Ql
! unremitted exertions and noble example evnced b,
the Commander, to whose efforts be attributed
the safety of all his officers and crew. and of the order
and prompttude with which every thing was eXecu
ted and discipline that prevailed throughout thewhole
event; SO much So that, in the language of one il
appeared if the ordinary duties beng carried
on and that few were aware of their perllous sit.
| uaton.
Captain Hudson the last person to leave the
wreck and on his landing at Bakers Bay, he re-
ceived with three hearty cheers from his officers and
crew:
Although the Expedition has met whit the loss OF
the ship, yet happy to say that all the charts,
notes of survey and journals of her late arduous and
| interesting cruise have been preserved and fee
well satisfied that, although the ship has been wreck
ed, if any exertons could have succeeded in saving
her. theirs wonld have done so; and that the conduct
of her commander, officers and this occasion
will rebound to the credit of the service in which they
were engaged.
have the honor to be- sir, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
CHARLES WILKES,
Com U. S. Exploring Erp.