The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-25
The oss OF the U. 9. Ship Yorktown

/ The Washington Rfpn6hc, Of the 23d inst ,
the loss Of the United States ship Yorktown. COM
manded by Captain Marsten, has been addressed
by of her officers 10 his parents and brother to
whom we are indebted for copy ofit:-
ISLAND OF MAYO. Oars DE vEKpEsJl
September lash 1850. (
hasten to inform you of the wreck and entire loss
stranded on coral reef at the northern extremity OF
this island, on the 9th September. 1860
About hve o'clock on the morning OF the 9Th while
endeavoriDg to pass between Bonav,ts and Mayo (as
IL our cusen In coming from the wind ward to Porto
PraysS low land was discovered very close on our
ship on wind she had been going free at this ate
OF seven or eight knots hour frsm the tins we first
MADE the islands, which ths previous day; but
80 espia was the current, that in less than Hfteen
minutes taecording to my judgment) we struck on a
brsoe aback but without effect as she had completely
wedged on the rect The topgallsnt yards were then
union down as signals Of distress
Happily for us, however, by the untiring exertions
OF the officers and men, the boats hostsd out in
time or else deporable, indeed, would have been
fate. In less Il should think) than thirty minutes
after We had struck, she was an entire wreck.
. orders were then given for every TO all
they could: but, before any could get below she
csreened over the star board side 1t
sble for any to get below the spar Word
that she might right again but, alas for the York
Town hsr days were numbered and her race was run,
sithoogh every thing in the power of man had been
done TO save her; and that too, must say with the
utmost calmness and eomposurs
even the slightest bodily hurt received by any one,
although every thing on the deck was tumbng about
drowning in the ward.room by having the quarter
deck scuttled over their heads
Everything having been done that could be of any
service the boats called away and every person
ordered to get into them and al
landed on the beach But, alas for human misfortune
mere we were doomed to suffer difficulties and
privations, which you much better imagine than
will be possible for to describe you at least
paper Imagine large level point of land, covered
which TO many OF us who forced the ship
without shoes or stockings was extremely psinfui
But this was not the worst for we had nothing to eat
and not pint OF water TO cool parched tongues;
nor could We obtain any water for many hours, the
nearest springs being three or four miles eff Nothing
had been saved from the wreck that could alay our
thirst or satisfy our hunger.
porary tent, which answered in shield us
from the burning and damp night dews hich are
30 dangerous in this country.
On the following day, preparations were made for
taking us all to the town OF Mayo, which about
we took up our line of mar IN, mules and some
In boats myself in the latter and reached
in the evening where were kindly received by the
American Consul "a colored mani and of the
yves. we were soon as comfortable as the circum-
stancee would admit.
At the first alarm Of danger the second lieutenant
was dispatched With the second cutter to Porto Prayo
to procure assistance for and returned again on
the eih with small schooner, containing provisions
We all doing well at present, as could be ex.
pected by ,hipvrecked mariners on almost desoate
Island and In the daily Specta,ion OF the arrival
OF the store chip the Dale which We have long
since learned was fitting out for eur relef or some
other vessel, to take us home
think no blame can be attached TO Con- nander
ha-ston, or indeed any other person We have ire
quently parsed through the same passage, and were
steering the course a. usual which should have
kept us at least twenty miles ro1 the rect but the
Oldest Inhabitants of this place, well many
captains that there is regularity at all in the
current, nj certain seasons Several wrecks have
CURED on this island very lately and within twenty
miles of the same spot where struck the officers
and crew Of one Of which the Isabella bark are
partners in distress
on the nth Jonn Bsges one OF our msn, while wash
ing clothes, as IL supposed at the rock Knocked
oil by the surf aud Drowned. lie was Afterwards re-
covered and buried the beach.
Thus ends one Of the most melancholy adventures
through which IL has been my fate to and
vhich pray Almighty God may never happen to me
again and let all uuite in praising Him for hay
ing preserved US thus far from harm.
subsequent ister ftaies thas all s.haa been re-
on bgar