American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-30

MOST oil the OfnceTs and men had gained thC
side OF the vessel or the tops. DIR. Wright and
LIT. Parker, passing through the weather after
port, we're the first to reach the main cha ms
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 penknlves and sheath
knives for the purpose. Captain Semmes, who
had been dashed Oh the lee side, was now
drawn from the water, and as soon as he gain
ed the side directed our exertions Finding
there was no chance to save the brig, and that
she was fast sinking, Capt Semmes ordered
Mr.. Clarke to shove off with DR.. Wright and
II men, besides Purser Steel, (who reached
the boat by swimming as she was clearing the
wreck, first inquiring if there was room in the
boat for another, to pull for Green Island, a.
heut half mile distant, and Immediately re-
turn if possible and save more lives. This or
der was at once executed, but not until some
OF those in the boat had solicited, by name,
each of the officers left on board the wreck to
come with them. The offers efesolutey de-
cIared that they would wait and take their
chances with the brig.
Capt. Semmes, who was in impaired health,
was also entreated to 90, but refused. Lieut..
Parker answered similar solicitation hv saw
Claiborne and Acting Master Clemson held the
same language. 1t is u remarkable circum-
stance that three of the officers and III the men
who acted thus nobly 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 a matter of
doubt whether the boat would live. Parser
Steel at one time proposed to leave the boat
for tish-daVit he saw floating by. The boat,
however, reached the island III about twenty
minutes
AS soon as the men were landed Mr. Clarke,
dlsregarding the most strenuous entreaties,
resolutely showed off again with a volunteer
crew al the imminent hazard of their lives
Less than three minutes after the boat left the
brig, Capt. Semmes, finding the vessel set
thing under them, gave an order for every man
to save himself All simultaneously plunged
into the water, and grasped the posts, gratngs,
spars, coOps and other floating objects al hand
Many must have gone down from the want of
any support whatever; others struggled on
frail floats 10 be finally drilled on the reefs and
dashed in pieces
Some were driven TO sea TO be heard of no
more, and others encountered the worst fate,
which could be apprehended in being drowned,
by sharks. Ofnear sixty who plunged from
the wreck, only seventeen escaped.
Through all this appalling scene, the great
est composure was observed by men and off
GERS. There was no appearance Of panic, no
exhibition Of selfshness. Those who could not
swim were particularly enjoined to go in the
boat. A large man, by the name Of Seymour,
the ships cook, had got into the boat, Lieut..
Parker commanded him to come out in order
4 nlyo H..
obsyed the order, but was afterwards directed to
60 into the boat, when it was found he could
not swim. Cap Semnes and Lieut. Parker
were picked up by Mr.. Clarke from grating,
and Jacob Hazard, yeoman, was rescued swim
ming near them. Those who survived have
told Of many instances Of heroic sclEdcvotion.
The acting master, Henry A. Clemson, was
struggling on a small steering sail boom, with
five others, two Of whom could not be support
ed, and he left and struck ont alone and un-
supported He was seen for the last time up
on a sky-Iight, and probably persisted in the
surf The FIVE men he left were saved, the two
who could not SWIM heing supported by their
comrades Amos Colson and Joshua William
CON
The Mcxicans saw the accident from the
mole, and cheered and exuted for a long time
The brig had been for a long time engaged in
the blockade, and had done more to interrupt
the commerce Of the port than almost all the
other vessels, Within the last fortnight, both
town and castle had been kept III a state of
constant alarm by the burning of the Creole,
and other demonstrations which presume you
W i'll hear of in due time. have no doubt the
Mexicans were relieved when they saw her
sink in the ocean. append list of the lost
and saved-37 men saved-37 lost. One Off
Ger, Mr., Rodgers, Passed Mldshpman, and
one man, John G. Fox, were captured by the
Mexicans two days before, while reconnoiter-
ing an important point, IN company with DR..
Wright, the latter escaped TO witness the Ca
tastrophe of the brig. II. w.
The writer OF the above g yes an int eresting
account of'the heroic devotion of the foreign
vessels at Sacrificios, two miles distant to save
the crew Of the Somsrs. Two hundred of the
crew of the British ship Endymion volunteered
for the service, and among the French and
Spanish vessels equal heroism was exhibited.
The gale, however, was SO violent that their
boats had to be recalled. When it abated they
again put out, and succeeded in saving fourteen
lives. We regret that we have not space for
these interesting details this morning.
The strange vessel which tempted the Somers
lIOlH SHcIiCI WIS lHt HuIdSlu, uOuiIu LOT lle
squadron.
Sixteen those on board the Somers reach
ed the shore on hen-coops, and are now prisoE-
ers in Vera Cruz.
List Of officers and men lost in The Somcrs.
Henry \. Clomscn. Acting Master.
John r. fIynson, Passed MidShipman.
VIM. c. BmItcr, Ebcnczcr Terrell, Charles H. lIa-
ven, James Ryder, James Thompson, Charles Lowe.
Thomas Young, VIM. Gillian, Matthias Gravel, Major
Cam, Dennis Kelly, Alexander Ankcr. Charles Me
Farland, James FCmncil. Charles True, John Day w.
Purdy, Edward McCornlck William Emsley VIM
Quest John llargravc, VIM. W. Cardy, John Christie
phcr Myers, Clement G.. Wcn. Thomas MCGOWAN
Joseph Antonio, Adolph Bemcntc, Manuel Howard
VIM w, Powers, Henry w. Spear, James Chapman
Lewis Johnson, JOnatiuS Leopold, Thus. Jefferson, w
II. Rose, Peter Hernandez
List Of those Snrci.
r, Scmmcs, Lieutenant Commanding
NJ. G.. l.. Claiborne, Lieutenant
John l.. Parker, Lieutenant.
John +, steele. PurScr,