The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-02
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES
Relative to the Loss
UNITED STATES BRIG SOMERS
UNITED STATES STEAMER MIssIssIPPI,
Anton Lizardo. Dec II. 1856

UNITED STATES STEAMER MIsnssurI,}
Anton Lzardo, Dec. IL, 1856.
SsR In the absence Of Commodore Conner ii becomes
my painful duty to inform the department the unortu
nate loss Of the brig somers which vessel capszsd
the day before yesterday, about 10 o'clock, A. M
By the enclosed papers will be that Of seventy.
including two officers, Acting saiiingmaster Clemson,
and Passed Midshipman Hynsen Many of the remain.
fcers and men of the English French and spanish YES
sells of war lying at Sacracies and in full view Of the
Of the disaster In the midst Of strong gale and
at imminent hazard they put OF in their boats and
ceeded in saving fourteen lives. Indeed there dis
played on the occasion. by these gaent men, gener
rivalry In the struggle to be foremost the noble
| and daring enterprise.
Nothing was known of the shiictng accident at this
anchorage until yesterday Early in the morning sent
the Pc rita to Sacrcios with dispatches for
Commodore Conner to be put on board an English YES
seLoIwsr soou. sailing ior ampico me &c. ofcsr IN
Endym ion learned for the first time the distressing intel
gence and met there several Of the survivors, ell Of
whom had been received in the kindest manner
They were Immediately embarked on board the Petri-
and after visiting the spot where the "somers" sunk
returned and communicated to US intelligence Of the sad
| calamity.
| The sloop-ofwar "John Adams and the American
brig "Abrasis" passed near to the "somers" shortly
before the fatal accident She was then seen standing
The somers had been performing the most active
bockadng duties for several months exposed every
vcisstude Of weather and the John Adams Commander
long and arduous cruise would have ended to-day
morrow and nothing now detains the John Adams from
going to but renewal of the gale, which makes !,
and dangerous for her to leave her present
anchorage
The moment the weather moderates she will assume
the blockade, and necessary, will be owed out by
steamer the commander of which will have orders again
to examine the vicinity Of the wreck in the hope OF
while cruising in the neghborhood will also be nsruc
ted to keep dilgent watch for the same object.
handing semmss, with list Of tho name. Of the sur
vivors OF the wreck as we'll as OF those who lost
also inclose copies OF communications, which my feel
ngs of gratitude and duty prompted to address the
naval officers at Sacr6cos, at the first moment Of hear
ing OF their most generous and gallant acts
have the honor to BIO your most obedient servant,
| NJ c. PERRY.
The Hon JOHN Y. MASON,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
PS-The Somers is said to have sunk in deep water.
USrrHD STATE, FnIsArx R.arrAr,
| Anton Lizsrdo, Dec. 10, 1876.
SiR-t becomes my painful duty to inform you Of the
loss Of the United States brig Somes, late under my
command and Of the drowning OF more than half her
crew The details Of this sad catastrophe briefly
follows-Afte having been forty.f days maintaining
the 7th inst under Verde Island where had been my
practice to take shelter from the northwest gales thai
blow with such frequency and violence along this cons
at this of the year Soon after sunrise the
morning. sail having been deserted from the head
Immediately got under way and commenced beating u!
time enabled with glass to make out the strange
sail to be man of war; whereupon hoisted my mum
ber and had the satisfaction, In fifteen twenty minutes
The wind, which had been blowing fsom the WIN W.
got N to as
having fallen the night previous to 30 80 n and being
still down and the weather looking still unsettled
Adams showed her number, wore round and RAJ
do towards Verde Island with the view Of coming
and getting vessel snug before the gale should
on. When had nearly approached the anchorage, the
lookout at ,he masthead cried Sail ho. second time
On a o % s
strndng apparently for Vera Cruz; (she did aerward
run between the Inner Anegada and the Blanquila)
Immediately abandoned my intention of ancnoring, thu
gale had not yet set in and, hauling wind unde
topals and courses commenced beating up the passag
the strange sail and the port to prevent the poss
bility Of her running the blockade she should be
inclined made one tack towards the Pescaros reef an
at the time of the catastrophe standing the lar
board tack with the northern point of the Verde Islam
, reef couple Of points on my lee bow. We were sti
not appear to be too much pressed was myself stan
ing on the lee arm-chest having just passed froi
s .
possible to weather it, in the event of not ben
able to do this to give timely notice to the officer Of Ii
before the officer ofthe deck, Lieutenant James L. PA
kerr the second Lieutenant of the brig remarked 10
that he thought looked little squally to winiward
imme diaely passed to the weather side, and
looked little darker than it had done, ordered hir
to haul up the %oinail and brazil up the 'panker; an
promptly obeyed. Lieutenant Parker took the mair
sail off hea and had got the spanker about half brae
be very riotouf, ito approach accompanied b.
any foamng the water, other indications which
usually mark the approach Of heavy squalls But tn
provisions; and but six tons Of ballast board she
thrown over almost instantly far to refuse to obe
her helmthe pressure of the water on the lee bow IA
Their inclining her to huff; seeing which, directed tn
helm to be put down, hoping that might luf and shsk
the wind out of her sails until the force of the squal
should be spent The quartermaster at the helm ha,
hardly time to obey this order before the brig
petey on her beam ends, and the water pouring int,
| hatch and ali
must speedily 70 down, unless relieved, ordered tn,
masts to be cut away. The officers and men, who will
few exceptions had by this time gained the weathe
bulwarks of the vessel Immediately began to away
the rigging. But this forlorn hope, the bril
filling very fast and her masts and guards ing fat upoI
the surface OF the sea- placed reliance whatever OF
their efforts few moments more, and was convnc
that In spite Of all exertions the brig must inevta
bly, 60 down in very short time. accordingly turned
my attention to the saving Of many lives possible
The boats secured in the gripes smdships and the
board quarter boat already several feet under