The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-07
the WRECK OF TINE MOUNT VERNON.
Statements Of the Captain and Second Mate
What de Passengers say-Nc Pssit.sa
and CeDdiiisn OF tho Ship Chances Of
Getting Her OG-ROugh Weather,
H., &s., &s.

loft Toms river al eight o'clock in the stage for Tuck
erton on Tuesday morning After drive OF the most
monotonous and weary description the stage arrived
Tuckerton about half past three p: II. Tho wreck lies
six mee from this village out the ses at place
called Old Inlet, In Little Egg Harbor without hating
took boat, and her in less than two hours
before whistling Northwestern which sent the spray
the boat and its crew in showers The sea WAS run
ming high tina, 1t VIA only with great difficulty and
danger that the boat made fast alongside the
steamer. The wrecking schooner John G. Roach was
anchored parallel to tho unfortunate vessel at q
distance from her Of about thirty yards,
and Of the steamers boats was busiy engaged re-
ceivng the steamers cargo and transferring it 70 the
wrecker. After informing those on board that tho rc-
porter Of the NEW Yonx HksAlD desired TO 20 on board
Captain Layfeld, Of the steamer, Immediately had hs
ladder lowered over the gargwsy and stepped from
the deck Of my lively little craft 10 the steady ono
OF tho helpless steamship Mount Vernon. My fret In
au,ry was II any had been lost az heard on the
way that some seven eight lives werc lost and that
the steamer going to pieces Il gratifying to DO
informed however, that this was totally ground
e The captain, without hesitation, gave mo the fol-
loving nj Of the accident 10 his steamer and the
trip from New York
We left pier about half past three in the afternoon
wind southwest. At quarter 70 twelve O'Clock the same
night when the ship going between ten eleven
knots hour she struck 1t my watch at the tmc
and the second mate took my place. About half hour
before she struck deck and before going below
told him to keep her a respectable distance from the
had. also asked him If the lead deck, which
was intmation that desired him sound tho depth
Of the water occasionally When abe struck tho second
mate ordered tho wheel saboard and stopped the engine
before could got TO the wheehsuse. This had the
effect Of sticking her on tho bank, which she might
otherwise have cleared then started her again, but
she stuck fast We then put tho topsa hoe and
put her helm aport the wind being from the southwark
this had the effect Of merely causing the ship to
round and head north northeast when abe stopped again
thus she lay TIL the next day In the meantime dag Of
distress hostsd. The following day Sunday, at
O'Clock p NJ, the wrockng schooner Ruth Hasioy
to assistance and helped US 70 run tho anchor
off, but We hove It home tho anchorage being qucksand
On Monday, with tho assistance Of tho wrecker, We
again hove anchor and, by helping with tho steam,
we succeeded in heading the steamer In twice the
length OF herself about two O'Clock Monday after
noon. On Monday night again hove tho anchor out,
and again succeeded heavng the ship in twicc the
length Of herself and comparatively out Of danger for
she was smooth water, and more into the inlet
We would have brought her into the barber the anchor
would have held It's grip, but would pot On Tuesday
morning, about ten O'Clock, we got assistance from
tho John G. Roach, another wrecking schooner. She
planted her anchor and hove 1t ut AZ the wind
has been towards the northwest not started her
to-day. The weather has been 30 rough since we ran
ashore that We could not bring lighter along side We
however got her cargo out Of The after hatch and put
deck forward, and et three O'Clock this (fuesday)
commenced transferring IT 10 the wreckng
schooner II is assorted cargo OF about one hundred
tons. The Mount Vernon s screw steamer OF eight
hundrc tons burihen and plies between New York aud
Washington expect TO get her on and proceed on my
as soon as the cargo ID taken out Of her and tho
wd changes from the westward. At present she does
not leak any and " perfectly safe
THE Mates STATEMENT.
Mr.. Webster, the second mate, who on deck when
the accident took place. gave the following statement
south SOU stecrcd that course until about nine
O'Clock when tho steward came on deck 70 the pilot
house and gave the course OF soutnwest by south
by The captains orders. l stcered that course TIL
haf-past IL +. NJ, twhen the captain told mo TO
keep her of southwest by south On this course
she struck at quarter before twelve O'Clock r. ~ The
weather not foggy but smoky. When tho captain
on deck be asked mo If had the lead on deckS /
told him bad but did not he a it. he told me to
Tho Mount Vernon had only three rassengersan gou-
tlcmen. They had nothing TO add TO tho statements al
captain and The mates They mentioned, however that
there neither panic nor excitement when tho ship
struck and that good order has prev allied eyor since.
Notwithstanding the statement OF tho captain, tho
steamer docs lie In very dangerous postisn and TO me
u would impossible for her 10 get of unIfss thcre
Rhouldoccur calm, and with high tide. II tho wind
blows from the west IL or shore aud the tide will not
rise high enough TO float her, II blows from the north
shako her much ana shii, her position little If from
the souh the result viii be similar, and n from tho east
the sea win DO In all probability 30 heavy that sho will
a dbank, 1t Is hard that With heavy IL
would be little ess mcrcifu 10 ship ashorc IL thar
rock would and she 10 entanglod In the bank that
can scarcely any for hoping that che viii eyer
leave II s tho universal opinion among tho boatmen,
wrec@cr5 and other nautical men with whom have con
versod, that the ship viii BIO a total loss
LlTTg Eco HsRBoR, March 6, 1861.
After leaving the kosnt Vernon last eyenng cur tto
boat hcaood for the village. gallo on however,
which dead against and after beating about till
midnight, dronched with frozen spray, wo wero
recd 70 mako for an Island about three miles from
ns hs e. n s ss Gg , asso
Treatments and roouto seep In Mean while, the gale
blow furously from the northwest all through tho night,
and only BacSod up aboat daylight II also shfted tho
oeon Of tho wrocing schooner alongside tho steamer,
Tor ale drified 6stern Of tho disabled vessel and Of
course could DO Of no 10 her.
The steamer remained, however, 10 much the Same
way ut daylight she In when ioft her on Tuesday
morning The wind Yves B.ili blowing Silly Of ave
O'Clock A. H., and Gs il ahead there was considerable
doubt whether boat could reach the village Fortu-
natey for us however the breeze changed more to the
west and were enabled 10 make the SHIRE and for
ward this despatch .hs day tho wind 10 be IN
creasns again, and matters now there 10 no mmc
ciao prospect that the steamer c get % the shoal,
where she may perhaps settle down "a the sand Tho
object OF the captain IN 70 geo hor into the haybor over
the bar possible, but this only possible IN tho single
case that have before mentioned.
NO tngboat has yet 70 aeaiet the Mount Vernon
Of her owners however, reached her at ak o'clock
this CSodDeesay) evening. IL Is singular circumstance
that tho steamer ashore within fifteen miles Of QUO
lighthouse and Of another, and in full sight Of both
Toe Mount Vernon was Insured for about t3o geo or
$40 eoo il IL said and shc worth about $50 0oo
tbc u year old, and Ia built Of wood. No sowrost
had reached tho wreck since tho accident occurred nor
any otbor ssgisiahce than that OF tho lighters IL has
been suggested that hosesds bad boon sont down TO
the steamer abs might with the lid Of her steam have
been noated Of without difficulty.
Army Intelligence.