The republic., 1851-11-01
From ihs Buffalo Courier, Oct. 81

The propeller Henry Clay, Capt. Geo. Callard,
left Cleveland on the night Of Wednesday, the 22d
inst, with a cargo Of flour and wool, for Ogdens-
burg. On the morning OF the 23d she put into
Maiden for wood, and proceeded on her trip, with
a strong wind blowing and heavy sea on. To-
wards evening the gale increased, and the propel-
Ter made but little headway About ~ O'Clock at
night, on Thursday, the 23d, while of Long Point,
Canada, David Keefe, second whceisman, with the
first wheesman, was at the wheel
II was the first mates watch, but Captain Cal
lard, who had been up all night, was on deck,
many of the hands having turned in for rest. The
glib was up and the helm hard down, when OF a
sudden the propeller broached to, and rolled over
on one side in the trough OF the sea DAVID keele
was thrown, by the suddenness OF the lurch, on TO
the other wheelsnan, against the side OF the wheel
house. The first thing he felt, after the sudden
broaching was the sensation OF the vessel going
over on to her side, and he heard the captains
voice calling loudly on the TO get the anchor
out and the vessels head to the wind. He left the
wheelhouse TO assist in casting over the anchor,
and found that no person could stand upon deck,
in consequence Of it's slanting position. II was
found impossible to cast over her anchor, and, IN
making the attempt, hand was washed over
board off of the forward deck. In going over he
caught hold OF fender-rope, and hung on until
the mate and keefe, having thrown MIN nne,
dragged him ON deck through the port hole The
vessel lay rolling in the trough of the sea for about
twenty minutes, all efforts TO right her proving
unavailing.
There was but one female passenger ON board,
who got on at Cleveland, but we could not ascer-
tain her name. Captain Cnlard, hnding all efforts
to right the vessel fruitless ashed the female and
himself to the ibstay which to the foot OF the
upper deck, and gave orders TO the crew TO lash
themselves where they could to the rigging. They
did 80, and Keefe, the survivor made himself last
to piece OF rope hanging down at the s,de- In
about ten minutes after they were ashed, the deck
and cabins all came out and were washed over.
Immediately the noise Of the parting deck was
heard all hands endeavored to free themselves
from their fastenngs, and two of the firemen low
he hQa an N.
seen. They were doubtless Immediately swamped
by the Keefe released himself and ran for
ward. He saw Captain Calard, himself still ias-
tened to the rigging, endeavoring TO release the e-
male, but at that moment deck, cabins, and every
thing loose went overheard, and Keefe jumped in
among a quantity OF floating flour barrels and
pieces of the wreck. Immediately she parted the
hull keeed right over toward the shore, bottom
up dragging down 10 watcry grave all who
were fastened to the rigging.
After jumping overheard, Keefe came in contact
with portion of the pilot house deck, about twen
ty feet long, to which he clung by his hands and
arms, with his legs and body in the water. He
found ten others hanging on in the same manner.
among whom were the first mate and fret and
second engineers. No person spoke but the hrst
engin eer, and nc counted the heads and said there
were ten on the wreck. II was about two O'Clock
when the deck parted, and in about fifteen min
utes the second engineer dropped his head as il in
in a doze and soon losing his hold, rolled off into
the water. The first engineer went of IN the came
manner in ten minutes afterwards. Not word
was spoken, and the poor fellows who were washed
off seemed to fall into doze, and the SURVIVORS
could see them distinctly they rolled off into the
sea.
When daylight came three only were left cling
ing to the deck-David Keefe, the first mate, and
the first wheelsman They were much exhausted,
but managed to get on to the wreck, 10 which they
clung and TO hang on to piece of railing, and an
iron spike, which they found floating by them,
and with which they formed kind of mast, by
sticking it into the stove pipe hole in the deck.
Without this they could not have remained on the
wreck and round the three survivors clupg After
they had somewhat rallied, the mate found piece
of floating carpet, which he secured, and with
which they made temporary sail, fastening it to
two nails in the top of the pole, and holding the
other end in their hands.
About eight O'Clock vessel hove in sight, about
ten miles off. She did not the wreck, how
ever until she got close by, when she ran close in,
and cast out two ropes to the men. keefe caught
the rope that fell near hm, having previously seen
his two companions make grab at the other, and
miss it. He clung to the rope with his hands, and
was Immediately dragged from the raft. In this
condition, clinging only by his hands to the rope,
and after all the exertions he had previously un-
dcrgone, he absolutely towcd quarter OF
mile through the water before he could be got
safely on deck. When rescued his strength was
Just failing him.
At this time the wind blowing gale, and
the ran very high, rendering 1T impossible for
the brig, which was old, to put back or attempt to
rescue the two men left the wreck Keefe did
not, therefore, sec his companions again, although
he believes he could dstlngulsn the ralt win the
sails still up. They were in good spirits, and in
possession of their faculties when he left the wreck,
and there is good chance, we believe, of their
cape. The wind blowing towards the shore,
and they could make abouta mile an hour. They
were about four miles from land, between the
point and the cut, and we informed by the most
experienced seamcn that there is no current at
that point to divert the course of the raft
The brig landed David Keefe at Grand River,
Canada. The survivor is single man, about
twenty two years of age, and had been aboard the
propeller since the 22d July. Captain Calard is
an old citizen of Buffalo, much respected and be-
loved, and leaves wife and two children to mourn
his unhappy fate. He has seen much service, hav
ing been an officer in the Texan navy, and is
widely known the inventor of the signal lantern
for Distinguishing vessels at sea, now used by our
navy and merchant vessels. He was part owner OF
the Henry Clay.
The following are the names of those lost far
as asccrtaincd:
George Callard, captain, of Buffalo; Orestes
Root, clerk, of Black River; Edward Phlips, frat
engineer, of Cleveland; Henry G. Baldwin, second
engineer, of Black River; r. L. Dowd, first mate,
Of Euclid; John Ripley, wheelsman, from Canada;
Peter Green, deck hand, residence unknown.
In addition to these, there were on board the i'll
fated vessel the secopd mate. two fremen, wheels.
man, several deck hands, cook, waiter, and
lady, whose names we could not learn.