Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY 8, 1859
s'Bhfpwreck of the SusaB-Return Of
tine Nicaragua Enigrants-FulI Par

We yesterday bad a conversation with CAPT.
West. one of the emigrant passengers by The
schooner Susan. Capt. Maury. which sailed
from Mobile Bay on the morning of the sth
nit. He gives US the following. account of
the brief voyage and its unfortunate termi-
nation: s'fAS e.t- '-<
strong gale Of wind from the North en-
abled the Susan 10 leave Mobile Bay far be-
hind in few hours after setting sail, and
everything went on smoothly until the night
of the 18th, when approaching Lighthouse
Reef, in the outer edge Of the Bay of Hondu-
ras. For two hours after he thought to have
been in this neigbborhood Capt Marry
watched in vain for the lantern of the light
house, which. unfortunately. had not hecn lit
that night, or at any rate was not to he seen.
Capt Marry said afterwards that. feeling I'M
easy. he. after having been in bed a short
time. got up and went on deck at ahont 3 o.
clock in the morning. He examined the com
pass and foud the vessel bearing two points
out of her proper course.
"You are steering US thousand miles from
our destination, !" he said to the helmsman md
the next moment bis keen vision discerned
through the gloom long line of breakers d.
rectly ahead. "Helm hard upi'' was the i'm
mediate order to the steersman. bnt that indi-
vidual, being perhaps more familiar with the
Ncaraguan pruning hook than with the spoke
of a steering wheel put the helm hard down.
Even this might have saved the vessel had he
kept her SC, hut discovering the mistake he re-
versed the wheel Just late enough to destroy
all possible chance of escaping the threaten
ed danger. Maury then had the schooner
headed directly for the rect. in order to run
her as high upon it as possible. There was a
pretty stiff breeze, and with all sail spread
she plunged forward and strnck upon the
he 10. OBJ Il s.I LII
the water about her with floating planks.
With the prospect Of speedy death before
them, the brave men on hoard the little bark
maintained the most perfect order, calmness
and composure.
When daylight appeared it was found that
the place where they had struck was known
as Clover Reef, about 60 miles from Belize
Honduras and l6 from a cluster of small is
lands. on which the dim Outlines of the cocoa
tree could barely be discerned through the
clear atmosphere. Five men were dispatched
in boat to the islands. on one of which,
Middle Key, resides a negro named Miller,
and the others proceeded to construct a raft
from the wreck for the purposing of reaching
land il other means could not be obtained. A
schooner belonging to Miller soon after APP
pearod. and by making three trips transferred
the whole party to Middle Key, the last among
whom was Capt Maury, leaving on the fifth
day after the disaster. Capt. West informs
us that during this time they Jared sumptu-
ously on cOnch soup, dish readily obtained
in that locality.
Capt. Maury visited Belize and endeavOred
to procure n vessel to convey his party to
their destination. He found and chartered
one for 5 900, but in consequence of repre-
sensations made by the person in command of
her. Capt. GOOdspeed, the owners backed out
of their agreement. Goodspeed stated that
the vessel was wanted by party of pirates
who would probably run away with her. and
thus, whatever nay have been his motive.
he succeeded in depriying the emigrants of
any means of reaching their proposed desti-
nation.
Capt. Maury had an interview with Mr..
Seymour, the British Governor at Belize who
in the most kind and polite manner rendered
him the use of the British steamer Basilisk to
carry himself and his companions to any
Southern port in the United States ne might
Eame. He stated that it was no part of his
duty to inquire what business brought them
there. He saw in them only number of
shipwrecked vOyagcrs, belonging to a conn
try with which bis Government wished to cul-
tivate amicable relations, and he should re-
1ieve their wants in the best manner he could.
He addressed the men in similar terms. and
all but two who concluded to remain at
Belize, availrd themselves of his generous
offer. The Basilisk sailed from Middle Key
on the 26th ult.. and reached Mobile on Sat
urday last. The kindness and consideration
with which the Governor had treated them
was continued on board the vessel through
out the voyage, affording marked contrast
to the conduct of the officers of an American
naval vessel on a similar occasion some time
ago-N o. Crescent. Jan. 4.