The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-26
u. 5. SURVEYING BRIG WASHINGTON. ,
Near the Capes of the Delaware Sent % 1916 {

Near the Capes of the Delaware, Sept % 1876.
AS you are aware, we sailed from New York
on the 18th of August, on our regular duty in the
Gulf stream. Our cruise was remarkably sue
cessful, and all the stations completed early
in the morning Of the 9TH of September. At tina,
time. we were in thirty fathoms of water, and
Mr. Bache was very anxions to procure some
shells. and in order to accomplish his purpose he
let down drag net on the hottom and stood out
to sea about fifteen miles farther, in order to make
snme more observations upon the temperature of
the water. In this manner. our time was en-
ployed from sunrise until 2, P. NJ, when we
filled away for Cape Henry bearing northwest,
distant about eighty miles. with the wind from
the northeast and cloudy weather. Several off
had remarked that we would have gale of
wind soon ; this opinion was founded upon the pc
cular appearance of the sky. and the remarkable
swell of the sea setting in from the south east
nearly directly opposite the quarter from which
the wind was blowing This wa. something
very unusual, and thus attracted much atten-
tion. Sailors, you know, are very attentive to
all such things. However we set all sail on our
vessel. endeavoring to get into the Chesa pea Ike
before the anticipated gale conld have time TO over
take MS; but with what success the melancholy
sequel will show. At 9 o'clock, on the morning
of the 9Th, the wind had freshened very much.
and the weather was very thick. and foggy; we
within few miles of Cape Henry, moi
more than FIVE OF six at the farihest, but could
not see the light honse on account of a soualI
which hid 1t from our view. At half. past 9 we
had missed the Cape. and the land to the south
ward was discovered close under our lee, about
three miles distant We Immediately wore shin
to the south east in order to haul off and clear
the land, for sailors you know, in had weather
like to be as far from shore as possible in their
own language, they like plenty of sea room,
where there are no shoals or rocks to strike upon
AS much sail as the vessel could bear, was car
ried but the wind and sea by this time, had in
creased so much that she could make no headway
against it, and drifted down the coast in the direc
ton Of Cape Hatteras, with its shoals extending
twelve miles out TO sea. At half past 6. sail was
reduced, and two of our boats were lost thew
were torn away by the weight of water which the
sea had thrown in them. At halfpa 8, we lost
the main yard. the was now running literally
mountains high. 1t was impossible to stand on
ones feet. and we were dashed and thrown about
from part of the vessel to another at this
time the two remaining boats were lost ALL
it was blowing perfect hurricane, the barometer
had fallen very rapidly to twenty eight inches
the vessel was buried under water, her lee raj
being under water most Of the time the pillows
boiling and combing around us with fury, bOtf
lee guns were thrown overheard in order to re-
ieve her. and the main-mast was cut away, car
Tylng with it the fore topmast and fore ward -
ne scene was now teTrlnc NO language de-
scribe its horrors the only spar left standing was
the foremost, and il was wreck the fore. topsaiI
had been blown ont from IFS furnp line and was
torn away in large pieces, with noise as loud az
the report of a musket, the rigging and broken
sPars were sweeping along the deck wounding
several persons quite badly no human voice
could be heard at even the shortest distance
nothing but the howl Of the hurricane and the
roaring sea were our music On every face was
expressed the most intense anxiety bnt no sion
of fear or shrinking did see. From the situation
Of the vessel | knew all hope had fed, I saw
death staring me in the face, and prepared ,c
meet him with as much frmness as could
At this time two more guns were thrown over
board, but the gale and sea were still increasing
to fearful degree we could not see cable
length ahead, the whole sea was one wild shee
of foam, which was blown over and on hoard O
us, and the were clinging 10 every thiDI
they could lay their hands upon to keep them
selves from being washed or blown overheard
An anchor was now let 20 in order to bring hel
head to the wind, and in few minutes An at.
tempt was made to let another one 90. lint il did
not succeed. Immediately tremendous sea
struck the vessel amidships and on the quarter
knocking her completely on her bsam ends. and
pouring torrent Of water on her deck, sweepino
her fore and aft and carrying every thing before
it. The poop cabin was washed away with an
awful crash, nearly every one who was on deck
was hurried Tresistibly into the deep, and tht
cabin was filed with water. was down Their,