The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-10-01
DAILY DISPATCH.
THURSDAY MoRNIN0,. ..c.ronER j. lss7
Four Days ON Wreck-Thrillinu
History of the Loss Of the Brig
Nancy


cued from the wreck of the brig Nancy. the cap
tain Of the brig and six OF her crew having per-
ished. The brig sailed from Halifax on the llth
for Porto Rico, and On the 1Ith experienced gale
The statement of one of the rescued brothers is
very interesting, and We give il beluw:
At midnight the gale had increased, with violent
squalls from the :. W., the vessel laborina heavily
aud showing symptoms OF capsixing. At halEpast
one Q clock A NJ. Capt. Grani came ON deck aud
told him we would have to cut away the topmast
and topgallant backstays and let those spare GO as
IL was evident the brig would not stand up; the
water was then about streaks upon the deck, she
laying over on her side, but she aid not leak Capt
Grant made no reply, and | was doubtful if he
i!eaSd what said, as he went below without Civ
Ing any order. IL WAS blowing a hurricane and
The howling OF the gale thro the rigging was ai-
paliing. hauled down the trysail and topmast
staysali, intending toput tarpaulin in the maiii-
rigging but before we had got the sails slowed a
sea tfipped her, and she went over suddenly She
dis not fall of, but was apparently tripped, and
eapsized 80 quick We had not time to cali the CAP.
tam or crew from below. Myself and brother
Thomas with two others, James aud Charles were
on deck at the time. We continued to crawl along
upon the weather side to the main rigging where
We held on, standing the bulwarks; the boy
John soon came up from the orecastle, aud ioined
U.s. no one else gotout of the cabin or forecastle
ana must have drowned in their berths or in their
Efforts to get out, as the brig filled Immediately
the water rushing into the forecastle and cabin
toned down.
We had been in this position only ten minutes
the sea breaking over US all the time when Char
ley, the Prussian, Was struck by sea and missing
his hold, fell backward over the vessels side. he
cried out As he fell, 'lIeaye me rope end which
We did immediately; but sea carried him out of
reach, and We neither heard or saw him afterward
We held on here for an hour when the bulwarks
were washed away, and we crawled along the wea-
ther shrouds which now lay on q level with the
sea towards the top. Here we soon Contriyed to
asten our ieet III the futtock shruuds and held ON
to the rim ut the top. 1t dark we could not
distinguish each others faces, though crowded
close together, and the driving rain and snrav ol
most smothered us when We looked to windward,
but the vessel kept off the heavy break of the sea-
and we held on for a time without difficulty We
felt no Chill or other unpleasant sensation, and
only thong gLt of how we could save our lives For
myselfi expected nothing but sudden death Jimmy
said, I'VE are all lost-we shall be drowned" and
thought SO, too, but tried to encourage my compan
| ions and urged them to hold on. We offered uI
our prayers together for deliyerence, for We fell
| that no human power could save Us. In half al
| hour more the mGln.nast went by the board, anC
We all fell into the sea and separated In another
moment saw the forcmast head the vessel hav
ing partially lighted, and rs the broken spar
swung that way succeeded ia getting hold OF il
where held ON until daylight, the breakin,
over me with great force and sometimes almos
wrenching me from my hold Of the mast. l nov
| supposed all lost but myself, Tor daylight aI
peared l looked all around but no one.
feeling of great loneliness now almost overCam
me, and said TO myself they are all gone, and III
| turn will soon come to follow them thoughts q
home and dear friends pressed heavily my heart
and all the deeds Of MY. life passed in rapid reyie,
| before my mind. | saw six Or eight large shaT K
| shooting about at my feet | WAS almost within
! their reach they had fed upon my shipmates, al
| l thought they would soon devour me also.
| AS it grew Lighter, took another survey, en-
discovered my brother, floating about thirty fee
from me among the broken spars. i knew him b.
his Jacket, and thought he wHs drowned, but
called to him twice, when he lifted up his head
seemed to recognize nay voice. told him to kee
up coed courage, that we might yet be saved, ant
| III 2ed him TO swim 10 where | was which by tn
aid Of the floating spars he succeeded in doing.
got hold of him, and drew him to me. We thel
made ourselves fast with some of the running rig
giuK, fearing that We should get weak and faint
My brother was nearly drowned when discovere,
him. The gale had abated, and the brig was nov
| standing straight up, but her house aud all he
upper works were washed away, she was waterloy
ged, and the sea broke heavily over her submerget
hull.
| Wednesday and Wednesday night we continue,
clinging to the naked shrouds. No friendly sal
| appeared ON tile horizon, which We scanned in al
directions until eyes grew weary and heart ant
hope nearly failed. A heavy sea was running an,
| the sui giug of the vessels mast was such that i
| required all our remaining strength TO hold on
Ou Thursday 1t was more moderate, and wen
down on deck and descended into the cabin in hop,
| Of securing some bottles of porter to quench M
| thirst, but could not find them The water Wa
over my head, and every thing had been washed ou
of the cabin. l returned into the rigging an,
| took my place once more by the side of my brother
| weak and d5heartened.
During Thu sday night suffered very much
our feet and legs being crsmped and painful. w
felt no hunger, but we We're deyoured by burning
thirst. On Friday morning. about / o'clock, tn
| wind began TO freshen and heavy sea swept owe
| the vessel. At daylight, We deserted sail to lee
| ward, which proved 10 be IA bark, but she WAS fiy
| miles of and standing to the eastward We Coul
just make out her spars. Our hopes were excite'
| for II moment. but were again destroyed as sh
kept on her course without noticing us. We ha
now been four days without food or water. and ou
strength was fast yielding. feeling of deep dis
| couragement came over US, and but for the fac
that We were secured by ropes we should both pre-
| badly have fallen from exhaustion.
| About IL O'Clock made out another sail t
| windward-it was large ship, standing to tn
| westward, and We soon saw by the course she wa
| steering she must pass close TO us; our hopes 0
rescue now rose again, and We strained our eyes l.
| wetch every movement, fearful that be nigh
tack before she saw Us, but she came rapidly alon
carrying reefed topsails. and in about hour frou
the time We first saw her she bore for US
| As she came abreast her courses were sudden
hauled up, men sprang up the rigging and hande
her upper top sails, and others hauled down an
| slowed the Jlb. She asst us to windward
and then wore ship, coming close under our lee
presently We saw boat shoot out from under he
| bows and pull towards US 1t was manned by 81!
men. with one steering. They came within boat
length of the brig, but were Obliged to observ
great caution as the was running very heavy
| and to have been thrown upon the wreck wou
have been fatal to the boat and all board of her
| 4 small line thrown TO me by the mate
which tied around my brother, as directed, ant
springing into the sea he was soon taken into tn
boat. then tied the same line around my own BIT
dy and also jumped overheard, as directed by tn
| man in charge Of the boat. In another instant
found myself in the boat. Avery rough sea wa
running at the time, and great risk was encounter
ed in the attempt to take us off.
| Capt. johnson received us on board his ship au
treated us with the utlhost kindness, furnishing u
| with dry clothing and food, and making our situs
ton as comfortable as possible. We have no word
in which to express our sense of gratitude to Capt
johnson and his officers and crew for our rescu
from death and for the humane treatment We re
| ceived on board the Eliza until We reached thi
port.
The boat which took off Mr. White and his broth
| er. wa. manned by Vim. Davis. mate; Fhos Bell
| boatswain; Edward Faulkes. William Fielding.
Charley. Sweede. and Englirh Harry.
Mr.. White will place himself and his brother Il
charge of the British Consul. who will, no doubt
| provide for them and send them to Halifax.
| .s-~-------------.---@.------
| GEORGIA ELscrIoN--At the coming election il
| Georgia, which takes place on Monday, the 5th c
| October. a Governor and eight members OF tn
| Thirty fifth Congress to be chosen. The Demo
| Gratis have nominated Joseph c. Brown for the ez
| ecutiye chair, and the Americans Benz. III. HILL
| The Democrats have all their Congressional cand
dates in the field. but the Americans have mad
nominations in only FIVE Of the eight districts.
| NSsT1GEs oP THE CENTRAL AMERICA SERy.--The hui
| ricane deck, wheel.houss pilot house, &C., belong
| ing to the steamship Central America was seen o
the 18th inst, about fifty mites northeast OF Cap
| Hatteras by Capt Slocum. of the schr. K. TowI
| send, which arrived from New York at CharIestoI
! DR.. Vaudeville Thum, Of Louisville, started 70
New Orleans on the I'D, in compliance with Gen
Walkers orders, with the view OF joining the ne'
Nicaraguan army in the capacity of surgeon.
Eugene d. Burr, son of the late Surveyor Gen,
raj of Utah, was killed near Washington, Saturday
by the accidental explosion of his gun.
Mr. Joseph W. Jones, of Portsmouth, Va, Ia
been appointed Master Caulker at the Navy Yart
i i.,..Iac -aE AIr RnIau ox.od