The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-19
Marine A6nlrs

Marine Affairs,
thE IASE OF SHIP FhASKLIr.-The examination Of
John w Crafts, charged with conspiracy with lanes
W. Wilson to destroy the ship Franklin to ths ;riury
Of the underwriters, was continued in the afternoon
After the testimony OF Duffy was complete
Gen JOHN s. TYLER was called The three pr.u,un.
policy notes being shswn to him, he testified ii know
notes signed in my presence for three policies elected
as broker have seen Mr.. Crafts write his name
very frequently to premium notcs these hi, sig.
nstures wrote the letter to Capt. Stanwood and Mr.
Crafts signed 1t In my presence lis shown the letters
printed Yesterday By comparison, think the mi
tal. w. c. on the second letter, were written by Mr.
eros. eaamined-I don't think ever saw him make
his initials merely.
the papers contained In tho vAlise; tho whole
handed to Mr. Rsntou some Of the papers were signed
81. w. Crafts" and others ~. w. Wilson"
Capt. GEORGE MLANE, q colonial shipmaster, one OF
the parse gers testified that he had passed exami
ration as master mariner ct Lloyds; at noon on tho
2sth Of bruar the day before the wreck the captain
took an observston; the weather was beautiful that
night it far weather; could the stars In the
heavens Immediately after the first anchor let go,
the mate called me deck; there wind,
but . heavy ground swell, which broke over the fore
part Of the ship in reply to the mate said was SEN
sibe rhe dragging we heard the surf plain the
beach; be asked u did not think 1t advisable to let
go the anchor raid yes but advised him to ask the
cap ain frat: he did 80 but the anchor not let
go; my opinion was, that there WAS not more than
IL CT 20 sthons OF chain out; this about half past
Il II was about half past when she struck; it was
dcult TO tell her striking from the shock Of tho swe
striking her the sea took her heavy the
teri the captas was deck pretty much all tho time;
founo four fahous water with tn 70 lead myseif under
Tire ern; l asked the captain how he accounted for
the position the ship in; he evadsd the question:
at least Ibid UNDER what he did say; then
asked him II his latitude ct not good. He
said, Yes II Was as good observation had
in my LIFE" asksd him he attributed L. to varstens
there is variation here; he said he did not know
the coast orders were given to hoist tspsas to
captain expressed ire opinion that he saw the high
lands Of Cape Cod; after the masts cut away,
felt the first sensible bump It lifted the rudder and
the house it, and tore the ruddsr right
her; the captain, who had been below few minutes,
up deck he still thought it was not high water
and II the chip would only hold on till noon there
would be chance for us; told him after that
che began 10 work and crew and that he must bs In
error about the tide told passenger tho day before
from my own general calculation, that We could not
be than sixty seventy miles from Boston light
had chrome meter OF my own.
Captain McLanes description Of the breaking up OF
the thp, swsmpng Of boats, drowning Of tho csptau
and all who weie with him, was the same Substantially
In reply to questions put to him as nautical man.
the captain gave the following opinion az to the
nsgensnt Of the ship in the dreadful emerseney:-l
think the captain not letting 20 both
giving her forty to fty fathoms chain allowing her
AIas from seven to four iathom. with anchor
very gross; At four fathoms, when there
NO hope should have slipped the chains and let her
90 bow on to save life; tho short scope he gave her
saving her but by scope; at last scope
given to the second anchor but It on the wrong
side, and vas Al injury In her position it is my OPT
Of others that II she he'd moro scope when in
fathoms she would have held ON from the nrst,
no opportunity OF saving her but BY letting the
oopd anchor and giving more chain; it the only
courses tho Cape light was osly miles west
On the oross alton, Capt MeLsne stated that
there was codness between him and the captain bs
cause the latter had said about him and one
81 tho female passengers They had not oonversed
wreck
At half past eleven this forenoon, the examination
was continued.
EsrNEzER DAVIS recalled-A chart was shown wit
ness. and he pointed out the locality Of tho wreck "a
marrow SPOT near Wsllhset) could get ndinys or
the Cape for fourteen miles; II the ship twenty
miles out Of its would make from quarter to
bsh point difference in the captains salcuStions
h. am Of ousS not 10 make m
more Than one mile, II no had sell adjusted onro-
nomeerr, b. ought to get bis longitude within Ave
ten miles; (there 6vs ohronometsrs ON board;)
a. to the vss,. being carried to place Of wreck
there Is prevailing southsriy current, but every
the vessel should steer furtheI north and
there would be no difficulty in standing off with
three or six hDot breeze; am not much acquainted
with the soundinge on the Cape IL Is sandy bottom,
with good holding ground; In three knot breeze
fsrty or nfty fa,homs Of chain would hold the hp II
swell was running in, eighteen or twenty fathoms
would rot hold her, IL tue ship was dragging with
twenty fathoms chain, should give her more; every
captain should know IL; when coming this snors At
night and the cry Of breakers Is heard 1t would b.
prudent to throw the lead If the captain thro wing
he Lead he must have k,own that che ship drag
giIg or II be doubted the evidence Of the lead, he
could tell by objects on the shore
VIM w. Ross note was shown to witness; rscog.
nine it - The handwriting Of James w Wilson; a
letter written by Wilson then shown for the pur-
pore Of ioeDincatCn his testimony was objected to
by Mr.. Sokier, and he vas withdrawn.
Captain STANwooD- Have seen James w. Wilson:
am acquainted with his hand writing; have received
letters from HIM; q note was shown to ~itnessD
sosD,.ed the rsnatore Of this note his; "a letter
- All n.l fho nd NJ ls tAr in In,
b. dwrtipg am not certain TO the ignsture; It
resembles HE writing The letter then pat 10 by
"BosrsN, March 90 ls4s
"Cspt Smith ofehip Franklin Honr DR. SIR rite you
letter to inform you that ham in trubll could not
get TIE Bill sou on hsver on the Count trubls in
Franks CUP 10 this day, and Mr John Crafts sage. II
cant get the munsyt to pay the notes as the Com
chip on bar Return home SOW you sigh (see) Whas
have to eepepd one have got IL $4,000 on the snp
and slit $4,000 fright money s24oo your outfete
wien makes 23a0O Dear Sir II you Cam msck y Ssle)
on Yeur Return win give you What promust alsou
you Will have new vessel Of good Class it VIII
mo TO pay Of al and have good suppress (surpius,
probsbly) TO Bee gin with II yeu dAuut make JeIe (
Dount now What shsll Doue the not (note) Dough
on the ~ is mot payed yoot and the next in three
(pr.bsby money to pay them) Mr. Dsne will not
watt one mount for the pay hee presss Mr. Craft. Cup
note the will sell the chip your Reu At what
Ever th.e me- BriDg You had Better get your self a
Bout 10 n6'er (Havfe Tor me fear shugh Eney th
hspen ON your Returne MIR Gratis will Rite le.ec
and send you Letter Of Credet to pusch (purchss-)
load nj Salt for youa Returns Cargune Der SIR mop
that all VIII Bee as you and shude lick I now ia &C
you ar my ffsnd 70 the Letter no mer tho more But
Remenos your MEND J w WILSON
) Der Sir John w Crafts sends out . Draft for
l30OO n anks ~Ch 10 about $1,000 WiCh will eve yos
b. Done thuhcan dollar to pay your dssbI
tdisburt rem entD hop you VII pay the Draft With
oct mel sbo Much - from w WfLLsoS
The folleripa il the direction Of the letter:
for Cspten Smith Of ship frenkiug havsr
TO Bee Returned homo " he Ia not there France
AR RAnTouL proposed to rest the case here
MIR. Sohxs objected, and wished to 80 further into
the ssaniDttiop
M. RANrouL contendsd that he had offered SUM-
ceDt evidence In the letter which he had put in signed
J. W T.
NJ eHIlR responded He urged that the postscript
to this letter IN when the hope expressed that Cast
Smith, jour Dey from Wilmington Co London should
exceed forty eight overs" was IN a different
- f..xi h..