The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-31
The Melancholy Tidings from the GuIE-The
Bravery OF our Naval Officers.


The melancholy intelligence of the loss of the
u. s. brig Somers, and thirty seven Of the crew,
reached this city by the Southern mail, yesterday
afternoon. At the time the catastrophe occurred,
it appears that the vessel was under heavy press
of canvas, in order to cut off vessel which her
commander supposed intended to run the block
ade. Full particulars will be found in another
column.
The country will sincerely lament the fate of
Passed Midshipman ] ohm Il. Hynson. Our read
crs will recollect that he was one of the gallant
spirits who set fire to the brig Creole, which was
moored to the walls OF the Castle of San Juan,
and who sustained severe injury by burn.
caused by firing his pistol into the magazine Of
gunpowder. Lieutenant Parker, another of that
gallant band, is among those saved
1t will be perceived that some brilliant instances
of selfdevotion were exhibited during the crisis,
which we believe have never been exceeded, and
which prove the noble spirit that pervades both
officers and men in our navy. After Captain
Semmes had ordered boat with Midshpman
Clark, Doctor Wright, Purser Steele, besides Sc
venteen men, to pull for Green Island, those in
the boat frequently solicited, by name, each of the
officers on the wreck to take their places in the
boat, aud implored Passed Midshipman Hynson,
who was partly disabled from doing anything to
save himself, on account of his INJURIES to go in
her. Several of them even jumped out to make
room for him. This gallant young man preferred,
however, to share the fate of the noble vessel, and
persisted with her. Even after Mr.. Hynson had
refused to accept these kind offers, several of the
men wanted to leave the boat and share the fate
OF their officers We question if such incidents
of dsinterested devotion have ever before occur
red, and they prove conclusively the good feeling
and dsciplin that exist between the officers and
crew.
The Somers was named after Lieutenant So
mers, who volunteered to destroy some vessels OF
the enemy during the war with Tripoli. With
several boats, containing gunpowder and picked
crews, he left our ships in the Mediterranean, and
some time after they started, brilliant flash, fol
lowed by loud.explosion, was seen, and the gal
liant Somers was never afterwards heard Of II
was supposed at the time, that hot shot from
the enemy hit the boats, and blew them and all
on board to atoms.
We hope to be able to give in to-morrow's pa
per full account of the hazardous expedition of
Passed Mdshipman Rogers, of the Somers, a
few days before she was lost. He left his vessel
and landed on shore, for the purpose OF making a
reconnaissance of the magazine at Vera Cruz, with
the view of marking its locality that it might be
reached by shell from our navy, of blowing it
up himself, if an opportunity offered While en-
gagged in this undertaking, he was unfortunately
detected and made prisoner.
Truly, the toast given by one OF our naval C om-
manders, at public dinner, short time since
was an appropriate one. "Opportunity" was
the toast, and opportunity" is all our gallant ma.
Wy officers want to distinguish themselves, and
perform deeds of valor unparalleled in any
country.