The New York herald., 1851-12-04
The Partic ulars OF the Loss OF the British
ship Unicorn.

The Partic ulars OF the Loss of the British
ship Unicorn.
The following, fiom Capt. O'Neil, details the
particulars Of the loss Of the British ship Unicorn,
on her voyage from Liverpool to st. John, N. B. !,
brief account of which we have already pub
lished-
Left Liverpool on the morning of October Is,
with two hundred and eighty-two emigrants, three
cabin passengers, and crew Of twenty four per.
sons, including officers The afternoon after leaving.
it commenced owing heavily from west sou shwest,
and veered round to west northwest the ship un-
der close-reefed topsail and foresai Moderate on
the following morning, with the wind at sou hwest
Tried the North hannel; but when abreast of Bel
fast Tough encountered q heavy squall, and shift
of wind to the northwa Bore up again, with
squally, unsettled weather-the wind from all points
of the compass-an got clear Of the land on the
25th inst after which nothing particular occurred
till the morning of the 7th November, in latitude
~ degrees % mnutes north, longitude So degrees
13 minutes west, when it com menced bio wing hea-
vily from south-southwest. We furlsd topgallant
sails and double recfed the topssls The gale con-
tiDued increasing, and the wind veered to south
southeast; furled mainsai jb, and spanker, and
close reefed fore and mizen topsails. The baro-
meter was now falling fast, and we made every
preparation for bad weather; secured sll the
matches, and close. reefed maintopsail The sea at
this time was running ut q prodigious height aud
in every direction, causing the ship to roll and labor
tremendously Theship making water, the pumps
were kept constantly going The wind now became
quite unsteady ard squally, and blowing with fear
ul vio,epce-not remaining steady more than few
minutes, ard veerng to ell points Of the compass.
Clewed up fore and mizsn topeails. The ship, from
the terrific sea which now broke over her, became
perfectly unmanageable, having her decks entirely
swept, save Of tho long boat: The pumps were
dreadful squa struck the ship, and literally tore tho
furled sails from the yards The fore topg gallant ast
was carried away, taking with 1t the head Of the
foretopmast-the mizen went soon after, and in q
few minutes the fore and fore topsail yards went:
the cross jack and mizen yards went after tho
main topsai. Another heavy squall striking the
ship, carried away the main and mizen masis By
board side Of the poop, wheel, binacle, companion.
30, leaving the ship perfect wreck. We set to
immediately and cut away the main and nj zen rig
ging; nothing could now be done bus to keep the
gaining on us, having six feet in the hold, and
throughout the night, by great exerton, the water
was kept under. At midnight the weather began
to moderate; at daylight it became much 6ner, but
still heavy sea, the ship rolling with fearful vio
lence. All 30 A. M, sail was observed bear
ing down on us, which proved 10 DO the brig Harriet,
Capt Marston, of Portland. for New York, the
captain Of which kindly proGered his assistance.
On lowering boat to board her, found the whole
stern frame Of the ship started, and as she was
making great quantities Of water, considered the
only step to be taken WAS to abandon her, the
captain Of the brig, In the most hap dsome manner,
consenting to remain by us, and offering every as
sistsnce Shortly after, another sail was deserted
bearing down, which proved to be the A nerican
ship Daniel Webster, from Boston for Liverpool
tie commander Of which also offered his assist
snce, rs he could accom- m odate about one hundred
and seventy Of the passengers We then got all
the available beats ahoat did the other vessels,
and commenced transferring the passengers on
board both ships, which could be done but slowly,
owing TO the state OF the wreck. We got them
clear Of the fast sinking ship at abou: 30 p NJ.
We then, with the assistance of the briggs boat,
continued getting water and provisions, which could
be but slowly transhiPged, owing to the difi ,ulty
getting scant supply, having labored till about
20, when, deeming IL unsafe to rem ain longer We
lett the ship, which shortly after went down, at
about %. The brig now having on board about
one hundred Of the passengers, with the entire Of
my crew, proceeded on her course.
nay omctrs and cabin passengers, with NY
self, desire to Ieturn our most sincere shnnke to
captain Marston for the kindness aud humanity
shown 10 all, giving his own cabin and affordinr
every possible relief, placing himself, officers and
crew on short allowance Of provisions and declaring
he would share the last with all. Fortunately.
however, We fell in with the packet sbip star Of
the West, Capt Bovine, on the l7th. Capt E.
hun aney received about seventy Of the passengers
ard nine Of he crew, and kindly offered nc pas
age IN bis ship. We arrived safe in New York ON
the afternoon Of the 18th.
cannot conclude vi bout returning thanks Ia
my cabin passengers, Mr.. Riches and Mr. Fraz.
power TO rescue the passengers, and but for whose
sxei.,'ori many would have suffered severely.
w. O'NETL,
Late Commander ship Unicorn.