Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-05-13

e,- Lieut.. c. Saunders, U. s. r. NJ.
has furnished us with the following par.
ticulars in regard 10 the loss OF the Light
Ship Florida, while on her passage from
Key West TO this port she was TO have
been stationed at Brenton's Reef the
particulars will be found exceedingly in
teresling:-
At6. 30. u. III. OH the 18th OF April,
made sail and stood out from Key West
tor sea a. m, discharged pilot and
stood S. f.. 1T g. 80 a. M, on the 10th,
discovered that the vessel was leaking
badly, both sides Of the stem. The ior-
m.r keeier Of the Light-ShiP, Capt.
Place, cut away the ceiling in tile for
ward store-r room, 10 endeavor to stop tho
leak. and found the stem roted 10 shell,
as also were the timbers adjoining
l7th, the ship making water so az TO
keep the pumps manned all the time,
and was compelled to shorten sail to re-
lieve her. At 8 30, A. NJ, anchored in
aide OF Carysiool Reef, near the Light
house, to make an effort TO stop the leak.
Morning Of the 18th, got man over
the bows, and nailed tarpaulln over
the stem aud hawsePiPe on the star
board bow; and finding there was no
chance to get hack TO Key West, the
wind ami current being against us, got
underweigh and stood out, with the en-
deavor to reach Charleston for repairs.
10TH found the chip lenking badly, SO
as to keep the pumps constantly At work,
in order TO keep her tree, a heavy gale
blowing from the N. w; under short sail,
to ease the ship.
goth, tn day the vessel making dead
drifts TO the eastward and blowing a
heavy gale from w. N. w; found bow
spirit was worrying the stem, and there
tore causing the leak TO Increase by the
working Of the EN-. Cut away tho
bowsprit and anchor from the bow. 10
relieve the ship as much as possible -
pumps constantly going.
2lst lying to +; found that one Of To
toward lantern posts was working loose
in the step, and that the vessel must 90
down unless lightcned threw overheard
al the bnlas, (20 tons) and moved
everything aft to put the ship down by
the stcrn-a heavy and dangerous sea
running. 22d, lying to a drudge ahead
TO keep her up TO The sea, drifting to the
o .stward and the pumps constantly
going. 23d, lying to blowing hard from
w. ~ W., aud high sea at 9 A. NJ,
moderated. wore ship TO S. S. K. with
intention Of making the nearest land,
wLlch was Abico.
2ith, reduced sail and lightcncd ship
still further until an opportunity offered
TO abandon The ship, as the fore-stay-
could not be used Tor fear Of working off
stem, and the vessel being now almost
unmanageahle, so as 10 he unable 10
make sail for fear OF laundering.
25th, weather moderate and smooth
sea rugged stage over the bows, and
Capt. Place with Capt. Briggs pass.
cngrr, got over and found the stem start
ed "ti, rotten 10 a perfect shell, and some
Of the bolts working out ;hawscpiprs, or
NIPPLE, so rotten that they would not
EoId Il copper-nail and were springing
oil with several large holes through
the bows. just above the copper Of tho
ship, IN one OF hich Capt. Pace showed
the handle OF Il hamme: through and
in another hole about ten pounds Of
oakum in another he drove a hall-nch
wooden plug the wood being entirely
rotten around the fastening Of the ship,
under 10th bows and washing of, with
une plank started oil neur the copper,
and one on the starhonrd quarter the
stem post, and rudder rotten. and some
oi the bolts on the rudder. for the hracrr,
worked out the vessel being now un.
l. anageablc, as she Was SO much by the
stem.
Goth. removed aft everything thas
could nc got al, but without success at
3 =. NJ, saw "A sail standing to the west
ward made n signal Of distress, RS, on
further examination, found the ship in a
sinking condition - the stem started of
from the woodends. At p. NJ, spoke
The whale bark Stafford. Francs, mas
ter and Capt Moore determined. after
a consultation with his officers and crew,
to abandon the ship, AZ the least breeze
Of wind would swamp her, being IN a
wore condition than was at first suppos-
ed Capt. Francis Of the Stafford, eX-
amincd her aud expressed the same
opinion /; a, IL, A. NJ, abandoned the
sh:p. iavIng removed 10 tae Stafford tho
provisions and effects OF the officers and
crew. A few hours afterwards, we saw
the Florida sink under the water.
Capt. Francis assured Capt. Moore
that he would embrace the first oppor.
tunity orputting him, his officers and
crew on board Of a vessel bound 10 tho
United States.
29th, spoke the ship Sarah Boyd, Capt.
Whtmore. bound to the Y. s., from
Sar,,a lie Grand Cuba, who took all on
board. and landed us in New York, on
the 9h Of May. Capt. Francis and Capt.
Whitmorc treated us, while on board OF
their respective vessels. with every At
lcniion and kindness, and rnlircly de-
clined any remuneration for their trouble
or delay.
The Florida was al old ship and was
not lt to undertake the voyage Capt.
Moore and Lieut.. Saunders are able and
experienced officers, and they made II
very narrow escape. Lieut.. Sauna ers
arrived ~ lie home in this town yester.
day morning
us-We iurnsh tho so-calcd Maine
Law, which passed the General Assem-
bly, last week, TO our readers, in an ex.
ira, this morning. We commend il to
the careful perussl, ne they will prob.
ably have occasion hereafter 10 UNDER
stand all its provisions it would also
be we'll for every one to preserve their
copy Tor future reference, as many qucs.
tons vii undoubtedly arise, before long,
when 1t will be necessary to refer to tho