Washington telegraph., 1852-04-21
Account of the Loss of the Independence
From the New Orleans Picayune1

From the New Orleans Picayune1
We have received from passenger the follow
ing report of tie loss of the steamship Independ-
ence, Charles Stoddard commander, from Calves.
ton for Matagorda Bay:
The Independence left Galveston on the o5,b
inst. at 300 A. NJ, wind southeast, sea rough Az
p. NJ. of same night arrived off Pass CavaIo
bar and lay to all night. On the 26th. at : AN
attempted to cross the bar and the ship grounded
there being at the time heavy sea running. SET
all sail and worked the engine to get the shlpov
the bar AT 12 M. commenced throwing over.
board the cargo, in the hope of forcing the shin
over. At p. M. a sea boarded us and destroyed
three boats. AT P. NJ. the mate, with the oply
boat remaining, attempted to land with portion
of the lady passengers. In doing this the boat
was capsized and Mrs. Minot, with three childrer
Mrs. Jones, wife Of Lieut. Jones, and Mr.. Hovey
the mate, perished in the surf. The colors weya
then set at half-mast and signal guns fired for as
sistance from the shore. Capt Nichols. the nilo,
was on board the ship, and Capt Cummings y;ngg
inside with the pilot boat ready to render what
assistance he could, but the was too rough for
their small boats. Throughout the night signal
guns were fired, and although before dark twelve
boats could be distinctly seen inside picking IN
goods thrown overheard from the ship none of
them attempted to come to our assistance This
night was one OF the most distressing anxiety 70
all on board. At the propeller j. w. Raybun
Capt. Kerr, came down and attempted to run a
line to us, without success; we then succeeded in
transporting five ladies and three children, which
with two landed before not named made in a
nine persons placed III safety on board the prope.
Ter and six drowned. At II NJ the sea increased
Capt. Kerr did not return to the ship but pro
ceeded to pecro's Point for the purpose of sending
word to the Louisiana, at lndianola our only hone
being in receiving assistance from Capt Lawless
who unfortunately was ignorant of our perous
situation, and did not hear of it until p NJ on the
27th at which time he was preparing to start with
his ship for New Orleans. At 4 II. NJ. the smoke
from her chimneys appeared in sight and carried
Joy and hope to the wretched beings on board the
wreck. She anchored off Saluria at p NJ In
medatey three boats We're seen approaching us
from her. and proved to be Capt. Lawless in COM
mand of the starboard lie-boat of the Louisiana,
NJ. Dimond the mate, in command of the port
life-boat, and Mr. Foster, the I'd mate, in charge
of the starboard quarter boat The other beat
was left by the ship in reserve In Capt Law
less's boat was Capt Kerr, and Mr.. Thayer a
passenger on board the Louisiana from New Or
leans who nobly volunteered his services. The
life boat in command of the mate at p. NJ cap
sized in the breakers quarter of a mile to the
leeward of the ship, and just as Capt. Lawess
with his boat entered the breakers The life boat
of the mate was seen to roll over and over with
the men clinging to her and the oars When this
boat was last seen she was outside the breakers
Then night closed in after this sad spectacle and
with gloomy veil over our fate.
The worst blow of all was in witnessing the
brave fellows from the Louisiana perish as we
thought, in the surf; but thank God it was other
wise ordered. Signal fires We're kept up through
out the nigt; at II, midnight, Capt. Lawless sue
ceedcd in finding his mate and crew. who had
been washed on shore. Their boat was hauled up
on the beach, and the whole crew proceeded in
rome boat to the Louisiana. In the meantime the
Raybum had got under way and reached safe
anchorage At 2 A. NJ, on the 2stb. the wreck
broke in two; at 4 A. NJ. commenced firing signal
guns at daylight the sea was very rough, and
great fears were entertained that those on board
must perish. as the wreck would soon 20 to pieces
at A. NJ. the Raybur came down and anchored
inside the breakers Capt Kerr conceded with
Capt LawlesS that he Capt H. should command
the disembarkment there could be but one
head Nh. Dlmond mate Of the Louisiana,
then despatche board the wreck, with orders
from Capt. LawleSs TO take command there; TO
land the passengers, and the moment his orders
were disobeyed to leave the ship. He succeeded
in reaching the wreck about A. NJ, on the 2Sth,
and reported TO the captain of the wreck bis or
ders: they were complied with, aud Mr. Dimond
then remained on the wreck. and despatched his
boat with eight souls-all of whom reached the
Rayburn in safety. She was anchored inside the
breakers, to receive those that might be saved.
The sea at this time was much rougher than II
had been since we had been ashore.
Capt. Lawess despatched written orders from
the Rayh@Tn, By nearly every boat, to his mate,
Mr.. Dimond with Instructions how TO proceed;
and to the admirable discipline and hrmness OBJ
served by these two officers may be attributed the
safety of the 159 souls landed by the Louisianas
boats. Capt. Lawless furnished me with the
names of those who nobly acted in rendering such
valuable and electual service. Strange to say,
only two of the crew of the Independence render
ed any aid in the boats. Capt. Lawless speaks IN
the highest terms of Capt. Kerr, OF the Raybum;
Capt Cummings, Capt Nichols. and Capt. Hl.L
pilots at Pass Cavallo and Mr.. Decro, OF Decros
Point; also man named George, belonging to the
pilot boat.
The crew of the Louisiana hung out to the last
moment. One of her boats made nine trips to the
wreck. One of the life-boats was always kept IN
i'll the event of any of the Others being
swamped.
This is the end of the Independence, now, with
her cargo. a complete wreck.
Had it not been for the prompt assistance from
the Louisiana, nearly all on board must have per-
ished, as the sea was on the following day much
worse.
In conclusion. will only say that trust some
proper notice will be taken of the effective ser
vices rendered by the brave fellows of the LOUIS
lana. who risked their lives and labored WITHOUT
cessation until all were removed from the wreck
to place of safety.
r.