The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-08

- We aud TIA following article IN ~
ChArlsstou Mercury
WRscx OF An UsxsowH STEAK VEssEL--
Capt Rhodes Of tho schooner Worcester, A.
yixed here Yesterday from Fall RiyeN Me-, In.
miles from land, on Thursday last, at o'clock
o. NJ. he discovered the wreck Of what he took
to bs large steamboat or steauship, which had
the appearance Of having been very recently
broken up. The hull Of tho wrecked vessel
was visible, though almost entirely under water
Her upper decks which had the appearance Of
being newly painted were standing, but her
smokestock WAS gone. Pieces Of elegant furni-
tufe and arrangements of the gilded mouldings Of
the vessels cabins were floating about the
wreck, all having the appearance Of being only
recently broken. Capt Rhodes laid to for sev-
eral hours in the hope of getting some clue TO
the name of the wreck The sea was running
high with strong wind at the time, 80 that he
WINS unable to recover any OF the floating furni-
ture, pieces of which, as we'll AS fragments ofthe
vessel, he met at the distance Of quarter OF q
mile from the wreck. An elegant clock parti-
culary attracted the attention Of his crew, but
all efforts to obtain it were unavailing. Capt.
Rhodes, thinks the hulls Of the wreck was not
large enough for a steamship. We know OF no
steamboat likely to be in the vicinity Of HATTIE
ras al this season. A few days, will, we presume
explain the painful mystery.-Sauan'sah Ns,os,
Of Monday.
There Is every probability that the above was
the wreck of the stermer America, from Pha-
delphia for Mobile, which was left at anchor on
Hatteras Shoal on Thursday morning last, by q
portion of the crew who escaped in one Of her
boats, were picked up ut sea, and carried into
Wilmington. The balance of the crew, sixteen
in number, were left on board the i'll fated yes
sells, and there is too much reason to fear that
they have persisted
We are induced to believe that the specula-
tons of our contemporary are correct. The Nor
folk Argus gives the following particulars rela-
tive to the wreck referred to. The fact of her
sinking may be regarded as doubtful under the
circumstances:
WRECK OF THE STEAMER AMERICA.--On
Wednesday, Goth January, the steamer America
Capt Broadwell, of Philadelphia, was wrecked
on the shoals off Cape Hatteras. She sailed
from Norfolk on the same day, and had on hoard
twenty-five men-six Of whom arrived here in
the stage yesterday from. Elizabeth City, having
been generously furnished with their passage
by George Williams, ESQ.,, the proprietor, whose
at the tale OF suffering and Distress
They represent that the fate Of the captain,
mate and the rest of the crew Of the steamer is
exceedingly doubtful, as they were not seen or
heard from after the vessel sunk. Fears are en-
tertained that they have met with watery grave.
1t was night, and very dark and stormy, when
the America sunk. She was furnished with
three boats, and the officers and crew, sensible
of their peril apportioned them severally to the
men. When the survivors took to their boats
the other parties were in the act Of embarkng
in theirs, but the vessel went down Immediately
afterwards, and nothing more was seen Of them.
The America was bound to Mobile, to run on
Lake Ponchertran. She was entirely unsuted
for sea voyage, and has proved total wreck
We understand she was insured in Philadelphia
Since writing the above we learn that six
others of the crew arrived here yesterday in the
steamer Augusta, from Richmond, having been
picked up at sea by the schooner Champion and
taken to Wilmington, N. c. The captain, owner,
pilot, chief engineer, carpenter, one fireman and
four stewards, took to the life-boat and have not
yet been heard from.