The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-30

them took spying. glass, and carefully exam-
ined them, to see If there was any one on board;
but could Dot see any one. At the time did not
think OF Sir John Franklin's missing ships; anxiety
was clear from fogs, and being too far past before
could make up my mind, caused me not to reduce
sail and examine them more accurately. am since
Of opinion they might possibly be the missing ships
The above can be depended on as faithful report
ofMr. Storey's statement to me of what ESQ far as
his recollection him) Captain Coward related
to him ; and, in answer to query of mine, whether
any one was present beside himself when this con-
Cleugh, the master of ship'f do not now recol-
lect the name, but he is now with the same ship,
either at Portland or Weymouth, having gone there
with cargo Of Canada timber on government ac
count, for the breakwater constructing there at the
''Island," and who, he thinks, might corroborate
the main facts of his own statement. In concluding
what Mr.. Storey knows on this subject, beg to re-
mark from what ] can understand, and from my
own observation respecting him, that he appears q
straightforward, plain-spoken seaman anda most un-
likely sort of person to circulate an untruth. Hav-
ing further ascertaned that the wife and
brother of Captain Coward were residing
at Shields. | then proceeded there, and called
on Mrs. Coward, an intelligent young person,
and on my asking if she had ever heard her husband
relate anything about meeting ships beset in the ice,
she replied yes, that within the last two or three
months he had mentioned, in the course of conver-
sation with her, that he had passed two ships i'm
bedded in very large iceberg, near each other
the one upright in the ice, the other with slight
inclination, and with the general appearance OF
having been a considerable time there, though not
much damaged and not living soul near
them. She further informed me that her husband
still commands the Renovation, and sailed from
Shields last Thursday fortnight (the 18th inst)
for Venice and that he had left his address, which
! forward:-Captain f. Coward, brig Renovation
Marco Trevisanato, Esq. merchant, Venice.
0nmy asking if any of the officers and crew Of
the Renovation. who were with him Mt the time of
nahat,e ~, in
she replied that the were with him now,
but that the mate. Mr.. Robert Simpson, is
master of the British Queen, and that he sailed from
Shields last Monday for Limerick (he 22d inst.)
to take emigrants to America, and whore in
few days he will probably arrive beg, therefore.
permission to suggest that Mr.. Simpson may
possibly be the mate spoken of in Captain Cow
ards account of the ships, and he probably may be
enabled to confirm or otherwise the statement of his
late captain, at all events he must have heard of
the circumstance, or known what was entered in the
ships ogboo on the occasion His address have also
ascertained which transmit" Captain II. Simp-
son, British Queen; Mr. Creilly, Quay Limerick
The brother of Captain Coward, now residing at
Shields, did not sec. as he was at Newcastle when
/ called He is a surgeon in respectable practice.
| have thus endeavored to trace out connecting links
which may lead to other chains Of evidence respect
ing ships having been seen drifting on an iceberg
of the Banks of Newfoundland, in April, last year,
which hope may prove satisfactory.
| have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient
servant, HENRY G. HAWKINS,
Inspecting Commander of Coast Guard.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty, Whitehall,
London
WEYMOUTH March 30, 1852.
Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
Of your letter Of the 10Th inst directing me to com
municate with Mr.. Cleugh, relative to converse
ton he had with Mr.. Coward (not Howard.) mas
ter Of the brig Renovation about two vessels having
been seen on an iceberg in the spring of 1851. Mr.
Cleugh states that at Quebec he had several meet
ings with Mr.. Coward master of the brig Renova-
tion, of Shields, who with passenger (name I'M
known,) stated that they both saw the two vessels
in position stated in the report, distant about
mile fixed in the ice, with no appearance Of any ono
on board. Mr.. Coward was then very i'll, and
called up from his bed to see them Mr..
Cleugh feels convinced that Mr. Coward is a
person of strict integrity and that he fully relies
upon his having made truthful statement Ho
thinks record of the circumstances is in the log
book ofthe Renovation. Mrs Ceugh corroborates the
whole statement. 1t was generally spoken Of at
Quebec. and whenit was talked over, Mrs. Clcugh
said to Mr.. Coward, eff you had only boarded them
and brought avestgc of the vessels you would have
the missing ships Mr. Cleugh commands the bark
Pearl. and will sail on Saturday for Quebec, and
promises to make inquiries at the Custom House.
Quebec, for verifcation of the report. Mr.. Coward
stated that the parents Of the passenger were re-
spectacle people in Limerick. enclose Mr.. Cleughs
written report. have, &C.,
MONTAGUE PAsco,
Inspecting Commander Weymouth.
Mr. cLEUGH's WRITTEN REPORT.
WEYMOUTH, March 80, 1852.
Being requested, by Captain Pasco. to give
count Of what | heard Mr.. Coward state at Quebec
concerning two vessels he passed on an iceberg, to
the best Of my recollection was as follows-While
running. with sudding sails set, about the edge OF
soundngs, they passed large iceberg. IN which
were two vessels-the ship, sitting upright,
the other with a list. He could not say whether
ship or bark, her mizenmast being gone he also
stated to me that he mentioned 1t at the Custom
House, upon arrival ut Quebec, and expressed his
regret to me at not being able to attempt to board
them, being i'll at the time; but there were other
vessels in his track, but not in sight at the time.
| left Shields April 8, 1851; arrived at Quebec May
Is, and left June 10, 1851. GEORGE CLEUGBN
Master Of bark PeaN
su sGGpl !. March 81, 1852.
sir-Reative to your teegraphc message Of this
morning, g directing me to proceed to MIR. Young,
at Shields, and ascertain if the circumstances OF the
ships and cebergs are noted in the logbook Of the
Renovation of April last" beg leave to inform
you that Immediately. proceeded thither; and had
an interview with Mr.. Young the subject, but
find there is no og-book of the Renovation at Mr.:
Youngs Office of later date than April, 1880, and
consequently that the logbook of 1851 il still aboard
that vessel. further beg to remark that on look
ing over the Renovation slogbooks ofprevious years
it is mentioned, kept by Mr. Robert Simpson, chief
mate, the same person who ! have stated in my
letter Of the 2Sth inst is at present master OF the
ship British queen. anu VINO las ne salleu lIoLi
Shields on the 22d inst. for Limerick is either now
at that port, or his passage there. beg, there
fore to submit that as he probably continued to
keep the logbook of the Renovation until he lett
her. he is likely to know the exact words entered on
the occasion and, moreover as he is probably the
| mate mentioned who had charge of the watch when
| first the icebergs and ships seen, must have
had longer. and correct view OF their state and
circumstances Mr.. Coward, the Master OF the
Renovation.
further beg to state that Mr.. Young. the owner
of the Renovation, informs me that Mr.. Coward
never mentioned to him the circumstance of having
met them but the brother of the master Ga surgeon
at Shields). whom have seen to-day, states that
within the last two months his brother had men
toned to him that he had met ships drifting with
an iceberg on his voyage 70 Quebec last year, but
did not enter into further details.
have, &c, HENRY Z. HAWKINS,
Inspecting Commander Of Coast Guard,
To the Secretary Of the Admiralty.
Confidential, CO.
COAST GUARD OFFICE, March 30, 1892.
SRI beg to acknowledge the receipt Of your
letter of the 10Th inst, immediate and confidential.