Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-05-11

cIc OF tle most remarkable instances
ofpreservaion from slipwrcck at sea has
Just happened in the loss of the ship Wm.
Laytin. The New York Herald SAYS, the
following statement of this disastrous
wreck and wonderful preservation of tho
most of the crew, has been furnished us
10y Mr.. Tucker, the commander OF the
ship
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN TUCKER.
The ship William Laytin sailed from
This port, bound to Antwerp. unicr my
command, on the 10th of February last
She was loaded with rich cargo, con-
sisting OF cotton, flour and PROVISIONS
At the time of sailing, there were on board
twenty-five persons, including officers and
crew. The ship William Laytin was a
new vessel, having been built and launch
cd at Williamsburgh not much over a
year ago. She was well built, and as
Staunch vessel as sails out of the ports of
New York. Our voyage was fair an
prosperous for four days after our depart
urc but on the Goth of February we en-
countered one Of the severest gales that
sweeps the ocean. We were, at tile time
of this gale, in latitude 80 north, and lon
gitudc 80 west. Preceding the gale was
II calm, which lasted for some hours, and
during which our ship ma le but little
hcadway. This was on the morning of
the Goth of February.
Following this calm, came the hurri-
cane, which dismantlcd my ship, making
her perfect wreck, and cntaiiing on my
self and my crew a period of suffering hard
ly equallea in the most disastrous and per-
ilous stories Of the sea. The wind came
from the northeast and with it came Il
heavy, dangerous sea-. The order was
ct once given to rake in SAIL which or
der was promptly compl'el with. The
ship was hove to unt'e,' her main spencer
and the head OF recfspanker. In this CON
dition she remaiI.ed II oundcring and roll
ing in the sea, wh;cl was making at times
Il clean breach over her decks, and threat
cning to sweep away everything on board.
We all kept up our spirits, rely ing upon
the strength of our vessel to weather the
storm and come off all safe at last. In
these expectations we were all doomed to
the most painful disappointment
On the 22'l ofFebrnaly Thursday lu-
ring the fury Of the tempest, the ship sud
denly and unexpectedly sunk forward un-
til her decks we've level with the vatcr,
and perhaps a little under water and then
fell over upon her beam ends Our last
and only resort, at this most trying june.
ture of affairs, was to cut away the masts
which was done as soon as possible. Al
three masts were cut from the decks; ant
in five minutes after clearing the hull, it
rightcd again, much to the relief Of all
The cause Of the ship pitching forward il
the manner described is unknown to ne
When the ship came up again, after loos
ing her masts, we were still in condition
truly pcrilous AMI apparently hopeless
Deprived of all sail anl no longer able to
keep the vessel hove to, head to the win,
sea, she hoated a helpless hull, swept for,
and att with almost every wave
In abont five minutes after the shil
rose from her beams enls, she shipped
tremendous sea that carried overheard tn
poop deck, midship house, all our boat
and two of our crew and tie stewarless
The name of the stcwnrtess was Ann For
syth, und John Costcr AMI Wm Brown
were the two lost men. Nothing now re
manned above the hatchlcss but the VIC
randall deck, in which the remainder O
the crew took shelter, each one feeling tha
he might be compelled soon to follow
those already gone. For our better sccll
rity. we each lashed ourselves to the wrecl
with whatever of the rigging or ship
ropes we could get hold of, This alon
is what saved us from being all swcp
away.
In this condition, tied to the wreck an
constantly drenchel and almost smothcre
hy brceching seas, we remained 6 long day
;aud nights, each minute of which was a
most an eternity of agony. We were VI
:able to loosen ourselves or stir about til
ship, for fear of being carried overheard
We waited, but waited in vain for III
lin the sea or tempest The first day pa'
;sstseur lashing, and we were weak wit
hunger. The second day, and the knaw
ing of hunger male all other suffering ii
~ significant in co nparison, The third da
and our thirst and hung 4 toget 1cr held |
in tortures but little short Of the pains
hell itself. Death at this time would ha,
Eboen relief. In the meantime tho hatcl
,cs Of the ship had burst open, and ii
,cargo..was floating around us, but none
the provisions came within our reach.
The knowledge that our ships hold w
full of provisions, and we were starvil
mad unable to reach it, only lded to OF
.sufferings. Still, to aggravatc our pail
the potash in the ship was dissolving, al
making a ley that was eating into o
flesh. Having no water, we each took.
piece Of lead into our mouths, AMI che,
ing this kept our mouths moist, and '
found it to be a great relief. At this per
od of orr sufferings, rat was seen swim
ming about, and coming near enough
one of tho sailors, it was captured. Ne
or did hunter secure his gamo with grea
er satisfaction than did the seaman sec,l
this drowning rat. The rat was shar'
among the company; and never was mo
ceau received with better relish. "A
thst we had in addition to this rat, we
Al 4 u q Il l.