Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-16

the mate Of the lost vessel for Presenta-
ton 10 the owners, briefly aud folly mar
rates the particulars Of the painful event ;
"On tho 9Th Of Octobsr last past, the
ship Stephen Whitney leh the por, OF
New York, bound for Liverpool. Moth
ing material occurred on the passage,
until Wednesday, the 10Th day Of No
vember inst. on which day, on or about
two o'clock in the afternoon, the ship
was hove to, and soundings were had IN
fifty fa,homs. The weather was partic-
ularly thick, and the wind blowing very
hard. The ship WIS under double reef
ed ,opsails. Al 6 O'Clock p. NJ, the
wind increasing, The sails were closed
rpefed at 8 o'clock p. NJ, made the
land very close 10 the ship.
"Aher clawing off from the land, saw
q fixed white light, which. on consult
iss with the captain, l took for the light
al the Old Head OF Kinsa'e hauled Of
the ship on the S'asbosrd tack, heading
snsth-esst by south. Al 8 o'clock, con-
sidcring we had sufficient offing, steered
the channel course, cas-, by south, and
al q quarter To 10 the land was made
ahead, the helm was put a-pori, and IN
coming round, owing TO the heavy sen
then running, the ship went ashore. Ia
a few minutes, out Of one hundred and
ten human beings, passengers and crew,
ninety lone persisted, among whom were
the captain and second mate. The per-
suns who were saved lost all their prop
~r,y, and were left nearly naked. Eve
Ty exeriion was made, but owing TO the
wild cliff on which the vessel struck, ,and
the darkness Of the night, 1t was lmpos-
sible to make any effort to save any part
of the ship or cargo"
The following account is from the
Lire,poof Mercury
Al the momrn; when safety appeared
all but CERTAIN, she struck, with a tire.
Hendous crash, at quarter TO 10 O'Clock
y. NJ upon the west side of Calf Island
West, the cliff at tins side being per-
p-ndicular Tor some forty or fifty ieet a
hove water, and some twenty faihnms
below, on which n Tremendous sea beats
nj all seasons Of the year. Having re-
coiled q short distance from the concus
sion, she was again dashed broadside a
gainsl the rock, with n whence that
clearly toldI she could not hold together
more than few mIuutes. All those on
deck were in the utmost disrnay, and the
passengers as had got on deck, i'nmed,-
a.ely removed their clothes, expecting
10 have To swim ior life.
On the vessel striking u third time,
the immense mass Of strong timber quy-
eied like a reed, and gave evident Signs
Of an immediate breaking up. The cap
tain, mates, and some al the sailors 2 OF
over the lee side aud hung by the chains
for about "a minute, when the captain
SAID he would drop into the water, and
cndeavor To swim 10 the rock, and be-
fore the mate had time to prevent him,
he Jumped into the sea, but was almost
Immediately killed by a stroke Of a sea
dashing him agains, the rock. When he
had disappeared, the mate perceived
that the bottom Of the noble vessel was
gone, as he felt the deck sinking down
aud AT the same time conceived he saw
ships boat lying, bottom up, and form
ing bridge between the deck and rock.
On scrambIing toward il, he found it
was a protruding piece Of cliff, which
was driven some feet into the side Of the
vessel, and by which he clambered TO a
place Of safety. Here he turned to look
on the scene Of destruction and death
beneath, and he discovered he was fol
lowed in the course he had taken by a
few Of his companions in misery, while
beneath them he saw, by the tight oI
Crookhavrn tower, a vast number in the
wafer crushed to death by the iimber'
Of the ship, as they fell in quick success
sion from her sides. This dreadful
scene lasted about three minutes, and
from the time the ship first struck unit
every timber OF her had been broken in.
I" small pieces, not more than twelve
minutes elapsed. The mate then pro
ceeded to collect those who had esca aped
aud seeing there were no others to whom
he could give assistance, they proceed.
ed to Chamber to the summit Of the cliff
AMERICAN Professor
CL..u.l \ q h.,