New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-20
MARINE AFFAIRS.

ACCIDENT on THE SOUsD.-About 10 O'Clock on
Wednesday night the steamer City of Hartford, from
New York for Hartford, when about eighteen miles
from SaybIook ran into the schooner b. f. Braioerd,
frcm Portland, bound 10 New-York. The steamer
struck the stern of the schooner and carried away the
rudder and did other injury to the stern. The hands
on board the schooner are supposed 10 have been
asleep and she was not seen by the steamer until too
close 10 avoid collision. The schooner was 20 we'd
into Saybrook.
TIKI PACIFIC SoUADROs.-A letter written on board
the United States ship-of-war Independence dated
Paita, Jure H. says that portion of the Pacific
squadron has been sngulary unfortunate, not only in
the number Of deaths that have occurred bat also in
The necessity that has arisen for almost constant
CourtMsftial Among the deaths are those OF Passed
Midshipmen Washington Totten of Washington,
ID. c, and Lieut.. John Mooney of Maine, who jumped
overheard and was drowned. Lieut.. Rhmd has been
dismissed f,om the Pacific squadron Oh charges pre-
fened against him for dsrespect TO Capt Boutwell, Of
the John Adams. Three or four other officers are TO
be tricc but their sentence it il anticipated will not
be quite so severe. The health of the Independence
and the jobs Adams was good. The former expected
TO leave fer san Francisco in few days after the
cate Of the letter.
CATCHING SWORD FIsH.-A correspondent at Ed
count OF his experience in fishing for sword fish:
"In company with two old " dogs started in
fishing boat the other day TO cruise for sword fish
We left here about clock in the morning carrying
provisions with u.s. for we expected be out all day
We had fine breeze and soon reached the ground
which is distant from here about four miles 1t
Just the right time to see fish, our skipper assured us,
as the cay before had been rainy. Our skipper Tho
nv wall a Fisher "a Ia
military termed "Dan," by which cogocmen he pre-
ferred 10 be known on this side Of Cape Horn While
on the way 10 tho ground, and while looking ont
for fish my companions treated me 10 numerous
yarns detailing stirring adventures encountered IN
their whaling cruises, which interested me that
bad forgotten the object of our cruise, aud could have
been content TO forogo the sport aud remain
a hstener Not 80 my companions, however, ana
Dan who lad discovered fish To the lcewa ard OF
the boat headed for him al while his companion
commenced 10 "clcar away" for fight. Dams OBJ
icc seemed TO be 10 sail "head on TO him. assigning
TO mo az a reason that the fish could not see ahead.
After various he had succeeded IN bringing
The boat in range when he resigned the tiler 70 hlS
companion aud went forward to the bow, taking with
him harpoon. The sword fish was coming along al
rapid upon the top of the water aod was begin
niug TO feM The Quences OF collision. However,
kept still, and when the fish within ROD OF tue
boat Dan made demonstration which caused the FISH
10 wear around al which moment Dan hurled tho
harpoon at him with surprising precision and force,
line fast TO the harpOon which ran over the side with
Great rnpidity for the fish, wounded Owed
down overwhelmingly The line was made fast TO an
EMMY kcp, headed up, which was now thrOSn over
board, and We started of 10 AVOID TOO close acquamI
ance with the wounded and excited creature for The
present should think il full ten minutes before
lie again APPEARED upon the surface aud when ne dad
he went through the water with astonishing velocity
Dan said az The rate OF p knots dragging with nun
The key which most Of the time under water
This rate Of speed soon exhausted him, however AMI
he finally lsy still upon the surface. On tins we
sieered for the keg and took II on board and then eau
iiously approached me fish When near enough Dan
dealt him two well directed blows with "a lance 10
spade as he termed it upon las backbone, "hich
caused hun to stTugg cOnvulsiyey for few moments
when he token alongside and rolled on bosrj. In
this way euCccedod in capturing four OF these
monsters, The smallest of which weighed about 100
pounds and the largest abou, $50 pounds IL IS by all
odds The exciting sport have ever engaged 10,
while The beueht accruing 20 ones health Thereby Is
not small in i'm Orance. Werclurned here inst the
evening shades were beginning 30 settle down, and
the rclish with which / discussed a slice from the
"nspe Of one Of t1e fish worth to me more IN An
ell the trouble and expense Of coming here.
/ have eSo enjoyed most excellent sport In taking
sculp, teuog and rock bass all OF which quite
rlerops here az this season.
The crops on the islands look remarkably wen. and
nc iermers, despite the lateneSs Of the season,
EOOl'natured I.
TARGET PRACTICE on THE UNITED STATES FRsArE
CoNGRES~-One Of the officers the Congress writes
to me Journal q Commerce under date Of the 18th;
As tb's DAY had been set spar, before left New
Io'k ior ny ing the guns of our frisae, soon as we
Iached The extreme part OF the Lower BAY Just inside
OF sandy Hook, our anchors were let 90 again, and
ttes an early diuDor prepa atoms were made for the
Important duty Target was carried out 500 yards
nom The ship, The men were summoned TO quarters
aoo me whole remaining portion Of the Az hiss been
ntnat dali OH ftlIs IL n