Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-08-18
EXTRAORDINARY & FATAL MARINE
DISASTER

DlSASTER.
"A disaster, most extraordinary as 10 the cause
and most fatal in the result, occurred to the gov
eminent revenue cutter fancy, yesterday after
noon, when on her passage down the bay TO
Fire Island. The fancy was strong, substan-
tial, and sea-worthy vessel, having been built
within the last three months, for the service Of
the revenue department of the government
She was swift and steady sailer, and was COM
manded by Senior Lieut.. Francis Martin. gen.
tleman of more than sixteen years standing in
his profession.
This vessel left her moorings at about quar-
ter past twelve o'clock yesterday afternoon, with
sufficient ballast of iron. The day was very
fine, and she proceeded down the bay in gallant
style, until she came to a point southwest of
Governors Island, and almost two miles and a
half from the Staten Island shore. Arrived here,
the cutter came in a line with the steamer Ga
zelle, standing for New York; from the Quar-
antine ground with large number Of emigrants
n man fell overheard from the steamer and
would have inevitably persisted but from the
prompt humanity of Capt Martin, who, with his
officers and men, perceived the accident, and
Immediately lowered boat and saved him.
The wind was then southwest with gentle
breeze, and the fancy was running under jib,
mainsail and topsail, the rest of the sails having
been previously furled. When the boat return
ed slight sprinkng of rain came on, and Capt.
Martin descended to his cabin to exchange 4
light for heavier coat; and he had scarcely Ia
ken it into his hand when his vessel received a
most terrific shock proceeding from stroke as
If given by hard substance, 10 her topmast, un-
der force of which she quivered in every plank
and joint, and Immediately settled over as if to
sink. The Captain had only time to turn round
in an endeavor to rush on deck, when he found
the water rush in, and the cutter Immediately
capsized and went down. Three men and two
boys were drowned almost Immediately, two of
the men and one Of the boys being below, just
at, or after dinner.
Captain Martin rushed up, and with the off,
GERS and the remaining portion of the crew, chung
to the spars and rigging, in very pitiful condi-
ton; and it is possible that good many more
of them would have been lost, but for the i'm
mediate assistance rendered by Capt. Hagerty,
of the steamer Thomas Hunt, plying between
this city and Shrewsbury, who Immediately flew
to their help, and with the aid of his crew and
passengers, took them from their dangerous po-
sition, and brought them to this City. Lieut..
Baldwin of the U. S. Navy, was active in help
ing them.
All hands were q good deal bruised, and the
first officer, Mr.. Sanders, was in complete state
Of exhaustion. The confusion, alarm and grief
of Capt. Martin completely Frustrated him, and
at n late hour yesterday evening, he remained at
his house in Brooklyn, in very low and nerv-
Gus state
The cause of this melancholy disaster was
what is termed 50 streak" Of wind or "whte
squall" which travelled from the shore through
the surrounding air in dark and straight line,
and actually struck the doomed vessel. 1t was
observed by some persons on the Battery, and
by gentlemen on the steps of the barge office to
run like dark bar towards the ship, and when
the point reached her, she almost Immediately
sunk. Men who have spent the better part of
their lives at sea, have met with nothing like it,
Captain Hagerty in the Thomas Hunt, expe-
rienced only mild winds at the same moment,
and the surrounding shore was calm. The Ia
ney now lies in nine fathoms of water, right in
the channel, and almost midway between the
Battery and Staten Island Her masts are Wis
IDLE above the water, from the cross trees, and
also her spars and rigging. Arrangements are
being made to raise her by means of derrick
The Captain was never aware that any Of the
men were missing.
The squal was so sudden that not ripple
was observed to indicate its approach. From
this circumstance, Capt. M. is convinced that it
did not strike in a horizontal direction, and as
proof of its great force, the vessel when knock
ed down was simultaneously submerged.
n. Y. Herald.