The true Democrat., 1854-08-02
Collision at Sea---Loss of the Ships
 Trade Wind and Qlvmnus.

The ships Trade Wind and Olympus came in collision at II o'clock on the night of June 26, which resulted in the loss of both ships and twenty-four lives.
 The Olympus, Capt. Wilson, sailed from L- verpool on 23d of May, for Boston, with forty passengers and crew numbering thirteen.
 The Trade Wind, Capt. Smith, cleared at Mobile, on the Sd ult. for Liverpool, with se- venteen passengers and crew of thirty-four. On the night above mentioned, it being very dark, the weather thick, and the wind blowing fresh, the two ships came in collision, when the bows of the Trade Wind were stove in, and both vessels filled and went down within few hours. The captain, thirty seven of the pas sengers, and ten of the crew of the Olympus, and all the passengers, and ten of the crew of Trade Wind were saved. This shows the loss of the Olympus to be three passengers and three of the crew. Eighteen of the Trade Winds crew perisheC
 The cargo of the Trade Wind was composed of 4,657 bales cotton. The sea was running very heavy, though the wind moderated fast The ship gradually settled as the cotton became soaked.
 A portion of the captains statement is as fol- lows:
 The colors were set at the mizen-sky sail masthead, union down, to attract attention.- ln the mean time the work of destruction went rapidly on in the ships hull. The upper deck burst and commenced break ing up, permitting the cotton to float; the spare spars, skylights, hatches companion ways etc. etc, were carried of, whirling and turning over while within the vortex surrounding the ship to the distance of some 50 yards, but making fine rafts after getting beyond the circle.
 The ship settled with every sea that swept her, till about 6.3O A. M., she made her final plunge, sinking very fast, carrying all down with her to some depth, when we immediately rose again to the surface, surrounded by the planking of the deck, and few bales of cot ton.
 The expert swimmers immediately united and collected all the floating blanks and spars at hand and formed rafts, on which we diyid ed ourselves to the number of sixteen men, while others took to the foremast, which had remained by the ship until she sank, and was still ahoat.
 The rest sank to rise no more; the foremast must have proved but temporary refuge as the descending ship must have drawn it down as she settled, as some of the rigging was at- tached to it.
 Atterrecovering our strength, (much exhaust | our rafts in the very heavy sea running at the tlme,) we took occasion to improve and add to them from time to time, out of the mass of wrecked stuff around us. until about4h r. M.. or after ten hours exposure to our perilous and exposed situation, we were mercifullv rescued by the boats of the Belgian barque Stadt Ant werpen
 The Trade Wind was one of the finest clip pers built in New York. She was 2,OlS tons burden, about three years old, valued at S1OO,- GOO, and is largely insured in Wall street. Her freight is valued at $5o,0OO and the cargo at about S25O,OOO, the latter being principally in- sured in England. She was owned by w. Platt & Son, of Philadelphia. and Booth & Ed gar and others of New York.
 The Olympus was built in Kenrebunk. in 1850 and was "A tons register; was worth about SooooO, the cargo S2OO,0OO, and the freight S15,OO0. The Olympus was insured at the eastward where it is presumed the cargo or a portion of it is also insured.