The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-06-03

fair winds and pleasant weather. until the 18th Jan.
1858-fhy-eight days out This day began cloudy,
with fresh gales, and during the after part strong and
increasing, with q heavy sea, and weather very cold
ship under douhle-reefed topsails and reefed
courses.
eat 2 o'clock, morning of the 18th, felt a heavy
shock, which was At first attributed to q heavy sea
striking the ship. The pumps were attended, as
usual, and found she was making no more water than
ordinary At daylight, q little more moderate. At
8 O'Clock, passed e large piece of field ice at 10
O'Clock, when the pumps were started, they not free
ing the ship in the usual time, the well was sounded
and five feet water found in the hold, all hands inn
mediately set to work the pumps. and q search for
the leak was made On looking over the bows. the
cut water and part of the main stem was found to be
gone as far as could be seen, and probably caused by
collision with sunken ice at the time the shock was
experienced. At this time the sea was running very
high. and the ship pitching and laboring violently,
30 that any attempts to repair damages in that quar-
ter were fruitless. Two of the officers were then sent
below, in the fore peak, but could not get at the leak.
They reported that they could hear the water rushing
in very fast, and could see the main stem working as
the ship rose and fell to the sea. At noon. lat. 81
so s., long. 49, o. w., continuing strong gales.
ship laboring heavily, and a fearful high sea on. and
continually breaking over the ship. The pumps
were again sounded and eight feet water found in the
hold, the leak having gained three feet in two hours.
At about 8 P. NJ, the captain informed US that we
must prepare for the worst, the leak gaining on US,
and no prospect of freeing the ship. At 8 p. NJ.
passed another very large iceberg. Throughout the
night it was very dark, a high sea on, and constantly
breaking over and deluging our decks, ship moving
like SO much lead, and our prospects were most
gloomy indeed. In a ship leaking beyond any human
efforts to stop it, blowing a heavy gale of winds q
fearful high sea on. and our only hope Of safety rest
ing upon our boats, (Which were none of the best)
300 miles from the nearest land-the Falkland Islands
which were dead to windward, it became very EVIL
dent to us that, unless aid of some description provi-
dentially reached us, our hours were numbered. Our
boats, (two quarter-boats and a launch) were pre-
va rnl 70. -A,.-- mo cd ~au,csn lono w
them, and everything in readiness for leaving, and
we now anxiously awaited the break of day. The
pumps had been constantly going, and the men had
never once tagged from their duty.
"At about 3 O'Clock, morning of Saturday, 3Oth
Jan, soundings gave IL feet of water in the hold,
and we could distinctly hear the noise of the casks
below breaking from their beds and floating about
The ship was now becoming more and more sluggish
in her movements, and quite unmanageable, and we
all felt she must soon be abandoned to her fate.
GA little after daylight, the welcome sound of Sail
no. was heard, and a large ship was seen on our
weather bow. A signal of distress was Immediately
set, and several guns fired to attract her attention,
and in a short time we had the pleasure of seeing her
shorten sail and lay TO for us.
A we approached her, her captain, seeing our
condition. was already prepared to assist as, and soon
dispatched two ffe-boats, well manned, and which
rendered us very substantial aid in transferring pas
sengers, crew ard baggage Owing to the heavy
sea running, the transhipment of passengers was a
proceeding attended with much danger, and it is al
most MIRACULOUS that nOtnfng IN II way % CCtuc
occurred. At noon, all, with such property and bag
gage as could be saved, were safely transferred on
board our deliverer, which we found to be the British
ship Herefordshire, of London, Captain Thomas ;.
Scott, from the Chincha Islands, bound to Cork. We
were kindly welcomed on board by Captain Scott in
person, who thoughtfully provided for our every
want.
ssThe supply of water and provisions on board the
Hergordshire being insufficient for the wants OF so
many unexpected guests for the passage to Cork,
Captain Scott decided to put into Bahia, Brazil,
where we arrived after a rough and stormy passage
of 81 days, on the afternoon of Tuesday, I'd of March.
We found in port only one American vessel bound
home, the brig Hurricane Bird. of and for Balti-
more. expected to sail 18th Of March, on board OF
which Mr.. Stevens and family. Miss Pitman, Captain
Ropes, his officers and part of the crew, took passage.
The American Consul, Mr.. Gillmer, forwarded the
remainder of the crew by the Hergordshire via Cork
home. There being no provision made by the Us.
Government for shipwrecked passengers, unlike the
English Government has done,) We, the remainder,
took passage in the Herefordshire for Cork, trusting
to Providence to get home from that port.
"The Herefordshire again sailed from Bahia on
the afternoon of 9th March.
"On the morning of Tuesday, 18th March, in lat.
IL Q % s., long. SO , "a W., we were spoken by the
clipper ship Sunny South, Captain George b. Ste
phenson, who, on learning that we were shipwrecked
Immediately came on board and offered
us a passage to New York. whittier he was bound,
and which we gratefully accepted. Mrs. Rivett alone
on board the Herefordshire, her destina-
ton being England, } and the weather being pleasant,
and baggage were soon transferred. Capt.
Scott, with his usual generosity and forethought, in
sisted upon sending on board a variety Of creature
and delicacieS, such as pigs, poultry and
small stores, nearly sufficient to last us our passage
to New York.
sCaptain Scott, his amiable lady, and his officers.
by their kind and unremitting attentions to us dur
ing the time we were on board the Hergordshtre,
placed us under deep and lasting obligations to them,
and we can only hope their noble and generous con-
duct will meet its due reward.
"To Captain Stephenson, also, of the Sunny South,
we are greatly indebted, and in his praise we can only
that no man could do more for us than he has,
and who, by his uniformly kind, generous and gen.
tlenanly conduct, and attentions to us won our
highest regard and esteem"