Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-10-09
NEW SERIES,---NO. -
y. S. BRfG WASHINGTON. /

Sir Should YOU deem the enclosed details OF
the wreck Of the U. $. brig Washington. in the
hurricane on tn, S,h inst, off Cape Hatteras,
worthy place in the columns of your valuable
paper, thcy may prove not unintcresing to some
of your readers, as being connected with the
fate of gallant officer, well known in your city,
and wherever known beloved.
A NAVAL OFFICER.
After pleasant cruise of about a month in
the Gulf Stream, where she had been employed
surveying. the u. S. Brig Washington It, Com
handing, Geo. NJ Btche, stood in, on the 9TH
inst, for the capes of virginia. As the weather
appeared threatening. the wind fresh and blow
ing on shore. great anxiety was felt to reach an
anchorage. The night came on dark and low
ering. and we neared the land all eyes were
turned to windward to catch the glimincring OF
the light for which we were striving. (that upon
Smith lsland) through the haze and squalls,
now beginning to obscure the horizon to wind
, ward.
About eleven our hearts were radtlencd nv
the welcome cry of light no." from the l,ok
out but the Joy was doomed to be Of shori dnra-
ton. The light upon Cape Henry, without ma
king which the harbor cannot be entered. must
have been obscured by squall. for when we
brought by the wind after bearing NJ for it ex-
pectng every moment to make the looked for
beacon, always cheering to the mariner, in our
case we felt to be our only hope-thc terrible cry
of breakers ahead! = struck pang to hearts
throbbing with hope. and told that we were ADAM
doned to the horrors of lee Shore and that our
only prospect Of safety lay in being able to carry
sail against the wind Sea and current forcing
us upon Cape ilatteras. the terror of seamen this
all felt to be forlorn hope. for the g,le now in
creased in violence, howIed omino,islv through
the rigging, and already our little vessel swag-
nd hprp L.,
by flying masses of dark clouds the crests Of
the waves heaying the dark volumes to the sky,
flashed with the gh,stly phosphorescent light
often observed in storms, and once the sea ahead
was lit up for a few seconds bya pale blue light,
known to seamen as the Cor Jus Santo, and whose
appalling appearance they sule-stitiously regard
; "a the precursor of misfortune ana wreck the
barometer fell rapidly and everything foretold
terrible strife Of the elements.
I Upon discovering the breakers the brig was
r Immediately worn with her head off shore the
course reeed, her topsails double-reefed and SET
Nobly the gallant craft did her part groaning in
!, every timber her tall masts bowling to the blast
: Daylight found her still dragging on, and rising
= to the seas which appeared pressing on to her
e destruction; it brought an increase of wind, and
: most gloomy prospect: the sea ran fearGully
VI high. and appeared sheet of foam, as far as
i the eye could reach. We had lost during the
: night the life boats. which had filled and torn
IF from the dayits. b and ying.iib booms, topma-t
Nc staysal, &c. TIE lead, every east of which had
e. been watched with deep anxiety. told that we
were rapidly drifting upon the shore BY seven
the wind mad increased to q hurricane: sailatteI
sail had either been taken in. or splitting like
thunder. blew into ribbons to lccward the yards
!, shiverng like pipe stems; nothing remained bu
~ the fore-topsail. unbonnetted under which tin
:; brig" lay to until eleven a. m. when the hur
II rlcane had reached its height. and ragged witt
i, extraordinary violence, surprising anything w
:; had ever seen. The brig lay over com pletely OF
y her side; the water boiling over the lee rail We
- were obliged to cling on to the rigging, to pre-
~ vent being blown or WISHED overheard for the
sea appeared uprootcd from its bed and borne il
:. huge masses through the air, constantly swep
our decks.
The lee guns were thrown overheard, and sub
:, seqncntly the weather ones. aud the helm put up
3 she refused to answer it. and the order was civ
- en- to cut away the mIiumast ; it was prompt,
. ooeyed as was every other our noble crew DO
" havng with the steadines- and discipline char
acteriStc of mcn-of-wars men, In its fil
the mainmtst carried away the head of the fore
:, mast, topmlst and loretop-sa yards. which hun!
=. in IA mass to leeward: every cxertion was mad,
. to get clear fthe wreck. and the shattered hui
- of the {" Washington" s,earrd wildly on bcfor
~ to clear: the anchors had been prepared for lei
!, ting go, as the last hope: vet no one imagine
~ TIM, the cables would hold for moment in TIN
:: furious sea The horrors of the scene baiii,
description. The fierce bowling of the hurr
"a cane, the roaring of tho waves breaking in il
regular misses around us and pressing on nadl
~ in our wake, as il eager to be in at the death
y, were added to the crashing ofspars, which, tallin
" from aioit or launched on board by the sea, nov
- made sad havoc among Us. Two officers an
VI savcra, of the crew had been borne wounded be
low scarcely one amongst us escaped injury
and YET throughout this trying scene not sig
OF flnching fore and aft, not banchcd clee
=. was u he seen: orders were given AM excel ute
~ with the GOODNESS Of every "a mlnnuvering. :
de. Never did the writer feel so proud of his couI
b, try's seamen as then. A. We neired the brcal
=, crS, each man awaited the fate which appeare
u" inevitable with a calmncis and set-possesso
're almost incredible.
Ne AT or near meridian, the helm was put dow
on and the larbnard anchor let go as she came
ci. the wind, heavy sea broke on board, throwin
ri the brig on her beam ends shifting tanks, ballas
he Sc in the hold, carrying away ON deck, cabi
but wheel, boats, bulwarks &c. and washing owe
ms board nearly every soul: bit thrown abroad
~ the sen. she rightcd Ia full of water or elm
zen ing to fragments the wreck. towing. all su
ceeded in regaining the deck, except our lamer
ed commander, Lieut. Bachc, and ten of the ere,
of whose names are subioined In a moment tn,
ter were swept from our view that moment sh,,
~ ed them calm and composed, the determine
be spirit, which supported them on board secm
ere still To animate them. One noble fellow as
IA pissed astern waved his hat in token of adic
lite and the driving spray hid them forever from O
he sight. We supposed ourselves among the brea
ace ers, and that our unfortunate shpnates had b
he anticipated our doom-Sti,l it was Il bitter pun
der to see them thus cut Off from among us, and IN
nr, ny an eye which had calmly confronted deaf
lict mistrustcd at their fate. They were among d
Tor dover of our crew, better seamen never trod
| To deck and long will he cherished the memory
eriH their generous, kindly natures. My pen is I'M
cen quail To the task of paying fitting tribute to Il
nit mcmory of our departed commander. To IA
tch professional accomplishments, he added eve
virtue which ennobles the human character
Never was n commander more sincerely b
,,ad loved and re spected by those who served und
him; his duty was almost uppernost in his mir
mas and the last words we heard him utter were a
will dressing his officers when they stood togeth
upon the brink of eternity: " Gentlemen, no
Won think have done my duty-have used eve
exertion t, savs the vessel" He had indie
done his duty, with the skill and courage viii
I, distinguished him, no mortal could have do
Il. Al. ,r.,l, !, hHr