Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-01
[Fyom the Nep Orleans TIMES. Decsnb<' %
LATE FROM THE SQUADRON.
Wreck Of the Brig sSOnners.
CpEaT OCS OF LIFE

Wreck of the Brig sSo1ners.'
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
BY the arrival yesterday morning Of bark Nor
can Dix, Capt. Hamilton, we have received dates
from the squadron al Anon Lizardo TO the after
noon Of Sunday, The 18th Dec. The full parlicu'
lars of the melancholy loss OF The U. 5. brig So
mers will be found below. Among the passen-
GERS on board the Morgan Dix were Purser l..
Washington, Jr., OF the Mississippi steam frieale,
with his clerk, G. Hulchinson-bolh on their way
10 The North. The following account OF the loss
of The Somers, was furnished 10 the Picayune by
one OF their attentive correspondents:
u. IS. SQUADRON, Anton LIzARDo,
December 9Th, 1916.
Genllemen-I have been requested to make a
statement of the circumstances attending the me-
lanchoy loss oflhe U States Brig SomeTs while
maintaining the blockade of The harbor OF Vera
Cruz. The writer Of this was witness ol most
of The occurrences detailed, and the narration may
be regarded as every way authentic.
On the evening OF the 7h inst the Somers had
taken shelter under Green Island, there being
the usual appearances indicating norlher.-
Early in the morning of the 8h a sail was re-
ported from aloft. Capt. Semmes got under way
10 chase, and stood out some miles, until nc made
out The John Adams, heins on her return from
Tampico. We hailed her appearance with great
satisfaction, as Com. Perry had already informed
MS that she should relieve US from The blockade as
soon as she came in.
As The wind had already hauled 10 the north,
and the weather was threatening, Capt Semmes
al once ran back 10 Green Island, intending
10 anchor as soon as he could regain his loTmer
berlh, which we had proved in the previous gales
10 be safe and comfortable, besides enabling us
10 maintain our station upon the blockade.
~ fhp ryaa an & Il il.
discovered, apparently standing down for Vera
Crnz through The passage between Green Island
and Banquilla Shoal, with The intention, as was
supposed, of running the blockade. Apprehen-
ding that The stranger vessel might succeed in her
design Capt. Semmes was induced 10 change
his purpose and run by Green Island, standing
across The passage 10 intercept her. making short
lacks between The reefs. The wind was then
heshenino from The moth west, but Capt Semmes
hoped 10 be able 10 maintain his position un-
iii The suspicious vessel approached, ard 10 cut
her of from Vera Crnz. To effect this object II
was necessary to press The Somers with canvass,
in order 10 avoid falling 10 leeward upon The
reefs, and finally 10 fetch Green Island anchor
age.
The Somers was exceedingly light, having on
hoard only fourteen barrels Of provisions, ana
about six hundred gallons Of wafer. AieT
standing across the passage, The vessel was tackled
and ran back towards Green Island, and as we
approached our heIth Captain Semmes sand ne
would anchor; but as there was lull al The mo-
mcnl. and The weather rather soIened. he deter
mined 10 hold on liue longer, and wore round,
and stood across the passage again As we near
ed Paanos reef, we tacasd and stood Tor me
Northern point ii The Green Island reel. Inc
stranger vesse in he meantime came down rapid
*. but showed no colors While a, this point,
k.l NJ ~ Can
tain Semmrs was standing in the lee arm chest,
observing the reel with his glass, The officer OF the
deck Leu.enan, James l.. Parker, reported The
appearance Of squall. The brig was then on
The larboard tack. under lopsals, courses, jib and
main trysaii. Captain Semmes Immediately
crossed 10 wndward, and ordered The main sail 10
ne hauled up, followed upon the instant by The
order 10 brazil up The trysail The main sail Twas
hauled up, but the rysail took against the lee rig
gine, and was in part brailed up with great diff
Guilty, al The same time the helm was put hard up.
The squall nov pressing her, the order was given
hy the officer of The deck 10 lei 90 The lee main
topsai sheet, and on the next instant 10 cul away
ali lacks and sheets. Finding she would not pay
off. Captain Scmmcs ordered the helm TO be put
down. hoping 10 bring her 10 the wind. II was, how
ever, all unavailng From The moment she COM
menced careening, she continued 10 60 over with
great rapidly, and in thirty seconds was on her
beam enis. In less than ten minutes she sunk.
The puff OF wind was much more violent than
coult have been expected from The appearances OF
the weather. The accident is however, mainly
due 10 the extreme lighlness Of the vessel. One
or Two minutes after she was over, most OF the
men and officers had gained The side Of The YES
sci or the tops DR.. Wright and Lieut. Parker,
Passing through The weather after port, were he
first TO reach the main chains. They were fol-
potfo r,ad,s
with such means as were al hand, 10 cnl away
the main rigging, the men and officers using their
pen knives and sheath knives for The purpose
Cant Semmes, who had been dashed on the lee
side, was now drawn from the water, and as soon
AS he gained the side directed our exertions. The
first lieutenant, the master, and passed mIdship-
man Hynson, with large number OF men, had
by this time reached The side Of the vessel, and
were making strenuous eXertions 10 relieve her
of her masts: but il was a fruitless effort, Tor
The brig was 50 far over that there was no strain
upon the weather rigging. The small larboard
quarter boat was in the meantime cleared away
and dropped carefully round leward, and MANN
ed by her usual complement Of FIVE oaTsmen.-
Midshipman Clarke, who had gained The main
top by swimming from The Storage hatch, was or
dered by Capt Semmes 10 take charge OF the boat
Finding that there was no chance Of saving The
trlg, and that she was lass sinking, Captain
Semmes ordered Mr.. Clarke TO shove of with DR..
Virgin, and seventeen men, besides Purscr Steele,
(who reached The boat By swimming as she was
clearing The wreck frs, inquirng ifthere was room
in The boat for anolher,) 10 pull for Green Island,
about half mile distant, and Immediately 10
return if possible and save more lives This or
der was al once executed, but not until some Of
those in the boat had solicited by name, each Of
the officers left on the wreck 10 come with them.
These officers resouely declared that they would
wait and take their chance with the brig. Passed
midshipman Hynson, who had been partially
disabled by bad burn received in the firing Of
The Creole, was particularly impored TO go into
the boat. A lad by the name OF Nuiter jumped
out OF the boat and offered his place 10 Mr.. Hyn-
son. and a man by the name of Powers did the
same thing. Mr.. Hynson, refusing both offers
those men then declared that others might have
their places, and that they would abide on the
brig with Mr.. Hynson. Capt. Sempes, who
was in impaired health, was also en'reated to go,
but refused. Lieut.. Parker answered a similar
solicitation by saying he would drown with the
brig. Lieut.. Claiborne and Acting Master Glenn
son held The same language. II is remarkable
circumstance that three of the officers and all 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 thai for
the boat would live. Purser Steele al one time
proposed 10 leave The boat for fsh-davit he saw
floating by. The boat, however, reached the
island in about twenty minutes.
AS soon as the men were landed, MIR. Clarke,
disresardng The most strenuous enlreaties reso.
lulely showed of again with volunteer crew al
the imminent hazard Of their lives. Less Than
three; minutes after The boat left the brig Capt
Semmes, finding The vessel sellling under them,
gave an order for every man 10 save himself.
AL simultaneously plunged into the water, and
grasped the pests, gratngs, spars, coops and other
floating objects at hand. Many mnst have gone
down lrum the want Of any support whatever
others struggled on trail floats 10 he finally drilled
on The reefs and dashed in pieces. Some were
driven 10 sea 10 be heard OF no more, and others
encountered the worst fate which could be aprre-
hended in being devoured by sharks. OF near
sixty who plunged from the wreck, only seven
teen escaped.
Through all Of This appalling scene the great
0st composure was observed hy men and officers
There was no appearance OF panic, no exhibition
Of selfshness. Those who could not swim were
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