The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-02

must speedily 20 down, unless relieved, ordered the
masts to be cut away. The officers and men, who, with
few exceptions had by this time gained the weather
bulwarks OF the vessel Immediately began to cut away
the rigging But as this was foIorn hope the brig
the surface OF the placed no reliance whatever
their efforts. few moments more, and was convinced
that In spite Of all exertions the brig must inevta-
bly, 20 down a very short time. accordingly turned
my attention to the saving Of as many lives as possible
The boats in the spsss and III: star
ter, that IL impossible to reach them but
ceeded in dengsgng the larboard quarter boat from her
:avis "a small boat pulling i've osrs) and dropped her
fortunately to eeward of the brig to prevent her being
thrown upon the vessels side and crushed by the
ordered Mdshipman O. Clark to take charge Of this
boat and with the purser surgeon and seventeen
make for Verde Island II possible, and after having
landed all but the boats crew. to return and save others
running, end deemed il imprudent to trust more
men in 70 small q boat. Besides, was anxious to
might be- rush for her and no life at eli should be
saved cannot refrain from expressing, in this place,
my admiration ofthe noble conduct Of several Of
embarked in this boat who mplored the officers by name
to take their places saying that they would willingly
die by the wreck II the officers would but them
SsrmoS 10 oome out and thew were all suSsesusny
safely landed, as they deserved TO be. Midshipman
CLARK fortunately succeeded in sho, ipg off, and pulling
twenty PAGES from the brig before she went down
When she the point Of sinking beneath US, and
engu6ng in the waves, gave the order, Every man
aneous plunge into the sea Of about sixty officers and
men, each striving to secure some frail object that
had drted from the wreck for the purpose Of sustaining
himself in the awful struggle with the sea, which
awaited him. Some reached grating, some oar,
some a boats mast, some . hen coop, &c; but many
poor fellows sprang into the to perish in few mi
nu,os not being able find any object of support Lieut.
Parker and my self being both swimmers fortunate
enough each of the armchest grangs, which af
orded us partial support but which should inevts
bly, have been drowned il had not when had swan
twenty or thirty PAGES secured upper halfport
which came drifting by We dashed his, with tho
any attached TO it, to grating, and thcDceorth
got along much better Mdshipman Clark after he had
landed the officers and men under his charge, Verde
Island showed of second time In obedience TO the order
had given him. at the imminent peril oil his lie for the
gale now blowing with such violence and the sea
running heavy that seemed impossible that 20 ANAL
boat could live and skirted the Verde Island reef to
IL il were possible rescue any OF US from the
Ills efforts were rewarded with partial success he
picked up Lieutenant Parker and my se and Of the
seamen. As soon ss ! had landed, sent Midshipman
Clark out again. who venured far from the island
he thought boat would ve but this time he returned
having been able to descry floating OBJ
ect whatever Lieutenant Claiborne saved himself on
about feet squere used for covering the
pump WELL and which he found floating near the wreck
lid was thrown with great violence upon reef near
sacracios but fortunately escaped without serious In
jury A strange ~ 1t may sppear to you, there could
elapsed than ten minutes between our be-
ing struck with the squal and the total disappears noe
Of the somsrs feel that should not he doing Justice
to the oAcers ard men who were urds- nv "'-' ' 80