Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-01-12

~ Capt. Heath, OF the Light Ship
"Ledyard," has handed us the follow
ing Gard we present il to our readers
without comment, and leave them TO
form their own conclusions:
TO.THE PUBLIC.
feel called " on, from sense Of du-
ty TO myself, aud lor the purpose OF sat
slying the public, inasmuch as | am
censured Tor not having afforded relief
TO the crew OF the schr. Mozelle, in her
pcrlous situation on Brenton's Reef, on
the morning o! the Cd inst, TO state the
facts respecting the situation Of the yes
sci aid myself on that occasion, and
cannot make my statement, perhaps,
more satisfactory, than by wing true
copy OF my Log Book, as recorded at
the time and attested to by that portion
ofmy crew who were then on board OF
the Light Ship, Of which am Keep
er.
Monday morning Jan. I'd, 1854. 7.
40 min., discovered the masthead oil
vessel on shore 10 the eastward OF Bren-
TONS Reef, bearing from the Ship about
n. E., apparently beating on the shore.
1t being somewhat thick, with vapor on
top OF the sea and the sea breaking over
her, | Immediately called the crew TO
man the boat. | took the second sight
in the direction Of the wrecked vessel,
and she was not TO be seen. Ii beng
80 rough, and having but one boat and
part OF my crew on board, | thought il
best 10 hold OH for while, and again
took another look and discovered the
hull Of Il vessel. In IA lew minutes the
mist clearing of and the sun getting up,
| saw with The glass two or three men
on the Beach, as near as | could Judge,
distance about two miles wILd fresh al
". 5. w and bad sea. 8 a. m, wind
very fresh, w. S. w. and atmosphere
smoky 9. 30 T.. m, schr. Pathfinder,
Capt. John Taylor, passed the Ships
stern and hailed, wanted TO know It
had seen vessel ashore. told him
had. He was passing the Ship very
fast !; | think he said il was reported that
there was a vessel on shore and some
men hanging TO her rigging; fresh wind
from w. S. W.. flying cIouus and heavy
sea-"
Here it will be rccoIlectei by those Of
my crew on board, that | then express
ed my fears Tor the safety OF the vessel
and crew. The Pathfinder kept on tow
ards the wrecked vessel, and therefore
deemed il unnecessary Ia leave the Ship,
surprising tliat the men saw on the
shore might have been sumo of HE
crew. and that all the assistance needed
had already been or would be very soon
afforded to any others lha' should be IN
distress.
have been charged with not doing
my duty, by those. who, unless they had
hcen placed where | was AT the time
could not Judge ol the lac 8 correctly.
have been to sea very nearly all my HE
time. and have been master oi a vessel
upwards Of thirty years. l have ~ Ihc
course OF that tmc pcriiIed my lie III
many Instances tu save The !ivcs oi my
fellow beings AS wei as property cX-
posed To the dangers OF The sea, and
trust that all who kuow me, either on
shipboard or on shore, wall bear tcstlmo-
nv that no eXcr;lOns were ever wautlug
On my part Tor the shie;y pi human Ilic,
whenever the occasion required. My
conduct in the present Instance, L am
ready 10 account for, AT amy momeht
before the roper tribunal and ii ial
to acquit myself from blame the pubic
may then brand mc with any rpithe;
they think proper. | have clear con-
science and do not fear the result Of
the severest investigation ol my official
con Iucl OH board the Ledyard, since |
have been appointed her Keeper.
JOHN HEATH,
Keeper OF Light Ship
Jan. 4, 1854. Lcdyard.
SIsopr rur Co. ~ nr pnsrt'a IN