The New York herald., 1845-03-29

Ship lErie, arrived yesterday morning from Port
Praya in 35 days passage. Annexed is the list Of
her officers.
c. c. Turner, Lieut. Commanding; Edward Donaldson,
Acting Master and Executive officer; A. A. Henderson,
Assistant Surgeon; Lloyd Winder Passed Midshpman;
n b. HARRISON do do; Charles w Hays, do do; john H.
Poor Captains Clerk; John p Grsgson, Masters Mate
PASSENGERS -Lieutenants james +. Miller, Wm Tay
lor Smith, William Decatur Hurst; c. g. McDonough,
Acting Master; +. W. Colby, Passed Midshipmsn.
The L. S. brig Truxton sailed from Port Praya,
on cruise 10 eeward, January 2Sth; and the Pre-
BILE would leave cruise to windward, Feb. ii.
Arrived on the 18th February, the U. s. ship
jamestown, bearing the broad pendant Of CON-
Charles W. Skinner, and sailed on a cruise to lee
ward Feb. 81. The Macedonian was to sail in a
few days for the United States, via the West In
dies. The health of the squadron was said to be
generally good.
Praya, containing some sad intelligence to many
family in the United States.
UNITED STATES SHIP PREBLE,
PoRTo GRANDE, Feb. 3, lS45.
/ now hail the opportunity OF Diminishing you with
detail Of the sad calamity which has befaen
this ship, since we came on the coast of Africa.
As soon as we joined the squadron at Port Praya,
under the command of Commodore NJ G. Perry,
he despatched us down on the coast to place
called Bissao, a small miserable cluster Of mud
huts, situated river of the same name, and in
habited by Portuguese negroes, who reside there
for the purpose of trading with the natives, or
bushmen, as they are commonly termed; and who
are continually at war with the inhabitants Of the
village, whose chief protection is small tort to-
gether with about twenty soldiers In the POrtH-
guese service. AS soon as we arrived there, we
anchored In close to the town, SO as to bring our
kno. ,kNx
turnally assailing the place. Thousands came in
from the woods, and pitched their tents in low
valley, little way from the town, where they
were secure from the guns of the tort but they
were little aware that we were awaiting their on
set to hostlltles. About sundown they began to
make movement towards the town, when we
sent a few OF our iron heralds, which soon made
them abandon their projects, and brought TO mind
renewed the attack in a few days after from a
quarter where our shot could not reach them; but
the launch was in readiness in a moments notice.
We lay there only three weeks, when the ships
company began to get the fever. although there
was every prccauti0n taken to prevent it. The
Commodore sentfvelKroomen on board to commu-
nicate with the shore whenever necessary; the
men had little work to do-the ship was well
ventilated, and every thing resorted to that
would in any way contribute towards health.
The men were taken sick very fast, and the Captain
deemed it prudent to withdraw the ship from there
and join the Commander again at Port Praya when
we arrived there was the Captain, one midshipman,
forty-four seamen on the sick list with the fever
The command then devolved on the first Lieuten.
with the condition Of the men and an overhauling
from the fleet Surgeon we came to this place, and
on our arrival there were seventy.slx on the SICK
list, the first Lieutenant and Sailing Master incu
ded, and then the command tell on c. w. Picker
ing, who deserves great praise for his zeal and at
tention in such time of need.
This place in appearance is most wretched look
ing, indeed !; not yestige of any kind of vegita-
n eh 10 oNo nfth tha orr / 10
the most desolate looking place ever saw The
town is composed OF some fifty or sixty rudely con-
structed mud cabins, and although the duty glass
did find its way there, yet you cannot muster twen
sul's and Governors houses bears some marks OF
distinction. The natives are all convicts. There
were three spare houses on shore which the Doc
we left the Commodore, he promised to follow US
in a few days. The day after we arrived Mid.Smith
died. who was first on the list of deceased; in afew
days two more died. There was no burying ground
on shore 81 any sort !; there were q few graves
(Which belonged to some English and French men
OF wary IN an open common, exposed to the tramp
ing OF mules. goats and jackasses. AS soon as the
Commodore came, ne purchased lot and had
railing on top, with cross on each angle and one
over the gateway. This precaution has been taken
in order to secure the cemetery from any molesta-
ton on the part of the natives, who would not pay
the least reverence to it were it not for the precau
tons. On the extremity Of the cemetery is
staff some twenty feet high, with rattle snake
around 1t and an eagle at its summet, which
Each grave has handsome head board
with an epitaph indicating the name and grade of
its occupant, and of what disease he died. There
deceased's name on it; the Englishman's grave
was taken in with ours, and the head boards rect
ned as the epltaph was nearly illegibe. The boat
swain of this ship, Mr.. Samuel Drew, who laid out
and superintendent the plan Of the burying grounds,
represented to the Commodore the necessity OF
having some shrubs planted within the cemetery
and having the graves, avenue and paths paved to
son, which, while. it lasts, comes down as il
through seive, without intermission. The com
modore approved OF 1t, and accordingly there
was subscription list made out, and every
man In the ship sick and in health contributed
more or less each according to their respective
grades. As there was no chaplain on board, the
Com lconferred the office on the boatswain. (Mr.
Drew,) who fulfilled his part remarkably well; and
gave little comment Of his own, touching the
good or bad qualities Of the departed, and at the
same time reminding us OF that summons which
steals march upon US. He expatatcd so warmly
saw many a tear uickling down the weather
beaten cheeks of some hoary headed taYs, whose
hearts and souls towards their duty to their Ma
ker) seemed as callous and as hard as marble.
When the Commodore was about to leave here,
ne procured large supply OF paving stones, had
them conveyed to the burial place, and gave our
boats orders to have the graves and paths secured
Annexed is a list of deaths on the Coast -
who ss%s ss
Der loth 1884, of disease contracted the Coast Of Africa
the u g. ship PEBBLE Acting MASTER who died At this
place December 5h 1884, Of disease contracted on the Coast
OF Africa.
Emanuel Francisco boy belonging the u g. Preble, who
died this place Dec. H. is from disease contracted the
Coast. .
Thomas Maher seaman belonging the u. g. Pebe died
at place Dec H. 1884, from dsease contracted hs Coast
John Flanagan seaman, y Prebe at this place Dec r. do
Jas q. Huston, yeoman, do do Dec 81 DO
Wm Thompson seaman, do do Dec. a. do
James Bryant Capt OF the Forecase, u g. sho
this place JAM 8 from disease contracted on the Coast
Smith Owens, seaman, do do Dec. 10, "a, do
Timothy West, do do do Dec. 10, "a, do
Savory Allen apprentice, do do Dec. 3, "A, DO
James H. shaw, sailmskers mate, belonging U T. ship
Pfeble. died at this place Dec. 9, 1874
KcbeE Cleve. seaman Us. ship Prebe at this place Dec
Jessy NJ Smith. Md.hipman Sson Of Lieut. J. Smith, who
lost the Hornet belonging TO the u b. ship Pble who