The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-31
LOSS OF THE U. S. BRIG soMERs.

fI1rdct ~ a letter from Our correspondent dated
New ORLEANS, Dec go. 1876
Purser Warrington arrived this morning from
Vera Cruz. who reports the loss of tie u. S. brig
S"mers. heng upset in Sudden sqnall off Green
Island on the Sihsinst., she had about eighty per
Suns On board, of whom about thirty seven were
drowned among which were passed midshipmen
Clemson and Hynsun. eight Of the drilled
ashore in hen cup, near Vera Cruz. and were
taken prisoners by the Mexican. The Enc ish
and French vessels. at anchur in the neyhbnr-
hood rendered every assistance possible on The
OCCASION
On the 9Th inst, Dr. Wright. midshipman
Rogers, with hats crew from the Sn,ners
landed below Vera Cruz. for the purpose Of re
conoliering. when portion of the party (3) had
gone sumo distance they were surrounded by
seven Mexicans. when Mr.. Rogers and one sea
| man. were taken prisoners and sent TO Peru,e
Dr. Wright made his escape
| Cum. Conner arrived at Anton I.izartu ON the
18Th inst. on board of the Princeton, he shifted
his flag To the Rartan--lha John Adams was
| hl"ckading Vera Cruz. the Potomac arrived al
Green Island on the 18Th
The following particulars of the loss Of the
Somers is taken from an authentic report published
in the New Orleans Times. The vessel which
by not showing IFS colors has caused this melan
choly disaster, was the Abrasa, bound with sun.
plies our Squadron at Anton Lizardo. The
foreign vessels that were lying at Green Island
and witnessed the disaster of the Somers, acted
with great energy and humanity on the occasion.
! We give below a list of those brave fellows who
were lost, being just one half of all tina, was on
board, 81 in number. The fate of poor Hynson
must be particularly moarned by a--he dead and
and Rogers the other gallant Midshid.nan pris
| oner in Perote.
The Sinners was exceedingly light, have on
board only fourteen barrels Of provisions and about
| SIX hundred gallons of water. After standing
across the passage, the vessel was tackled and ran
back towards Green Island, and as we approached
our berth, Captain Srmmes said he would anchor
but as there luH at the moment and the
weather rather softened he determined To hold on
little longer, and Wore round, and stood across the
passage again. AS we naared Pajanos reef we
tackled and stood for the Northern point of the
Green Island reef The stranger vessel in the
meantime came down rapidly, but showed no
colors. While at this point. about ha II past nine
o'clock. A. M. while Captain Semmes was stand
ing In the lee arm chest, observing The reef with
his glass. the officer of the deck Lieutenant James
l.. Parker, reported the appearance of a squall-
he brig was then on the larboard tack, under top.
sails, courses. jb and main trysail Captain
Semmes Immediately crossed to wndward and
ordered the main sail to be hauled up, followed
upon the instant by the order to brazil up the trysail
The main sail was hauled mp, but the trysail took
against the lee rigging, and was in part braileJ no
with great difficulty, at the same time the helm
was pnt hard up. The squa now pressing her,
the order was given by the officer of the deck to
let go the lee maintopsail sheet, and on the next
instant TO cut away all tacks and sheets. Find.
ing she would not pay off, Captain Semmes order
ed The helm TO De put down, hoping to bring her
to the wind. II was. however, all unavailng
From the moment she commenced careening
she continued TO go over with great rapidiy.
AZ in d.
In less than ten minutes she sunk. The puff
OF wind was much more viulent than could
nave been expected from the appearances of
the weather. The accident is however mainly
due TO the extreme lightness Of the vessel One
or two minutes after she was over, most of the of
hcers and men had gained the side Of the vessel
or the tops. DR.. Wright and Lieut. Parker PASS
ing through the weather after port, were the frs,
to reach the main chains. They were followed
by several men, and an attempt was made, with
such means as were at hand, to cut away the
main rigging. the men and officers using their pen
knives and sheath knives for the purpose.
Capt Semmes, who had been dashed on the
lee side, drawn from The water and as
soon as he gained the side directed our exerlions
The first lieutenant, the master, and passed mid
shpfnan Hynson, with large number of men
had by this time reached the side OF The vessel,
and were making strenuous exeriions TO relieve
her of her masts; but ii Ruthless effort, for
The brig was SO far over that there was no strain
upon the weather rigging The small larbosrd
quarter boat was in the meanmc cleared away
and dropped carefully round eward, and manned
by her usual complement of five oaTsmtD Mid
| shIpman Clarke, who had gained The mantOp by
swimming from the seeraee hatch, was ordered
by Capt. Semmes to take charge Of the boat
| FINDING that there was chance Of saving the
brig, and that she fast sinking, Captain
Semmes ordered Mr.. Clarke TO shove off with
| IT.. heciJ
Steele, (who reached the boat by swimming as
she was clearing the wreck, first nquiring if there
was room IN the boat for anOther,) to pnl for the
Island, about half mile distant, and immediately
TO return il possible and save more lives. This
order was al executed but not until some of
th:se in The boat had solicited, by name each Of
The officers left on the wreck to come with them.
These officers resoluIely declared that they would
| v ait and take their chance with the brig Passed
midshlpman HynsOD, who had been partially dis
abled by bad burn received in the firing Of the
Creole, was particularly implored to go into the
boat. lad by the name Of Nuter jumped out
of the boat and offered his place TO Mr.. Hynson,
and man by the name Of Powers did the same
thing. Mr. Hynson, refusing both offers, those
men then declared that Others might have their
places, and that they would abide on the brig
with Mr.. HynsoD. Capt. Seinmes, who was in
impaired health. was also enlreaed to 90, but re.
fused. Lieut.. Parker answered a similar solici
tatIon by saying he wolld drown with the brig
Lieut.. Claiborne and Acting Master Clemson
held the same language 1t Is remarkable cir
cunslance that thrte Of the officers and all the
men who acted thos Dobly are saved When the
boat showed off, the gale was blowing with great
violence and heavy sea running, so that for
| some moments it was matter Of doubt whether
| the boat wOOld live. Purser Steele at one time
| proposed to leave the boat for fish davit he saw
floating by. The boat, however, reached the is
! land in about twenty minutes