New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-01-05
0th 0rItans AaiIp Gresfelrt.
= ~
The sIaipwreck Of the susan.

winds the vessel not proving at nI Weathery In the
heavy head sea then running Alb O'clock NJ, on
poop, breakers on the lee bow, and order
ed the helm TO be put" down and the yards brzced
sharp up. The man at the helm, In his flight and
confession cor pu. the wheel hard Which broosht
time to remedy his error the Susan went stem on to
q sunken coral reef, with eight knots headvay To
very few moments she blged and broke In two. The
foremast we cut away, and the mainmast jumped ont
Of the step, carrying with it the mizzen topmast and
throwing Mr. Van Slycke, acting I'd officer into the
breakers under our lee, from whence be was fortu-
nately rescued by the gallantry Of seaman named
Jos. Wittgenstein.
After relating the manner in which they were taken
from the wreck his visit to Belize and unsuccessful
attempts to charter vessel the Captain proceeds:
!. While we were in this unpleasant dilemma, his
Exceliency, the Hon. Frederick Seymour, Governor
Of the Bay Islands, sent to request to call at the
Government House, which did with many misgiv-
ings He received me with great courtesy and kind
ness OF manner, asking, with smile, ii were the
master Of the famous Susan, of Mobile On receiving
an answer in the affirmative, he inquired, with an ap
pearance of interest into the condition Of the passen
gers, and II any arrangements had been made for
their relief. AS soon as he was made aware of the
awkward turn affairs had taken through the oficious
ness Of Goodspeed be remarked thatf we could do no
better, and should desire to return to the United
States be would offer passage in her Msjesty,s
steam soop Baslsk, six guns Capt Phayre, and gave
lAS Oh iiooA W lOuh diOuuu 8uu COubueE UpeQ A8
was taking leave, he inquired kindly after the fate
OF Lieut. White and seemed pleased to learn that be
had been sent back in the ship Oregon. He then re-
marked that as to who we were, and what might have
been our original intentions, be chose not TO inquire
That we had violated no law Of England, and be re.
garded us simply as shipwrecked citizens of power
with which bis Government desired to cultivate the
most friendly relations; and said that he would assist
US to the extent of his means.
After consulting with Col. Anderson, and making
some further unavaing efforts to help ourselves, we
accepted, on proper TERMS the very liberal offer of
His Excelency, thanking him warmly, in the name
Of the passengers, for the prompt and kind manner
in which he came forward to our assistance when It
was really so much needed. No sooner had we made
known, through Mr. Hampstead, our acceptance Of
the proposition than the latter received the following
note Il:
Ny Dear SRI shall start for Glover's Reef in q.
NJ. s. Basilisk at halfpast O'Clock this afternoon
and shall be happy to give passage to Capt. Maury
and those who accompanied him to Belize, if they
will call at the Government House at hour. The
Basisk will proceed to Mobile with the wrecked
American citizens after dropping ne at Key Bokel.
7 [sgnedl -'N's '''s ''u fiykEDER1cK SEYMOUR.
G Hampstead, ESQ.,. I, - 49,,
In fifteen minutes the Basilisk fred gun and
holsted the Blue Peter signal for "all boats and
officers" Smoke was soon issuing from her Chin
neys, and at P. NJ were gaily steaming out from
Belize with the British ensign floating over us;
novelty to some OF US. Capt. Phayre Nj. Broadrick
ASo A4sSutSnuAt nNus ia every object the
ship, seemed determined to make Us forget our trou
bes, and endeavored to anticipate all our wants and
their courtesies were shown to those who will not
readily forget them.
ehored at s. W. Key, and Capt Phayre, accompanied
by Gov. Seymour, Lieutenant Holmes, Secretary to
his Excellency, Col Anderson and myself, proceeded
in the gig TO Middle Key, on which men were en-
The boys met US on the beach, very curious ut the
sight OF the ensign flying in the stern Of our boat
and as soon as they recognized Col Anderson in the
party testified their joy by prolonged cheering. Gov
Seymour requested Anderson and myself to step
ashore and explain to the passengers the position 81
affairs, whilst be, Capt. Phayre and Mr. Holiness re.
| manned in the boat.
A few moments suficed to aequaint them with
and were offered by his Excellency passage home in
the Basilisk, at the same time assuring them that
they were free to do SO they chose and that if they
went on board be desired them particularly to I'M
Of guests. The boys responded with three cheers for
Gov. Seymour, and three more for the Captain and
officers of the Basiisk. His Excellency fthen pro
ceeded to ascertain If the islanders had ought to com
plain of in our conduct, and if there had been any
lack of hospitality their part towardsus No com
plant was made on either side, as our men had not
broken cocoa.nut without paying for it, and the
islanders had been as kind as they could be. After
careful inquiries into our comfort the Governor with
Capt. Phayre and their party, returned to the ship
The same evening we sent off in the ships boat most
of the stores we had saved, and on Sunday 26th EN-
barked all hands for home
Next morning, 9th, landed the Governor at Bo-
KEEL, and got under way for Mobile, since which the
enreoicers and crew, from the Captain to the cook
have been most untrihg in their attentions and we
are barring our disappointment, more comfortable
now that at any time since we left home.
The Mobile Mercury, speaking Of the susan's pas
sengers, says: fss- =@
They have returned to Mobile with empty purses,
nnu1 IF Inf9n tn oIntI,
ing for the season in this climate. But their own fell
loW.ctzens will not be less kind to them than our
English cousins. Indeed, we have no thought that
to-day will be permitted to pass over without their
comforts being attended to, notwithstanding there
may be some here who regard them as robbers and
pirates, and unworthy of any aid and comfort from
our citizens We are sure that many of our citizens
attribute to them more exalted aims than those Of
the relief of any distress which may have overtaken
these men in consequence of the disastrous ship
wreck which has befallen them. We know there are
some who regard their cause in some sort their own.
We remember that band of Nicaraguan deserters
once fell, in like distressed circumstances, upon the
mercies of the Northern people, and their comforts
were attended to. Our own city will surely not be
behind in providing for the immediate wants of these
men, who, whatever else they may have been, have
been brave and true to their purposes.
We were a little surprised, after so serious mis-
hap, and SO complete miscarriage, to hear them
almost to man, express wish-a determination
IatueE-Go Itturu. we uaruiy tnnk tnere are nail
dozen would decline to set out again to-day we're the
opportunity to offer.
The passengers speak in the highest terms o.
Capt. Maurys skill as seaman aud his GOODNESS and
energy under all circumstances. Their opinion is
shown in the following resolutions:
At a meetingh held December, 25th 1858, on Middle
Key, Bay of Honduras, by the passengers of the
schooner Susan, II. Maury master, out Of Mobile
bound to Central America, Col. A. F. Rldler was
called to the chair Chas Allen appointed Secretary
and the following resolutions unanimously adopted
WHEREAS, we were unfortunately cast upon GLOW
ers Reef, lat. 16 deg 81 minutes n long, 81, deg Al
minutes seconds w. on the 10th Of December, ant
completely wrecked.
Therefore, resolued, That this disaster was in nj
way the fault of Capt. Harry Maury, but owing en-
| trely to circumstances beyond his control.
| Resolued, That we have unlimited confidence il
Captain Maurys skill as navigator and in his cool
ness and intrepidity as man in any post Of danger
that his uniform urbanity, gentlemanly. bearin!
towards us, and the selfsacrifcng spritbe has mani
tested for comfort and safety, has won graft
tude and esteem.
Resolped, That we are under many obligations t
Capt Marry, and hereby thank him for the exertion
made by him, and which led to the offer of H. B.