The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-03
OF THE
UNITED STATES STEAMER MISSISSIPPI,
Axa4axa iaasisa Daxs

whom had been received in the kindest manner
They were Immediately embarked board the Petri
ta and after visiting the spot where the "Somersn sunk
and examining the neghborhood of the reef the steamer
returned and communicated to US intelligence Of the sad
The sloop-ofwar "John Adams and the American
before the fatal accident She then standing
OF from the reef
The somers had been performing the most active
duties for several months exposed every
vicissude Of weather and the John Adams Commander
McCluney, had been ordered to take her place. Her
morrow, aud nothing now detans the John Adams from
going to sea but renewal Of the gale, which makes 1t
and dangerous for her to leave her present
The moment the weather moderates she will assume
the blockade. and, If necessary, will be towed by
the commander of which will have orders again
to examine the vicinity of the wreck in the hope OF
covering some of the bodies. Commander McCluney.
while cruising in the neghborhood will also be nstruc
ted to keep digent watch for the object.
inclose herewith copy Of the report of Lieut. Com.
q the Wreck ~ as well ne % Of the Sur
also inclose copies Of atoms which my feel
ings Of gratitude and duty prompted to address the
ing OF their most generous md gallantacts.
have the honor to be your most obedient servant,
M. C. PERRY.
The Hon JOHN Y. MASON,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
P.S-The somers is said to have sunk in deep water.
UvITrD STATES FmeArn RARrrAr,
Anton Lizardo, Dec. TO- ls46.
siR-l becomes my painful duty to inform you of the
comm oT tbe drouning "S so,s she " nue. my
crew . ..aI ot this sad catastrophe briefly as
the blockade OF era cruz anchored on the evening 81
the 7h inst under Verde Island where II had b.en nv
practice to take shelter from the northwest eales that
blow with such and violence along This coaat
at this season Of tho year Soon after sunrise the next
morning. sail having been deserted from the masthead
between the Verde Island and Pescaros reefs short
time was enabled with my glass to make out the strange
her, and had the satisfaction in fifteen or twenty
more to see the stranger show that of the John ADAM
The wind, which had been blowing from the w NV.
when we got under way gradually hauled to the north
ward and settled for while NNE. The barometer
having fallen the night previous to % 80 n and being
apprehensve Of gale As soon therefore, as the John
Adams showed her number, wore round and ran
and getting my vessel snug before the gale should come
on. When had nearly approached the anchorage the
lookout at the masthead cried Sail no 2, second time
On applying my glass the direction indicated from
ei90 perceived this seS Yarn Crr1. Tvh. IA .c..,
run bstwern the inner Ancgnda and the Banam;l,sa
;mmoSiateiv abandoned nv intenton oS anchor;na ~ A.
.aia had No, wat aat IN and hani;n. an ,.S sue
onsas and coyrses Commenced heating nm The n,ssasa
Second tine Nth Tho v;av of nacnn G H
Oh. s.rar~a AL ard ,h "ort ." n,sv.yys ~ i
b;itv of her running the blockade Il she sboud he 90
% tha tive If ths ca,astronha voa s,ord;n~ an ~ @
hoard tack with the northern mint of The vard s,a
reef counle of po;nts on nv lee how We wcra s,;ii
under onsas courses in and snanker. and the hrg Ala
not to je too much pressed ss u,d
inc on the lao armchesf having inst nassod ovor rnn,
,.o,
reef on onr es how 20 se = wrs
nossble 20 weather. II or IN the event NJ orr not hn
bie IN do this N g;ye timely not;cs 70 The scr Of %
deck 10 tack shin had not been long in this nos,on
hsSors Tho oaica of Tho decI I;en,snapt IaMa DID,
ker the second lieutenant Of the BRIG remarho5 70 me-
immea;ately nassed over to the Weather side snd a.
ionLaS i;ttla darLor than u haJ Jona Inrdaraj III
to haul up the mainsai and brazil up The spanker; and
nromn,iv nb.vsa T;entopan, ParLar ,"oS tba W.;
sa of her and had rot The spanker about half bra;sa
nm when Tho souaI1 strnck mo II All not annaar o.
h vsru r;o,nus rnr ,os ,s .nnroach w
anv fosn,;ng Of the water or other ;ndcanns ,h;cS
usually mark the approach of heavy squalls. But the
hrg Tanr ay;og Ight HAVING .carcaiv an,1 ,,a,ar 80
and hit SO tons of ha,ias an hoayd ~ ~
brown over almost nsantlv NO far az 70 refuse 70 oh
her bentbe pressure of he water On tho lee ho, r
thar inclinng her IN Inn. seeing which diractaJ ,h
helm N he M, dovn honny that might Ina anJ hah
,h ;nd on, If bsr a;i Until Tho ra ~ .h anu 1
sbonId no snen, The ouartermaster nj the hahn bad
bardv time n ohev this order before tho br;o o cn
nIcciv On her beam ends and the water panr;ne into
muat sncedJv no down unless relieved / or,srcd tho
m ass 10 he cut swav The officers and mon wh, with
few exceptions had by this time gained the weather
the rigging But as This was a forlor5 hone Tho bry
filling yerY fast and her masts and guards Wing aat mon
the srace of tho sea placed no reliance w6atever on
their efforts few moments more md was convinced
that in snte of ali our exertions The brig must
biv On down in vcrv short time accordingv turned
ny a,tent;on 70 the saving of as manv vs %
The boats secured in the grpes amdships and the star
board were already several feet under wa
ter, that IL Impossible to reach them but
ceeded in the boat from hor
davs Ia small boat pulling five oarsJ and dropped her
to Ieeward of the brig prevent her being
thrown upon the vessels side and crushed by the sea
ordered Midshpman f. g. Clark TO take charge Of this
boat and with the purser surgeon and seventeen men
make for Verde Island, il possible, and after having
landed all but theboas crew to return and save others
IL was now. Flowing a strong gale with a heavy sea
running, and ! deemed il imprudent TO trust moro
men in 10 small a boat. Besides, | was anxious 10
shove her off before the vessel should sink lest be,e
might be rush for her. and no life at ali should be
saved. cannot refrain from expressing in this placc
nv admiration Of the noble conduct of several of the men
in this boat who implored the officers by name
take their places saying that they would willingly
lie by tho wreck, If the officers would but save them
selves. OF course, of these generous fellows were
permitted TO come out and they were all subsequently
safely landed, as they deserved TO be- Midshipman
Clark fortunately succeeded in showing off, and pnllina