New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-08-26
Fate of the Nautilus.

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We have been favored by Mr. John Price with the
following report of the loss Of the Nautilus taken
by himself from James Frisbee, who arrived here yes
terday morning in charge Of Mr. Cooper on She r.
NJ. Streck:
The United States mail steamship Nautilus, Capt.
J. S. Thompson, sailed from Brazos u. Jago aileet
for New Orleans at about oclock, AM, thursday,
It'll inst, with fine weather and smooth sea. AT
about or A o'clock in the afternoon informed Capt.
Thompson that having an unusually large NUMBER OF
Messengers and being short OF ice, thought the fesh
provisions would spoil. He Immediately changed his
course for Galveston, the weather continuing hne,
and about II N. On Friday, the sth, made the High
islands about 80 miles to the east OF Galveston and
arrived at Galveston, at the Brick wharf, about
o'clock, P. NJ and discharged several caom passeh-
GERS three ladies and three more gentlemen, among
them Capt. Blakely, formerly of the steamer swan,
of Brazos and one woman, a steerage passenger we
Law at Galveston about one hourjust long enough to
allow me time to procure the necessary articles ana
after taking on board about Is passengers and the
mails, we got under way and proceeded to sea !;
crossed the bar about halfpast o'clock p NJ, and
shaped her course for the S. W. Pass with fine weather.
which continued until Saturday, the 9th. When we
left Galveston the latter ports were open fore and att
when, at about o'clock, a fresh breeze sprung up
from the N E.; closed the lower portion OF the ports
at P. NJ. made Ship Islsud Shoal light passing IN
side of the Shoal wind increasing from the same
quarter all night, with heavy sea. On Sunday, at
about 6 a. NJ. the wind had increased to heavy
gale, could not get down in the between-decks to
close the upper ports, but lowered them DOWN. and
heavy sea, with heavy rain. The ship was kept
head to sea as long possible and finding no other
resource, Captain T. attempted to wear ship; got
into the trough of the sea, and would not Wear lie
then had the main mast cut away and the vessel list
ed over to the starboard the bulk head in the between
decks gave way and all Of the stock fetched awayt to
the leeward (the foremost blowing away at the same
tme) which caused the ship to lay over her broad
| side.
then went up on deck, and after standing there
few minutes holding on to the weather-rail, saw the
passengers coming on deck. l then looked forward
and saw Capt T. coming aft as if to notify the pas
gengers that the ship in danger Immediately after
which she capszed--tLe passengers and crew endea-
yoring at the same time to get on her bottom Some
six or eight succeeded, and Immediately after heavy
sea struck her and washed them of. swan off q
distance and found piece Of the wreck, on which
got and looking back to the wreck saw "a few per
sons on her bottom after which Isaw more of her
having drifted out of sight. saw about twenty-five
or thirty persons in the water around me holding on
to parts of the wreck among whom were Mr.. J. T
Kerr, the purser, Mr.. Giles, the first mate, Chas De
souzier, tine second engineer, Mr.. McGi the second
clerk and number of the crew, but did not see
Capt. T. After floating about half an hour I fell in
with Mr.. johnson, the chief engineer, on a large
piece of the wreck. then got on with Mr.. johnson
bai,,r To brou
asked him if he had seen Capt. T.; he said he had
not. We were together two days and nights. On
the third day Mr. johnson became delrious, and not
withstanding my utmost endeavors to keep him Oh
the wreck, he either fell off or jumped off while my
back was turned, and was drowned, despite my con
tnued efforts to save him. I then saw two persons
one of whom l supposed to be the first mate, on
part of the wreck and the other short distance from
him on large log with roots. saw another person
who I think was Mrs. John Wells, passenger
i from Brazos. The next day missed the man that
supposed to be the mate and on the fourth day, be
ing near the log, and my piece going to pieces,
jumped overheard and swan to the log, but before
reached it, the person that was it fell overheard
and saw him no more. I then got on the log, ant
on the next day picked up panel door belonging tt
the wreck and laid it on the ROOTS on which slep
occasionally, and on Monday, the 18th, was picked
up by boat from the F. NJ. Streck-not having hat
anything to eat or drink for eight days but about hal
pint of water, which caught in one Of the pannel
of the door during shower on Sunday, the 18th.
had nothing on at the time was picked up, but thu
waist Of my pants, the rest having been washed off
me- When first saw the yawl I could not wait 70
her to reach me, but jumped overheard and swan to
wards her. and was taken on board the schooner Jan
Elizabeth, and removed from her to the F. N. Streck
where was kindly treated