The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-13

The following extract from letter written by Captain
T. B. Spearwater of the bark Daniel, to his brother in
this city will be found very interesting as narrative OF
his experience during four days in ono Of the most dig
astrous gales which has visited the North Atlantic
coast
Twill now give you detailed account Of my voyages
We called from Matamoros for Liverpool Great Britain,
October time; the first ten days. heavy east wind
and squalls; October IS, passed Tortugas 18th 70 2sd
light winds ON the 23d when In about latitude SO 06 NJ
longitude rs SO W., gale commenced fr2m N. E., car
red canvas drove her to the and was struck by
heavy squall which split the courses and foretopsa
fore and man lower yards; the gale increasing 10 2
perfect hurricane, was Obliged to bring the ship 70
topmast staysal; on the morning q the 24Ih, the
foretopmast staysail and maintopsail went out OF
hs bolt sss. 3 ;ar, ship from mating goa ns
very ugly sea at eight A. NJ, the ship laborng
heavily still making SSa ssS
smashed the quarter boat in the all 70 crew
then threw the deck load overheard to down 10
% TO- and tho gale increasing; cas water even with
drag; at noon, the ship laying wisnd leo yardarms In
the lee side Of the msship honain topsaliant masts
half past two r. NJ. by he increasing, but ship more
and put out; gale T. NJ making better weather; the
upright ana up 20 Rging from to n and back to
X N h. and veemed almost impossible for any ship to
quarter hae of the best vessels that ever oated
looked everything half past five NJ heavy broke
geior which buried her all under started the bowsprt
'Snghtneads wheelhouse and poop lee waterway stove
cabin galley forecaste storeroom and sarooms full Of
water and swept watercasks and every other movable
got on OF her rugged and set storm spanker after
which went into the after cabin and found the water
nearly up to my knees; sounded the pumps and found
and at eleven H. she had been pumped out and found
she did not leak much; most Of the water must have
making good weather At daylight, 25th, the drag haw-
ser parted the wind now remained steady from NORTH
and the ship behaved very well under storm spanker;
rs mAneps f, 'sen s aost Ss WIND
gong ahead but three days before the sea went
down; 9th, wind f. to 8. E. made all possible sail
and by having an extra suit on board was able u replace
Thorn NIL but the Daniel looked very much Ike wreck
passed on that day 9th great many pieces Of
wrecked stun, carved work. tin cans &C. and something
a with ao dead man on ~ up to s
vember latitude 80 OF west longitude 90 20 north the
bowsprt and forcmast were so bad and being short OF
ceed bore up fof Halifax s. Since then hard squalls
and gales thick and foggy weather and very cold wind
varying from cas-. southeast TO northwest November
J, made the land 10 the eastward Of Halifax wind
northwest went into Beaver Harbor; the sh wind
came from southeast and hove in heavy sea; my chain
parted but had room TO make sail and beat out; the
wind listed 10 south southeast few hours then hauled
% northwest and had TO encounter another drubbng:
pit sails A. November took ,ouhesssr and ran
hick and rainy, and blowing a gale ran 10 until |
judged myself berth well clear Of all the lodges; hove
o and made signals for pilot but could get none: |
vas now In very bad plight; my ship on lee shore
md disabled; consequently in condition beat on;
weather. thick night dark and blowing gale from south
ast, when, 70 make bad worse, In wearing around |
. the other tack she struck the ground two |
three times very heavily and went on; ending
way for Halifax without . pilot: / ran for
he beach light, and In short time made t. when was
u right and at midnight anchored with spare bower on
J r Hnrk -ln
Ainy and cold
ron the 18th Of November the bark Daniel took IRE in
ie hold and was scutsd q. the wharf Ed NEW yoRK
ERALDl