Washington sentinel., 1855-07-21

CORES pondence OF che N Y. Evening Post
Interesting News from Col. Kinney's Ex-
pedition-Wreck of his Schooner, the
Emma. n
GRAND Turk, Turks ISLAND, w. L.,
June 81, 1855.
Ii was three weeks ago yesterday evening when
Col. Kinney, with eighteen other passengers, set
sail in the Emma, fast sailing schooner Of about
one hundred and thirty tons, under command Of
Captain b. l.. Norris, from New York for Kings
ton, Jamaica, and for San Juan del Nicaragua.
Finding that the prosecutions to which he had
been subjected at the hands Of interested parties
would only cease with the breaking up of his pro-
jected expedition to Nicaragua, he determined TO
forego' his desire for fair trial in the United
States courts, and accordingly chartered and pro-
yisloned the Emma, in the expectation of reach
ing San Juan before the first Of June.
Our companions on the voyage were mostly
young, unmarried men, mechanics and merchants,
with sprinkling Of western frontiersmen, who
had been more Injured than the rest TO the hard
ships of out-of-door life.
On the 18th, at two o clock p. m, we saw land
ahead, bearing southwesterly which proved to be
the north part of the Caycos Islands, group OF
three, forming the east side of Turk s Island Pas
sage.
Through this passage, which is considered by
navgators very safe one, the captain should
have run his vessel, but, in consequence Of losing
his reckoning, he took another direction, steering
westerly before the wind down the island towards
the Caycos Passage, which is lined for forty or
fifty miles with dangerous reefs, extending long
distance from shore. At o'clock, p. m, we
were startled by "shout of "Breakers ahead ~
and sure enough, on looking over the bows, we
found ourselves within half cables length Of the
breakers of st. Phillips reef, and sailing at the
rate of six knots hour directly upon il. For
tunately however, by the exertions Of the passen-
gers under command Of Captain Swift, we were
saved from running aground, but the vessel made
a most narrow escape.
| We once more steercd down the coast; about a
quarter before eleven clock, we were reused
from our berths by tremendous jolting and
crunching against the keel, that told the whole
story. Ii was a moment of intense excitement
We had struck the same reef on which the
vessel had run in the afternoon, some forty miles
TO the westward, and with sails all spread, were
going right ahead ON the crest of the reefs In
\ vain the captain shouted "hard up the Wheel +"
and gave orders to haul in the main tack IL was
too late.
Amidst all the Colonel preserved his selfcom-
posure, and proceeded at once to secure n supply
Of provisions for the boat. Some came to him
with proposals to sail in the boat in search of land
and TO return with a report of their success
"No;" said the Colonel, ''there is not the least
danger of the ships going 10 pieces before morn
ing; the tide is ebbing, and the land is not far off
The first man who attempts TO escape by the boat
shall be shot"
This explicit declaration put a stop TO any
further agitation Of the project, through there
were quite number who still thought that Their
time for this world was up.
| AT last IL was determined TO drop our anchor
astern, thereby lessening the shock that the
schooner received from rocking on the reef, which
as il was, came very near staving in her hulk
This occupied something near two hours, the key
of the anchor being out Of order; and no chair
having been provided to attach il TO the boat, 70
that we were compelled TO fasten il by two anc
quarter inch rope, which, in case of any unusua
strain, would have snapped like so much twine
After this was done nothing remained but TO wal
in quiet till morning.
The only one who seemed to have no care a
oil on his mind was little Daniel Webster, VIII,
whistled and sang as if he was in his element
TO the great horror Of one of the more sobe
minded, who recommended him to confne him
self to saying his prayers and other exercises ap
propriate 10 so solemn occasion, This con
duct, however, was entirely consistent with hi
behaviour throughout the voyage, for Dan ,ha
acquired from his boating excursions in Marshfiel
harbor the expertness and freedom from fear Of a
old salt Even in the afternoon previous, as W
were running direct upon st. Phillips Keys, h
was sitting high up on the cross trees, coolly SUI
veyng the danger, when, had we struck the rock
he might have been pitched fifty feet into tn
water.
About four O'Clock faint light illumined III
horizon, and all hands gathered upon the wind
T ward side to watch the signs Of land. The ugl
grating and humping still continued among tn