The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-01
disaster 70 the wilson G. Hunt.

Disaster to the Wilson G. Hunt.
We are informed (says the New York Courier
and Enquirer Of the 30th utimo) by Capt. Coch-
rane, OF the british brig May Flower, from Bermu-
da, that the steamer Wilson G. Hunt, Capt. Spall,
hence for California, put into Bermuda on the 18th
instant, in a most deplorable conditon-leaking,
foremost gone, and her upper works nearly torn to
pieces, having narrowly escaped laundering at sea,
during most violent gale of wind on the 9th inst
The Wilson g. Hunt left New York on the I'd inst.
for San Francisco. One Of the iremen, named
Francis Blackney, killed, and two others
wounded by which she shipped, and which
swept her decks. One of the seaInen, named Rich
ard, was put in boat for safety, the captain fear
ing the vessel would sink in the gale; the boat was
dropped astern, fastened to wo-and "a half inch
rope; the vessel giving sudden lurch, parted the
painter and he went adrift. II was found impossi.
BILE to save him. In attempting to pass box con-
tanning $4,000 in gold, belonging to the ship, and
$246 belonging to the captain, the cabin silver and
ship papers, into the boat the box accidentally slip
ped from their hands into the sea, and was lost
The Royal Gazette, of the 18th, gives the follow
ing particulars:
'sThe steamer Wilson G. Hunt, George ]. Spa
master, of and from New York, bound 70 CaIifor-
MIA, arrived at ST Georges on Sunday last, in a
most deplorable condition; leaky, foremost gone,
and her upper works nearly town to pieces, having
narrowly escaped laundering at sea during vio-
lent gale OF wind on Thursday last.
"Thc w. @. Hunt left New York I'd of March.
and ON the evening Of the Sd anchored under the
Delaware breakwater, where she rode out a heavy
blow from the s. E. On the evening of the 4th she
again started; crossed the gulf without trouble
and on the 7th had got into latitude $40 longitude
670 ~, when toward night they encountered vo-
lent storm from the S. s. f., with heavy cross
seattle boat aboring badly, and shipping great
quantities of water on deck At midnight the wind
and sea increasing, they got drag, and with the
assistance Of the engine, Kept her head to the sea-
At daylight the wind hauled to the s. w., and
blew with great violence, the sea frequently making
a complete breach over the forward deck.
cat ga. IN. shipped which stove the forward
bulwarks, rail and stancheons, washing every
thing OIL the forward deck, and at half past 10 a
heavy sea struck the boat forward of the sarboard
wheelhouse, and rolled completely the ship,
killing instantly fireman, named Hackney, and
wounding two others--sweeping bulwarks, bulk
heads and every thing in its way, from the wheel
house forward; carried away the boiler castings and
extinguishcd the fires; washed away the starboard
round houses, stove the fore part Of the hurricane
deck, completely swept the deck fore and aft filed
the saloon, engne-room, and after scuttle with wa
ter, and leaving three feet water in the hold.
| ''Ihe boat, having no way, fell into the trough
OF the sea, and water-ogged, began to work and
plunge fearfully, the often rolling entirely over
her.
"Supposing her to be in sinking condition Can
tain Spail, having ordered the boats to be got in
readiness, went below and got up some provisions
and water, box from the office containing 81 600
In gold belonging to the ship, and S245 to the mas
ter, the cabin silver, ships papers, &c, and then
ordered one Of the surf boats to be launched put
ting one OF the seamen, named Richard, into her.
TO keep her from striking the vessel The ship max
ing heavy lurch, the painter Ga 9, inch rope)
parted and he went adrift, it being impossible to
save him.
The second sail boat was then launched and
the second mate and two men were put into her
the box of money, &C., placed on the starboard
quarter, near the boat, which Captain Spal
directed to be got in readiness for launching, and
ordered the money to be placed in her if it should
be found necessary to put her overheard. Having
given this order, he, with Mr.. Rhodes the first
ofhcer, went forward, cut away the foremast got
two drags prepared, launched them overheard, and
commenced clearing the deck.
"The second mate, misunderstanding the order.
directed the box OF money to be placed in his boat
and while in the act of receiving it, the box slipped
from his hands, fell into the sea, and was lost
"Soon after the boat capsized, and stove under
the counter, and the three men she contained were
with difficulty recovered Bulkheads having been
got up to keep the water from going below, all
hands were set to the pumps, the water rapidly
gaining on them; but the engineer Mr. Sorleny after
much exertion, succeeded in lighting the fires, and
got the steam pump in operation, and in a couple
boat labored and strained excessively, and leaked
80 badly, that the steam pump required to be
kept IN constant motion. At daylight they threw
overheard three hundred bags OF coal, Stores and
every thing weighty and movable that could be
got at On the 9Th they had the same terrible
weather, the boat by means of the two drags and
the engine, being able to head the sea.
cat 10, p. m, broke on board, which
knocked away the larboard bulwarks, and stove
the larboard wheelhouse. At daylight the gale
slowly abated, but the still running very high;
the boat abored badly, the deck frame aft working
and lifting considerably. On the 10th the wind
hauled to the NV, and heavy cross sea caused
the leak to increase Att p. m, they threw over
board 100 bags Of coal from the fore part Of the
sci, TO tighten her TO run before the wind. At2,
hove the drags TO the bow; but finding II impos-
sible to get them in without injury TO the hull, cut
them adrift, and Immediately kept Oft for Ber-
m uda
"rhe w. g. n. was built in New York, in April,
lS49 3OS tons burden, l65 feet long % feet bea M
and feet depth of hold"