Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-01


Washington, which suffered so severely in the
late gales, arrived in the Delaware on Thurs.
day morning, under the command Of Lieut.
Hall. The following is an extract from the
log book Of the Washington
"The U. 8. surveying brig Washington, of.
ter cruise of about a month in the Gulf
stream, stood in, on the evening Of the 9Th
inst, for the Capes of Virginia, the wind fresh
at N. T.. At ii p. M. made the light on
smith 8 Island, and steered for that Of Cape
Henry, which was probably obscurcd by a
squall, for when she hauled up for it, breakers
were discovered ahead and close aboard She
wore with her head to the S. +. under double
rceied topsails and reefed course it was ne.
cessary TO carry heavy press of sail as pre-
senting the only prospect of escape from ship
wreck, the coast of Virginia and Cape HATTIE
ras shoals being close under the lee, and a
heavy current setting the vessel on the latter
By daylight on the morning Of the 9Th the
gale had increased considerably, and a heavy
sea was running; by 3 o'clock il blew a hurri.
cane I; all sail but the foretopsail, unbonneted,
had been taken in reluctantly, or split and
torn from the yards, the lighter spars carried
away, the lee boats torn from the davits by the
sea. The lead showed that the vessel was
drifting on shore, and but little prospect re-
mained of saving the vessel or the lives of the
crew. The barometer had fallen n degree and
half in the course of an hour, and now stood
at % degrees. BY the time the hurricane had
reached its height, the brig lay completely on
her side, the bulwarks immersed in the water
and to prevent from being washed or blown
overheard, IT was necessary to cling to the
rigging.
| The sea was one sheet of foam as far as the
eye could reach, and ran fearfnlly high, break.
ing in irregular masses, and blown on board by
the violence of the wind, constantly sweeping
the deck the side guns were thrown over.
board the helm was put up she refused to
answer 1t, and the main mast was cut away
in its fall carrying with it the head of the fore
mast, the fore and topsail yards, etc. 4; every
cxertion was made to clear the wreck, and the
vessel scudded before the hurricane toward
the shore as a dernier resort The anchors
had been prepared for letting go, though no
hope was entertained that the cables would
hold in such sea
At or about meridian the helm was putt
down, the stream anchor was let 90 as she
rounded to, heavy sea broke on board, throw
ing the brig completely on her beam ends
tearing up the berth deck, shifting the tanks
ballast, and washing overheard the deck cabin,
boats, wheel, etc, and nearly every soul on
deck. She righted half full of water, and
cl'nging to the fragments of the wreck, all
succeeded in rcgaining the deck except her
lamented commander, G. NJ. Bache, and ten
OF the crew, whose names are suboned. The |
pumps were manned, the foremast cut away,
and the starboard anchor let go both cables
veered to the butt end
Fortunately the hurricane had somewhat
abatcd, and her drift WIS checked by the drag.
gng of her anchors. The breakers were sup. |
posed to be close aboard, and every minute she |
was expected to strike and go to pieces Sud. |
denly, about p. NJ, to the great ioy of the
survivors, the wind shifted off shore to the
Westward and Northward, and the brig sailed
off the land, which was now discovered close
aboard-thc lighthouse on Cape Hattcras bear
ing South. In that situation she rode out n
heavy gale bearing from the North to North.
North West, of four days duration. The crew
were employed in the meantime in rigging
jury masts from the very few spars remaining
on board. Ia the evening of the 18th, parted |
the cables and went to sea under the Jury |
masis. The next day spoke the brig j. Peter
son, OF New York, and were kindly supplied
with an anchor and some spars the day follow
ing obtained from the steamer Palmetto small |
boat. On the 18th, arrived within thrty-fve
miles of Cape Henry, when the wind came out
from the North-E East and freshcncd to a gale \
stood out to sea, having again barely escaped
the dangers Of lee shore.
On the 18th, spoke the Bremen ship Albert,
and while endeavoring to obtain n spar and
sail she had thrown overheard, 1.-THE sea run
ming too high to lower boat) the fricate Con. |
stitutlon hove in sight and, in falling in with
the brig, rendered every assistance. The
Washington was taken in tow by old Ironsides
every kindness was extended by Capt Percival
md the officers Of the frigate, that would con
tribute TO the comfort of all. The evening of
the 2lst, fell in with the pilot boat Enoch Tur.
ley; cast off from the Constitution, and stood II
IN tor the Delaware in company with the pilot
boat. II
Nothing could exceed the discipline, cool
ness and courage displayed by the gallant crew
of the Washington during the trying scenes of
the 9Th, or the calmness with which they pre-
pared to meet their apparently inevitable fate :;
every order was as implicitly obcyed as under
the most ordinary circumstances, and every II
duty promptly performed. Never will the
survivors cease to remember their noble COM
nandcr and shipmatcs. They pcrishcd in the
discharge Of their duty-and their names will II
danger, but escaped their fate. H
The following is list of those who were
lost George NJ. Bachc, lieut. commanding II
Benjamin Dollof, John FIshbonne, James
Dorsey, quartcr-mastcr. H
Thos. Stamford, Lewis Maynard, Francis
Butler, WIN. Wright, seaman II
Peter Hanson and Edward Grennin, ordina-
ry seamcn. H
List Of officers. II
John Hall, lieut. commanding pro TEN. II
X. N. Stembel, lieutenant H
j. II. NJ. Mullany, do.
). ID. Trenchord, acting master.
Edward j Rutter, surgeon H
Edward Donaldson, passed midshpman.
Francis X. Murray, do do. Il
). }. Ricketts,, captains clerk H
benjamin F. Ricketson, masters mate. Il
Thaddeus X. Barber, purscr's steward. II
John O'Brien, surgeons steward. H
II is understood hn, this mans name vas Counc-ll
his friends live in Philadelphia. II
sJ The steamboat "Perry" and "Roger Viii Il
hams" have both adopted new arrangements
See advertisements II