The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-31
UNITED STATES FRIGATE RARTTAN,

Anton LlZafdo, Dec. 10, 1916
SIR II becomes my painful duty TO inform you OF the
loss OF the United States brig "Somers," late under my
command, and OF the drowning OF than half her
crew. The detail of this sad catastrophe briefly
follows: After having been forty-ve days maintaining
the blockade OF Vera Cruz anchored on the evening OF
the eth inst under Verde Island, where il had been my
practice 10 take shelter from the northwest gales that
blow with such frequency and violence along this coast
at this OF the year Soon after sunrise the next
morning. sail having been deserted from the head
Immediately got under way, and commenced beating up
between the Verde Island and Pescaros reefs In short
time was enabled with my glass TO make out the strange
sail to be man-of-war; whereupon hoised my num-
ber and had the satisfaction, in fifteen twenty minutes
more to see the stranger show that OF the John Adams
The wind which had been blowing from the WNW.
when we got under way, gradually hauled to the
northward, and settled for while at NNE. The
barometer having fallen the night previous to 29S0 in
and being still down, and the weather looking still
unsettled was apprehensve of a gale. As soon, there
fore, as the "John Adams" showed her number, wore
round and down towards Verde Island with the view
OF coming TO- and getting my vessel snug before the gale
should come on When had nearly approached the
chorage, the look at the head cried Sa no p
second time On applying my glass III the direction in
dicated from ao perceived this second sail to be brig
In the E. standing apparently Tor Vera Cruz (she did at
forwards run between the Inner Anegada and the Blan
quila.) Immediately abandoned my intention of an
chorng as the gale had not yet set in and hauling
wind, under topsais aud courses commenced beating up
the passage second time with the view OF placing nv
sell between the strange sail and the port TO prevent the
possibility OF her running the blockade if she should be
SO inclined made tack towards the Pescaros reef and
dt te lIe OF the catastrophe was standing on the lar
board tack with the northern point of the Verde Island
reel couple of points on my lee bow We were still
under topsas courses b and spanker and the brig did
not appear TO be too much pressed | was myself stand
ing the lee am-chest having just passed over from
the weather quarter, and, with my glass in hand
observing the reef on lee bow, whether were
possible to weather it, in the event OF not being
able to do THIS to give timely notice TO the officer of the
deck to tack ship. had not been long in this position
before the officer OF the deck, Lieutenant James L. Par
kerr the second lieutenant of the brig remarked to me-
that he thought ii looked little squaly to wndward
Immediately passed to the weather side, and, it
looked little darker than it had done, | ordered him
directed the helm 70 be put up These s orders orders were
promptly obeyed Lieutenant Parker took the main
sail of her, and had got the spanker about half braed
up, when the squa struck us. 1t did not appear to
be very rotous, nor was its approach accompanied
by any foamng of the water or other indications
which h usually mark the approach of heavy squalls
water or provisions, and but six tons OF ballast on
board, she was thrown almost instantly far to
refuse to obey her hem-the pressure of the water
the ee4bow rather incning her TO huff; seeing which,
directed the helm to be put down, hoping that might
luf and shake the wind out OF her sails until the force
Of the sq9a should be spent The quartermaser at the
helm had hardly time to obey this ORDER before the brig
was completely on her beam ends and the water pouring
into every hatch and scute. Being convinced that
she must speedily go down, unless relieved, ordered the
mass to be cut away The officers and men, who with
few exceptions had by this time gained the weather
buwarks OF the vessel, Immediately began to cut away
the rigging But as this was forlorn hope, the BRIG
Killing very FAST and her mass and guards lying flat upon
the surface OF the sea- placed reliance whatever on
Their efforts few moments more, and was convinced
mat IN spite OF all our eXertions the brig nev
itably go down IN a very short time. | accordingly
turned my attention to the saving OF ms many lives as
possible The boats secured in the gripes adshps and
the starboard already several feet under
water, so that il was impossible reach them; but we
succeeded In dsengagng the arboard quarter boat from
her davts "a small boat pulling five oas) and dropped
her fortunately to leeward of the brig to prevent her
being thrown upon the vessels side and crushed
by the sea. | ordered Midshipman f. G. Clark TO take
charge OF this boat and, with the pnrser surgeon and
seventeen men, make for Verde Island If possible and
after having landed all but the boats crew. TO return and
save others 1t was now blowing a strong gale, with
heavy sea running and deemed it imprudent to trust
more men IN so small boat Besides, / was anxious TO
shove her oil before the vessel should sink lest there
might be rush for her, and no life at ali should be
saved cannot refrain from expressing in this place
my admiration of the noble conduct of several of the men
embarked IN this boat, who mpored the officers by name
TO take their places, saying that they would willingly
die by the wreck, if the officers would but save them
selves vi course none of these generous fellows
permitted TO out; and they were all subsequently
safely landed, as they deserved to be- Mdshipman
Clark fortunately succeeded in showing off and pulling
some twenty PAGES from the brig before she went down
When she was on the point of sinking beneath us and
engulng us in the waves, gave the ORDER Every man
save himself who I; whereupon there was stimuli
taneous plunge into the of about sixty officers and
men, each one striving to fral object that
had dted from the wreck for the purpose Of sustaining
himself in the awful struggle with the sea, which
awaited him. Some reached a grating. some an oar
some q boats mast, some hen-coop, &c but many
poor fellows sprang into the to perish in few min
utes not being able to find any object of support Lieut.
Parker and myself being both Swimmers were fortunate
enough to reach of the arm-chest gratncs which a
iorded partial support but which we should inevit
bly, have been drowned If we had not when had
aaran N.a. 49, k.wNw