The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-05-20
Tie DAILY DISPATCH.
WRECK OF THE WILLIAM = n.ov

painful interest. Ii is plain. bur. we h.r. .n
doubt, true account of the terrible a;s.. 10
We weighed anchor on the oath March al
get sail on the same day from Liverpool hound
for New Orleans; the wind was favorable. and
the passengers seemed happy in anticina,;on
of pleasant and prosperous voyage The
Wind continued favorable for US two or three
days, until we were safely out from the chan
mel, which is most dreaded by seamen. No.
thing transpired after this worthy of note for
some days, when we experienced very hea-
Wy gale from the southwest, which lasted near.
ly two weeks; the ship being loaded very
deep with iron, and that being all in the low
er hold, caused her TO roll very badly; indeed
sometimes it was impossible to get about the
deck with safety. After this we were highly
favored, not having occasion to reef topsails
again. The pass engers were all in good health
and spirits, except the Germans, thirteen of
most were children, all | think, except three
or four. There were fifteen deaths during the
passage in all, the other two being Irish. On
the I'D instant we made land about 2 A. H.,
and ran down and passed the lighthouse on
the Hole in the Wall about A. NJ, with
strong breeze from the southeast. This we
passed safely, and made Stump Key to the
leeward at half past ten. At twelve they were
still visible.
Everything passed on as usual during the
rest of the afternoon, and at FIVE, as was our
usual custom, we got supper. This night,
however, the starboard watch were engaged in
shortening sail. Ii was my watch below from
six to eight, though 1 spent the most OF il on
deck. l do not remember seeing the passen
gers more cheerful than they were this eve.
ming. | conversed with number relative to-
their intentions on their arrival, the friends
they expected to meet, and their prospects -
At s P. M. bid them good night, and in obe-
dience to the command Of the mate went aloft
and helped TO furl the mainsail. After execu-
ting few other orders, it being my lookout,
went forward and relieved it. as near as can
remember, sabout half past eight. When
stepped ON The forecastle | heard the mate or
der the lead to be carried forward. The ma n
had just picked it up and got forward with it
when she struck. Orders were given imme-
diately to brace the yards round, which was
done as soon as possible, but without effect.
By this time the passengers were all on deck j,
running and screeching 1--WE are lost we are
lost !" and crowding the deck, so that it was
almost impossible 10 get from one part of the
ship to the other. The captain ordered the
boats to be cleared and launched. The two
life boats were launched first, and four men
got into the starboard boat, taking with them
two cans of water, compass, and some bread.
the greatest difficulty kept her from being
stove. The larboard boat was safely launched,
and about half an hour after was steve under
the quarter. This was caused by the decks
being so crowded aft that the boat could not
be dropped astern. The boat at the cranes
was so filled by the passengers that they bent
the cranes down to the water. This Eoat was
stove also. The long boat was still remaining
on tie after house, unfit to be launched with
III IS ~
however, TO get that ready, and the remainder
to lay forward and get ready to cut away the
mast. The ship wa' now rolling very heavi-
y, the sea breaking over her every few min.
utes during the squalls. Some of the head
STAYS were cut, and everything got ready to
let the foremast go overheard, but the captain
gave orders not to cut il, as the sails kept the
ship from rolling. We were ordered to lay
aft, and do what we could TO get the long boat
ready to launch, after which we commenced
caulking, tearing up our quilts for the cotton
to caulk with. We had been here but few
minutes when she went of The rock all ex-
pected she would sink Immediately. Her an,
chors were let go as soon as possible, and of.
ter drifting few rods she struck again so hea-
vily that it prostraled many on the deck, and
il was evident that the ship could not possibly
stand but q few more such shocks. The
scene was now dreadful beyond description
Some were upon their knees, praying Tor the
Lord TO have mercy on them-some were cry
ing-others were running, catching hold Of
the officers and crew, begging them TO save
them, telling them that they were unfit to die
that they were unprepared to meet their God.
Some who had the evening previous been
boasting of their infidelity, were the first upon
their knees, and loudest in their cries for God
to have mercy upon them.
Itnow seemed evident TO all that The ship
would go down Immediately. Men who be-
fore this had acted their part nobly, now
ceased to make any effort to save themselves
or others. Some went TO a cask of liquor that
was between decks, and there forgot their
dangers and troubles. The mate and myself
went belo~ about twelve, to ascertain, if we
could, the amount of water in the ship. II
was then but little above the kelson, much
less than was expected. We informed them
age the hope that the ship might be kept af1oat
until some assistance could be procured. They
labored more earnestly at the pumps, and all
who were willing to work were kept caulking
the long boat. Ii was almost impossible, in
fact, TO get them 10 work, as they despaired of
saving themselves. The mate ard myself
again went to the hold 10 find out whether the
water was gaining, and found that there were
seven or eight feet of water. We still endeav.
ored to encourage the passengers to work at
the pumps, hoping that she might be kept
afoat until daylight. At daylight we looked
after the boats, and found that the quarter
boat was stove. The mate, not being aware
of its condition, got into il and attempted to
bail il, but making no progress, he was com.
PEELED to give it up. He then got into the life
boat, not daring to return on board the sinking
ship, which was st this time rapidly going
down. got into one Of the boats that was
stove, and hauled myself along by rope run.
ming from the ship to the life boat, into which
| got. was followed by John Best, who
jumped ,varboard and swan 10 the boat, which
was now ahout as full as it would hold. The
spray was breaking over it. The captain was
the last who got into the life boat; ard even
then he 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 was no longer any hope, and be-
came perfectly frantic with despair, screaming
and calling wildly for that assistance which IT
was impossible to render them. As soon as
the captain left, six Of the crew, who still re-
mained on the ship, got ready the long boat,
into which several of the passengers jumped
Unfortunately. l never saw anything in
my life 30 fearful. Women and men jumped
overheard from the after part OF the vessel
near where the boat lay, and many were
drowned One Of the crew who was I'm the