The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-12
(From our Extra of Yesterday
LOSS OF THE STEAMER COLUMBIA.
Total Loss OF this Noble Steamer-Safcty OF
the Passengers, Mails, and Baggago-One
Man Missing.

the Passengers, Mails, and BRggage-Onc
Man Missing.
(From the Boston Courier)
rs with feelings OF deep regret that we are UNI
der the. necessity of announcing the loss OF
the British Mail Steamer Columbia, Captain
Shannon, which sailed from this port the ls inst.
She was wrecked, as will be seen by the accounts
which we present below, upon Black Ledge, near
Seal Island, N, s., on her passage to Halifax. Seal
Island Is craggy rock, in some parts covered with
soil, situated about twenty-five miles to the west.
ward OF Cape Sable, the southernmost point OF
Nova Scotia 1t is about twenty miles from the
nearest land on the continent-a peninsula, form.
ing the western boundary OF Darlington Bay. AL
the passengers, among whom was the Hon. Abbott
L1wrence OF this city, with his lady and daughter,
were sale. The vessel was going to pieces when
the schooner that brought the intelligence left her,
and will be total wreck.
We have been favored by the poteness Of s: Alb.
bot Lawrence, Esq, with letter from the Hon.
Abbott Lawrence, to his family IN this city, giving
the full particulars of this unfortunate occurrence
and we have also another letter from Lieut. Parsons
the mail agent of he Columbia, to George w. Cor
don, Esq the postmaster of this city, which he has
kindly allowed US 10 use. Both these letters were
written in great haste, and received them at
late hour last evening, we publish them just as
they came TO hand
The intelligence of this calamity was forwarded
to this city byS r. Lyman, Esq, postmaster at
Portland, byspecial express.
We are informed, that there is at Halifax an ex-
ira steamer, the Margaret vecsel OF 800 or 900
tons, and OF over 300 horse power, kept there ex-
pressy to meet such exigencies as the loss OF the
Columbia, and capable of carrying forward her
mails and passengers The Margaret will unques-
tionably be despatched Immediately from Halifax
to Liverpool, taking the mails, and such passengers
as may prefer TO go forward in her IN preference to
awaiting the sailing of the Hibernia. The latter
vessel il will be recoeced, leaves thisport for Ii
verpool via Halifax, on Sunday next, 10th inst.
The Columbia was going at the rate OF 10 knots
when she struck, and the conclusion threw her bow
high out of water, leaving her stern in deep water.
Alarmed by signal guns from the steamer, the keeper
of Seal Island Light put oil in boat, and went on
board the Columbia. The passengers and crew, 20
OF the former and 70 of the latter were landed in
safety, and various efforts were made to get the
steamer off, but without success.
There were a number of fishing vessels in the
vicinity that took the passengers, mails and baggage
The navigation in the vicinity of the wreck is very
dangerous, especially during foggy weather, and the
currents uncertain The soundings from thirty to
forty fathoms, and quality OF the bottom, furnish
the only indications OF a vessels whereabouts,
and should not be neglected The loss of the Co
Mmbia appears to have been entirely owing to this
neglect on the part of the pilot, or those whose
duty it was to look ont for the safe navigation of
the vessel.
There were about twenty lady passengers on
board who, it is said, behaved with remarkable
courage and fortitude they were cared for as
well as circumstances would permit, at Seal Island
and though put to great hdrdships, they were
cheerful and resigned.
There was one man missing, but whether lost or
not could not be ascertained.
II is cause of great thankluness that the accl-
dent is worse, and doubt not that the friends
and connexions OF the passengers are hed with Sra
titude for the provldential manner IN which they
have been preserved from destruction. We see not
that blame is attached to any one connected with
the boat for this misfortune yet il should operate
warning TO conductors OF steamers not to proceed
when near shore in fog, except at very moderate
rate. Had the Columbia being going at rapid rate
has
speed of 10 kuss, probably nothing saved her bat
the inclined plane which the face of the rocks pre-
sented.
We left Boston at quarter past two o'clock the LIST in
stant and experienced most agreeable till yester
day at quarter past t being foggy) the Columbia
struck Black Ledge, and quarter miles dis
tant from this island high water When the tide be-
gan to ebb, we large rocks the larboard SIDE
about iahoms distance and long reef not cables
length from Before half tide down, these rocks were
four feet above the water so9n alter she struck we
through the day At half past two we began firing our
cannon ; in half an hour after answered by
musket which relieved from the most painful anxiety
We were quite certain where were and hoped
might be from the land At four o'clock the fog lifted
and we had the indispensable satisfaction of seeing fish
ing schooner making for the ship with small boat in
tow. The captain OF the schooner, (Hitching) who is
the keeper OF the light house. on board and gave
account of situation which appeared any thing
but fatering We concluded, as 1t evident the
Columbia in rocky berth, that it prudent to
|
several in the Storage, and FIVE or six children.
This accomplished at o'clock, without injury TO any
one; and here found two small houses mile
distant from each other, inhabited by kind and efficient
people, who exhibit all the sympathy and care we could
desire. There other habitaions upon the Island
which is rough and barren. The nearest main land is
attempt made to float the ship which proved I'M
successful and at half past two the Captain requested the
passengers 100 in numbe who remained board to
shorc-abou 40 having landed last evening The pas
sengers all shoreand one half the baggage.
The mails all here and the remaining part OF the bag
gage will be received in the OF an hour.
The opinion is that the ship will be lostshe is
vee % and 70 ocer M
ing 10 tn ship all 1853 souls The Captain has conduc-
ted himself with great Goodness and courage and display
ed that energy and magnanimy that belong to his noble
profession. And now having no more time to write,
have only say that deem our preservation extraod-
nary-20 ards either side Of the ship, with moder
ate breeze, would have consigned all to watory
grave.
Through the mercy OF Almighty God we have all been
spared, living of his protecting care; and
and YOU and all friends should offer up to Hsa
venly Father the homage of grateful hearts for this sig
nal instance oil his sparng mercy The ladies and all the
passengers have conducted themselves in manner that
sh ould command admiration We shall send an ex-
press to Halifax for steamer which, suppose is nearly
200 mcs-we being about $40 miles from Boston,
We provisions enough for the present. and make
ourselves toeraby comfortable under all the circum
in which placed. Your mother and sister
are quite well, and better than could be expected
after the anxiety and fatigue through which have pass.
ed shal write the frs; opportunity Do not however
shall all be provided for In great haste remain with
the truest affection, ABBOTT LAWRENCE.
JAMES LAWRENCE
p. s is in justice to Captain Shannon to say, that the
ship in charge of the Plotof course he is exoneraed
from all blame.
From II. B. NJ. Mail Agent, attached 10 the Coumba.J
SEAL ISLAND, July D. 2P M.
DEAR SiR;-
The Columbia left Boston at 2. NJ, the ls inst, with
the American mail for Halifax and England with ninety
passengers, AID OF eighty in number, making in
all from ITO upwards Water smooth but weather very
foggy. On Sunday, "a instant at past p. M while
seaming at the rate Of ten An ITS per hour grounded and
heeled to port with her bow high up leaving her stern
in deep water having quarter less five fahoms depth aft
Observed spnters from the false keel and oreoot along
SIDE Fired alarm guns, which were answered by mus.
kes and the sound Of fog horns. Ala M, bost with
the keeper Of Seal Island Light alongside. He in
formed that lay the Black Ledge Reef and were
within mile aud quarter of the island The fog
Dense the wind moderate from SsE AS the tide fell
pointed rocks OF uncovered to the depth