The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-18

IS usual during the rest Of the afternoon and at ve
was our usual custom got supper. This night, how.
ever, the sarboard watch engaged in shortening
sail 1t was my watch below from six to eight though
spent the most of 1t deck lido not remember seeing
the passengers more cheerful than they were this
ing conversed with number relative their inten-
tons on their arrival the friends they expected to
and their prospects At P. NJ bid them good night
and in obedience to the command Of the mate went
aoft and helped to fur the mansa After executing
few other orders, it being my lookout, went forward
and relieved it, remember about half past
eight. When stepped the forecastle heard the
mate order the lead to be carried forward The had
just picked up and got forward with it when she
struck Orders were given Immediately to brace the
yards round, which was done possible but
without effect By this time the passengers we're all on
deck running and screeching eve ost are lost
and crowcng the deck, that it almost impossible
to get from one part of the ship to the other The Cap
tain ordered the boats to be cleared and launched The
two ifeboats launched first and four got
the starbcard boat taking with them two of water
compass, and some bread They remained in the boat
all night, and with the greatest difficulty kept her from
being stove The larboard boat safely launched and
but about half hour after stove under the quar-
ter. This caused the decks being so crowded aft
that the boat could not be dropped astern The boat at
the filled by the passengers that they bent
the cranes down to the water This boat stove Also
The loDgboat still remaining the after house. unit
to be launched without caulking Part of the
ordered however, to get that ready, and the remainder
to lay forward and get ready cut away the The
ship rolling very heavily, the breaking over
her every few minutes during the squalls Some of the
beadtays cut and everything got ready to let the
oremast oveboard but the Captain gave orders not
to cut it, the sails kept the ship from rolling. We
ord II Law do hat
the longboat ready to launch after which
caulkng tearing up quilts for the cotton 10 cauk
with We had been here but few minutes when she
went off the rock all expected she would sink immediate
y Her anchors were let go possible and after
drifting few rods she struck again heavily that it
prostrated many the deck twas evident to all
that the ship could not possibly stand such
shocks The scene dreadful beyond description.
Some upon their knees pra ing for the Lord have
mercy on them-some CRYING, others running
catching hold of the officers and crew. begging them to
them, telling them that they unfit to die
that they were unprepared to meet their God.
Some who had the evening previous been boastng of
their n6delity the first upon their knees and loud
est in their cries for God to have mercy upon them 1t
seemed evident to all that the ship would go down
Immediately Men who before this had acted their part
noby ceased to make any effort to themselves
others. Some went to cask of liquor that was be-
tween decks and there forgot their dangers and trou
bles The mate and myself went below about twelve
ascertain if could the amount Of water in the ship
1t then but little above the kcon much less than
expected. We informed them ON deck Immediately
which seemed to encourage the hope that the ship might
be kept afoat until assistance could be procured
They abored more earnestly at the pumps and all who
were willing to work we're kept caulkng the ongboAt It
almost impossible, in fact to get them to work. as
they despared of saving themselves. The mate and my
self again went to the hold to find out whether the water
gaining, and found that there seven or eight
feet Of water still endeavored to encourage the pas.
sengers to work at the pumps hoping that she might be
kept afcat till daylight At day light we looked after
the boats and found that the q 1arter beat was
stove. The mate, not being aware of its con
dition, got into 1t and attempted to bail it, bn making
progress he finally compelled to give up He theugot
into the life boat not daring to return board the sink
ing ship, which at this time rapidly going down go.
into Ct the boats that stove and hauled myself
alorg by rope Iunnins from the ship TO the feboat
into which ! got. was followed by John Best who
jumped overheard and to the boat vhi:h now
about as full as it would hold. The spray breaking
over it. The captain the last who got into the life
boat, ard then ne had to be urged very strongly
before he would consent to leave the vessel.
When the passengers saw him leave the ship,
they knew there longer any hope, and
became perfectly frantic With despair, screaming
and calling wildly for that assistance which
it was impossible to render them As the captain
left six of the crew who still remained in the ship got
ready the long boat into which several OF The pas
sepge-s jumped Unfortunately. saw anything
in my life fearful. Women and jumped overheard
from the after part Of the vessel where the boat
lay, and many drowned. One of ths who was
in the long boat compelled with hatchct to keep
OF the passengers who crswdiDg into the boat
who if allowed to enter it, would undoubtedly have sunk
it. We cut boat loose from the vessel rugged q sort
of sail and be fore the wind. The ongboat followed
imme daty, and we kept company for short distance,
when separated but still kept in sight We saw the
picked up betweenswo and three hours after
left The vessel About two hours Aterwe were picked
up by the Reuben Carver Captain Cobb have only to
say that received every kindness and attention that
the captain, his wife, AMI crew, could ren5ec US,
s. W. 2.
List OF Officers and Crew.
no fo low sct HAT tof