Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-04-03
FROM THE LONDON EXAMINER.
/, TRULY GLORIOUS EXAMPLE.

FROM THE LONDON EXAMINER.
A TRULY GLORIOUS EXAMPLE.
We beg direct the attention Of our readers account
of the loss of the American brig OF the Somers which
abound with traits of heoismheroism, in destroying,
but in sayng-whch do honor TO humanity The brig was
upset squal before she oundered boat only could
he got out the appointed her mpoed others board
the sinking ship to take their places and actually
turned board TO perish with their comrades But this
not all The officers and crews OF the French Spanish, and
English ships OF war; who witnessed the disaster, exerted
themselves with the glorious bravery the lives Of
the poor fellows cngng spars and wrcckage In this gal
liant endeavor Frenchmen, Spanards and Engshmen
all the sublime level OF the highest courage and most
allied humanity How poor feas of arms compared with
this display OF the best of the three nations in sight Of
each other-one good heart beating in in all To
the glory, the saved worthy of their peserver
generous, as brave, as devoted
The Somers being employed in the blockade of Vera Cruz
capsized III sudden squall, and il clear that
she in a sinking state The following of what
passed is by Of the American 'he small quarter
boat cleared away and dropped carefully round lee
ward and manned by her usual complement of five
Midshpman Clarke ordered by Captain Semmes 10 take
charge of the boat Finding that there no chance of
saving the brig, and that she fast sinking Capt Semmes
ordered Mr. Clarke TO shove off with Dr. Wright and seven
teen besides Purser Steele pull for Green Island,
about half mile distant and Immediately return if pos
be, and lives This order executed,
but not until Of those in the boat had solicited by name
each OF the officers left the wreck with them.
These officers esoutely declared that they would and
take their chance with the brig Passed Mdshipman Hyn
who had been partially disabled by had bnrn received
in the firing OF the Creole was particularly imPored to
into the boat lad of the Of Nutter jumped out Of
The boat and offered his place 10 Mr. Hynson, and Of
the name of Powers did the thing. Mr.: Hynson
using both offers, these then declared that others might
hare their places, and that they tcod abide The wreck
cih Mr.. Hytsoa Captain Semnes, who in impaired
health, also enreated TO go, but refused Lieutenant
Parker answered similar solicitation by saying he would
drown with the brig Lieutenant Claiborne and Acting Mas
tar halI hap
cumance that three Of the officers and all Of the men who
acted thus noby saved When the boat showed off the
gale was blowing with great violence, and heavy run
nng so that for some moments il matter of doubt whe-
Their the boat would live The boat however, reached the
island in about twenty minutes As soon as the men were
landed, Mr. Clarke, dsegarng the strenuous enrea
ties resoutey showed off again with volunteer crew. at the
imminent hazard OF their lives In less than three minutes
after the boat lef the brig, Captain Semmes finding the
sci settling under them, gave order every MAJ 10 save
himself All simultaneously plunged into the water, and
gasped the posts grangs spar coops, and other floating
objects at hand Many must have gone down from the
OF any support whatever; others struggled ail floats
be finally dned the reefs and dashed in pieces Some
driven TO sea TO be heard of more others
tered the worst fate that could be apprehended in being de-
voured by sharks Through all this appalling the great
est composure observed by and officers There
appearance Of pancno exhibition Of sefshness Those
who could not swim particularly enoined 90 in the
boat large man OF the name Of Seymour the ships cook
had got into the boat Lieutenant Parker commanded him TO
come out IN order to make for smaller men, and
he obeyed the ORDER but afterwards directed TO 90 in the
boat when II was found ne could SWIM Capt Semmes
and Lieutenant Parker were picked up by Mr. Clarke from
grating, and Jacob Hazard woman was rescued swimming
near them Those who survived have told Of MANY instances
Of heroic sefdevoon The acting master Henry A. Glenn
sen, struggling small steering sail BOOM with five
others, two OF whom could not swim. He found that all
could not be supported and he left and struck out alone and
unsupported. He seen for the last time upon AZ Wight
and probably persisted in the su The five men he left were
saved, the two who could not swim being supported by their
companions Colson and Williamson. There we're lying at
oachcos, about two miles TO the eeward Of the wreck Her
Britannia Maesty's ships Endymion and Alarm and brig
Danng, commanded respectively by Captains Lambert Frank
n and Maon the French briggs Pylade and Mercurc Cap
ans Debut and La Voyaire and the Spanish Lusa
Fernando, captain Puente. As the accident was
discovered the boats Of all these vessels were simultaneously
called away The Of the Endymon to the number Of
200, came aft and volunteered There was the most noble
emulation which vessel should use the greatest expedition
and persevere in the most strenuous exeon The violence
Of the gale such that time that of the boats could
pull against IT, and with the greatest regret that Cant
Lambert and others in authority felt il to be their duty To
make signals recalling their boats An hour or two after
wards, when there slight abatement Of the gale thew
again put forth at the peril Of their lives and succeeded in
saving fourteen persons, and bringing from Green Island those
who had landed there. The First Lieutenant Of the Endy-
mon, Mr. Tareon rescued the First Lieutenant of the So
mers from Paoros reef which he succeeded by miracle in
reaching safely, but where his situation most critical
The most gallant and wel-drec,ed efforts were made by the
officers and crew in the boat Of the Mecu She rescued ten
men AT sea TO lceward spar One hardly knows which
TO admire most the orethought the daring Of this noble nd
venture The risk incaculabc Five boats represent
ing each Of the foreign vessels reached the island and took
on twenty three persons to their respective vessels where they
were received with degree Of kindness and delicate consc
ration which cannot adequately describe but which none o
us Will ever forget They refreshments and supplied
Us with clothes. regret that do know the names Of all
The generous and brave officers who in charge Of the
boats Of the different vessels cannot however forear
mentioning such have learned, viz. Lieutenant Wood
and the gunner Of the Endymon, and Mdshpman Sa Of
the Pylade."
The Pittsburg American says: "The work on the iron