New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-19
struck the rock, he might have been pitched ay feet


into The water.
About o'clock faint light llumined the horizon,
and all hands gathered upeo the windwari side TO
waich the signs Of land. The ugly grating and hump
ing still continued among the coral rocks which were
plainly visible at the depth Of three four feet under
The bows. The vessel now lay on her side, and II
was clear that nothing could get Der of the reef until
her cargo bad been carried ashore. The life boat was
accordingly lowered with a view Of ascertainng the
place of landing, and the mate and three sail
ors who in it rugged at the oar usns their beat
efforts 10 row Der the breakers into the smooth
weftr which lay few rods beyond, and at last pro-
nounced The attempt out of the question.
The Colonel then stepped in and declared they must
try sean; and again they were bafied But be
rot TO be put of in this manner. Standing al the
bows, towering a head above us ALL and with the en-
ergy Of old Roman written on his weather beaten
visage, he threw off his coat and letting himself down
by a rope into the dashing waves, which nearly
reached bis breast lie waded out to the boat and fairly
pushed over the breakers into safe harbor, whence
it carried store of provisions aud little Dan. Webster
TO the shore about three miles off. The Colonel then
ordered tmhers 10 be thrown overboard and with the
aid of Captain Swift and others of the passengers who
followed, among whom Dir. West of Washington, and
Mr.. WestbrOok, were distinguished, proceeded TO
form raft and take board the ship-stores of which
a large SUPPLY on board.
Meanwhile little Dan, who, by the way, is only if
teen years old, being left shore in order TO guard
the provisions which had been left there from the
negroes the boat returned and wss busily employed
all day in carrying barrels, boxes and luggage gener
ely TO the land, which proved 10 be the north-wes:
Caycos leland, commonly called by the fifty sixty
haf-starved coored people who nhabit Blue Caycos,
from the appearance OF the hills the northern coast
Bynightfall almost everything had been taken off
either by men by the wreckeIs. three of whom
boarded us almost at the same time and commenced
stripping the rigging end sails in good earnest, ifby
q sort Of divine right They all from Turks
Islands, whittier they proposed to take their plumber,
little more unceremoDiourly than the captain and
Col. Kinney were disposed 10 allow.
- H., l.af hn.t Lad
of passengers, among whomg whom was the Colonel,
left the schooner and it with no little pain that
we viewed the beautiful craft lying on her sdo among
the rocks the helpless victim OF the winds and waves
or our no less erciess assailanis the wreckers. To
the Colonel especially who had struggled against every
conceivable embarrassment, and had expended over
fifty thousand dollars in hard money to promote his
darling undertaking, the wreck distressing indeed.
Nevertheless, though after passing sleePess night,
be had worked in the water all day, AID had seriously
injured hin self by lifting heavy articles aud timber
from the vessel TO the boat, his courage and resolution
never failed bin an instant. He has never qualled
before any obstacles heretofore a. even now, while
so sick that he with difficulty move about, he
works with the dispatch and energy of ten ordinary
in full health, to forward his great design. His
conduct during and subsequent 10 the wreck has only
served TO increase the confidence of his in his
abilities the leader in the work of colonlzlng Gen.
trial America.
In this connection the efforts Of his ooadjutor Capt.
Swift, deserve especial mention. His thorough sea-
mansiip bis GOODNESS and un1agging energy, were Of
invaluable service. He seemed entirely to forget his
own safety in his anxiety 10 assist others.
Our adventures on the beach of Caycos Island,
where we slept for two nights miles from any human
habitaiion, as well az at Turks Island, which we
reached in two small vessels, soop of seventeen
tuns and another schooner of fourteen after rough
and dangerous passage of ninety miles eastery over
the Caycos Bank, reserve for another letter..
will merely mention that the mainmast of the lat
ter was strained in addition to other damages that
she was obliged 10 put ashore at what Is called East
Harbor some twenty miles short of her destination,
and did not arrive till two days after the sloop, which
started on the day and arrived here Monday,
the 25th inst. We have been very kindly treated by
the American Consul, Mr.. Nelson, in whose building
mott Of bur have found comfortable loo gings and
by Mr.. b. Everett Smith his predecessor nov mer-
chant the island We also under particular OBJ
legations to bis Honor, james Msck, the Vice
President Of the Colony of Turks island and the
Caycos as well as TO other members of the govern
ment whose courteous attentions to Colonel Kinney
were doubly welcome in consideration OF the crcum-
stances under which he arrived.
We leave tomorrow by British vessel for our port
of destination in Central America. VISIT.