New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-19
MARINE AFFAIRS.
ross OF THE SHIP LIVING AGE IN THE
CHINA SEA.

Nc
INC letter from the captains wife, who was on oo"u
s;ro IN Ter account Of the loss Of the ship and the
onderul preservation of life than has before been re-
.s;ved. We publish the letter below;
ec''e'' CaGoS China, March l, 1855.
NJ Dr.R FArHER:-You will no doubt be some
That surprised TO receive letter IRON me Wnten at
~ Mace. but what have to relate will explain all
az tardIv know how 10 give you an account OF our
s,asdfa shipwreck and wonderful preservation from
Seeth. Suely this has been very adventurous
x ACE 10 ms thus far, considering all we have expert
s:sJ since we left home. We leh Shanghai the 27th
of December with strong fair wind, hoping to make
. sne massage down the China Sea. But the weather
Was go thick that II. Robert Holmes, the CaPtain,l
wss unable TO get an observation, which made him
verv uneasy as the China Sea is the most dangerous
sea 10 navigate without sun, moon or stars:
Sunday evening the fourth out, felt lt'le anxious
,oyself but when Robert told me he was quite sure
20 we're south of Pratas Shoals, felt easy ana re-
tired il being the last night of the year 70 dream OF
home and happy new-years morning Az - CLOCK
Monday morning sIs se iboarbt we were clear Of
yak;ng me out of a sound sleep. Robert was IN bed
AT the time but not asleep, having been up nearly al
night We both sprang from bed, and robert Tor the
deck | at first thought i was fnghtened Dut I'M
mediatey gave up that idea and thought it would be
qrite as well TO dress myself ana prepare Tor boat
excursion So l commenced feeling about for my
clothes III was very dark al the time, but had not
time TO Get ANYTHING before the cabin stove all in
n;eces I gave 10 further thought TO dressing,
but ran just as I wns in my nightclohes, for sIe
deck: and there such sight as mo. my view |
hope never TO see again. II was dreadfuly dark
re most fearful seas breaking completely over
the ship shaking like reed in the wind, aud men
running hither and bither in the greatest confusion.
The fret thing to be thought Of when there's hope
Of saving the ship is the preservation of life; and as
we were in that condition. first thoughts for
our personal safety. The boats had been ell washed
away and oil we could do TO cling to the wreck,
which at that time thought would not hold together
till morning. As soon as Robert to me he said,
n = I'LL
and certainly thought should was very calm,
did not scream make any noise. But thought of
home and my dear father, mother brothers and sisters
with the most tender feelings of regret that should
never see them again. Yet l was glad was with
Robert. feb as / always thought should fee-h he
must die by shipwreck should wish TO be with him,
dreadful as II would be.
In the darkness and desolaton Robert was trying to
cheerte with hopes that if the ship held together
I'LL daylight land we hardly thought ii would J
something might be done. 1t did hold together, and
when il light enough to see r. found that If the
ship could be forced up high the reef away from the
force of the eea, we might have a little hope Conse-
quenty he ordered the foremost cut away, the gans
thrown overheard, and both anchors let go, beside
throwing large quantities OF deck lOad which
consisted Of beef pork bread and various other things.
1t Just the thing to do, for the gradually forced
the ship into nine and half feet OF water which saved
our lives. Could that not have been done the ship must
have gone TO pieces before anything could have been
made in the shape of raft boat. All this time, until
daylight about two hours was in my night clothes
and drenched with salt water. But wise thought oc.
cured TO me- and told X. he would get me pair OF
the mates pants would put them on; which he did,
and was quite comfortable.
When the ship commenced moving on the reef and we
had hopes she might hold together day or two, we
began TO fear attacks from pirates, who are very pen
ty in this sea- and who sure to show no mercy to
people in condition. So | cut my hair short,
thinking should fare better TO be dressed IN boy
clothes and besides, had combs to put my halr up
with they having been all washed away. we had no
place to go but the forward part of the ship and there
we went; after which the cook and steward managed
TO get some breakfast which was glad to see for the
sake of the men; for myself don't think was hun
cry. When night The question arose as to where
we should sleep II decided that it should be I'M
der the tOpg alsnt forecaste. had the best place
dry board on top of tar-barre with blanket one
OF the aalors let me have Ii was novel sight to see
us all piled in there oseher-mates, sailors, cook,
steward Robert and myself but II was the safest part
of the WEEK. and the only place for us. DO you think
slept much did not at all Thus ended the first
dayof my shipwleck experience. must not forget TO
tell you that the same day trunks Were got out
fom the cabin by the exertons of the mate, which ap
Ireciste now | have got on shore don't know what
should have done without them, for am sure could
not have got any clothes made here. We lost, how
ever great many and Robert lost all his nautical in
stnmonts, charts, books navigation, with all our
OTHER hooks. The only savsd rs Bible, Which
Caroline care before she rent out West. 4 UdtUe
II mere than eUer.
On the third day after wreck the sun came out,
and X. with the mates instruments and books was
enabled TO ascertain where we were. We were the
Fratas Shoals-the much dreaded reef can't give
You full description OF II, but can say Is quite ex
tensive very dangerous and has the most beautiful
bottom ever saw, being all coral.
Ever after we had hopes. The officers and men
were busy building boat in order that might have
means Of conveyance from the wreck to the island,
which 10 our Joy we saw at some eight miles distance
on the third day after misfortune. Sunday, the
9TH OF January, was more Moderate. Launched the
boat they had made, which X. said looked like mud
scow, and the mate with eight men started for tn,
island. The only trouble they had in getting through
the breakers the boat filling with water. They
reached the land IN safety which they found barreI
and unh habted In three days they returned, loade'
raft with provisions which with the boat and twelv
men, including the mate started OFF for the island
intending 10 return for the rest OF us the next day
but il came on TO blow again which kept them Their
for three aud half weeks Ii seemed as If we wer
destined never to get away from tho ship. All th
time we were very uncomfortable, our beds, blanket
and clothes being constantly damped with the spray
We could not like the lrishman, say of our blanket
what he saio of his wooden stockings, However We
they might be they were always dry and comfor
abler
Again our men went to work and built another boa
and raft to us in the ship should 20 piece.
At the end of nearly four weeks several of the me
came from the island, and the next day all left tn
ship, taking RATS and boats all the provision
We could carry. OF course we had TO 20 through IN
break to get inside the reef but have got 10
quite brave was not frightened ia the least. W,
were fortunate enough to get through without takns
mind that after all we had gore through. Arrived Al
the island the next morning, the 9TH of February. We
were on the wreck thirty six days
We made ourselves quite comfortable on the island,
living in tents which the mate had erected | never
enjoyed anything more than did running about on the
beach after being SO long confined TO the quar-
fere of the wreck. The next thing 10 be thought of
how w. should get from the islaud to Hong Kong
distance of 200 miles. Our boats being flat. bottomed
would not sail by the wind, and could not have a