Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-01-07
Late and Important from the Gulf Squad
rOn--LOss Of the U. S. Brig SOmers
and about 30 Persons,

off Anto Lizardo. They embrace the mournful
intelligence Of the entire loss OF the U. S. brig
Somers of the bockadng squadron, with thirty
eight Of her officers and crew, during severe
storm on the s,h The following particulars are
from a correspondent oflhe N. o. Picayune, who
was on board
On the evening of the 9TH the Somers took shell
ter under the Green Island, appearances prcsaging
a storm. On the 9Th a sail was reported from alolt,
and Captain Semmes, of the brig, got under way for
chase. He supposed the sail vessel intend.
ing to run into Vera Cruz. While in chase, the
the storm came on After various expedients 10
escape its effects, order given TO let 60 the
lee mainiopsail, and on the next instant cut away
all tacks and sheets.
Finding she would not pay of, Capt. Semmes
ordered the helm TO be put down, hoping 10 bring
her to the wind. II was however unavailing. From
the moment she commenced careening she contin-
ued 10 go over with great rapidly, and in thirty
seconds was on her beam ends. Ia less than ten
minutes she sunk. The puff of wind much
more violent than could have been expected from
the appearance Of the weather. The accident is,
however, mainly due TO the extreme ghtness Of
the vessel.
One or two minutes after she was over, most of
the officers and men had gained the side Of the YES
sci or the tops DR. Wright and Lieut.. Parker,
passing through the weather after port, were the
first TO make the main chains. They were followed
by several men, and an attempt was made with such
means as was at hand, TO cut away the main rig.
ging, the men and officers using their penknives
and sheath knives for the purpose. Captain Sem.
mes who had been dashed on the lee side, was now
drawn from the water, and as soon as he gained
the side directed our exeriions.
Finding there was no chance 10 the brig,
and that she fast sinking, Capt. Semmes order
ed Mr. Clarke to shove off with DIR Wright and Sow
enteen men, beside Purser Steel, (who reached
the boat by swimming as she was clearing the
wreck, first inquring il there room in the boat
for another) TO pull for Green Island, about half
mile distant and Immediately TO return if possible
and save more lives. This order was at
cuted but not until some Of those in the boat had
solicited, by name, each Of the officers left on the
wreck to come with them These officers resoute-
" declared that they would wait and take their
chances with the brig.
Capt Semmes, who was in impaired health, was
also entreated to 60, but refused Lieut.. Parker
answered similar solicitation by saying he would
drown with the brig. Lieut. Claiborne and Act.
ing Master Clemson held the same language. Ii is
remarkable circumstance that three Of the officers
and all the men who acted thus noby are saved
When the boat showed of, the gale was blowing
with great violence and a heavy sea running, so
that for some moments il was a matter Of doubt
whether the boat would live. Purser Steel at one
time proposed to 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, Mr. Clarke,
disregarding the most strenuous entreaties, reso
lutely showed off again with volunteer crew. at the
imminent hazard OF their lives. Less than three
minutes after the boat left the brig, Capt. Semmes,
finding the vessel settling under them, gave an or
der for every man to save himself All smultan.
eousy plunged into the water, and grasped the
posts gralings spars coops and other floating OBJ
jects at hand Many must have gone down from
the want of any support whatever; others struggled
on frai floats to be finally drfted on the reef and
dashed in pieces.
Some were driven 10 sea 10 be heard Of no more
and others encountered the worst fate which could
be apprehended, in being destroyed by sharks
OF near sixty who plunged from the wreck only
seventeen escaped
Through all this appalling scene the greatest
composure was observed by men and officers
There was no appearance OF panic, no exhibition
Of sel6shness. Those who could not swim were
particularly enjoned to go in the boat. A large
man by the name of Seymour, the ships cook, had
got into thehoat, Lieut. Parker commanded him TO
comelout in order TO make room for two smaller
men, and he obeyed the order, but was afterwards
directed TO 90 in the boat when Il was found he
could not SWIM
Capt. Semmes and Lieut. Parker we're picked
up by Mr. Clarke from grating, and Jacob Haz.
ard yeoman, rescued swimming near them
Those who survived have told Of many instances oil
heroic selfdevoiion. The acting master, Henry
A. Clemson, was struggling on small steering
sail boom with five others, two OF whom could rot
be supported and he left and struck out alone and
unsupported He was seen for the last time upon
a sky.light and probably persisted in the surf-
The FIVE men be lell were saved the two who could
not swim being supported by their comrades, Amos
Colson aud John Williamson.
The Mexicans saw the accident from the mole,
and cheered and exuted for long time. The
brig had been for long time engaged IN the block
ade, and had done more 10 interrupt the commerce
of the port than almost all the other vessels
Within the last fortnight both town and castle had
been kept in state Of constant alarm by the bnfn'
ing Of the Creole, and other demonstrations, which
presume you will hear Of in due time
have no doubt the Mexicans were relieved
when they saw her sink TO the ocean. append q
list of the ost--3z men sayed--3S lost.
One officer, Mr. Rodgers, Passed Mdshpman'
and one man. John q. Fox, were captured by the
Mexicans two days before while accommodating al
important point in company with DR. Wright, the
latter escaping 10 witness the catastrophe oil th'
brig
A letter received from on board the Raritan
dated the 18th, states that eight men belonging Il
the Somers had been picked Up by the Mexican
on the beach near Anton Lizardo, whittier the.
had been driven by the gale, clinging TO hen-coops
They were held al Vera Cruz as prisoners oil war
Eight others drifted ashore in similar manner, bu
whether captured by the Mexicans or not, Us no
Known One Of th0m died from exhaustion ate
reaching the shore. This makes, SO saved out o
the so souls on board. The efforts Cfthe crews o
the French and English vessels 10 the lives o
the crew of the Somers are spoken OF with warn