The New York herald., 1876-01-13
LOST IN A CALM.
DESTRUCTION OF TILE SCHOONER EosszrT oTT
BARBUDA ISLAND, WEST INDIES.


On the 2Sth Of November last the schooner Cyrue
Fossett wrecked OF Barbuda Island, West Indes
and the vessel and most of the cargo wero lost
Charles NJ Pierce the captain OF the vessel his wife
and the all saved They arrived in this port
on Tuesday the steamer Henry Chauneey of the
Pacific Mail line. HERALD reporter called on the
captain yesterday at the agents Office No 12o Front
street. and Captain Pierce detailed tho circumstances
OF the voyage and shipwreck He said:-on the 17th
OF November the schooner Cyrus Fossctt 14l SO
burden. left New York for Port de France Island
OF Martinique. with general cargo Of pro-
visions and lumber The people on board were
himself wife, Mr.. Anderson, the mate, the steward
and four before the mast They encountered rough
weather and strong gales till the night OF the 27th,
when the wind fell OF to dead calm 1t was about
nine O'Clock and they were of the Island Of BGpuda
At four O'Clock on the morning OF the 2sth they sighted
breakers and light air sprung up nom the eastward.
They tackled ship to the nOrthward but could not
work OF shore. Anchors dropped, but the cables
parted and the schooner went stern on 20 the reef
One hour and half after she struck she full of
water and the prepared to leave her in the boat
which was almost Immediately swamped IN the break
ers. The reef two miles and half on shore.
After losing the boat three RATS from deck load
of timber constructed, and baggage
lashed 10 them. At eight O'Clock, aer despairng Tor
some time of a rescue number Of boats put out from
the beach. There about forty or them, and they
had been hauled across the Island oy teams distance
OF ten miles. They came out and anchored just inside
the reef and about two hundred yards from the vessels
stern. AZ FIRST they could not get through the break
Manila rope was attached 10 some Of tho tim
Der and ii ioated the breakers, and two coored
through the breakers the line. The rats
with the trunks and baggage, were then thrown
overheard and hauled ashore, but of the
forty boats plying inside the reef only
dared venture to the stern OF the sinking vessel
In this boat the captains wife placed, and when
fifteen feet from the schooner II apszed, but OF the
colored boatmen caught the lady his and swan
with her over the breakers, bringing her safely
shore That being accomplished all sails we're lowered
The boat returned through the breakers again.
and took Off the crew The boat capszed again;
but all hands fortunately washed over the rocks
Inside the reef the water perfectly smooth A
small portion Of the cargo, consisting of -four
and lumber, driitcd ashore, but most OF it
earned out to IN three days after
the Cyrus Fossett struck tho reef she
was total wreck, nothing LEFT OF her
but few timbers sticking up in the water to show
whore she had gone down. The shipwrecked remained
the island fourteen days and well treated by
the magistrate Mr.. Wilkinson, and the parson Mr..
Cowley In fact there but three white men on
the island beside the castaways From Barbuda they
proceeded 10 Antigua with the proceeds OF what
saved from the wreck where they were disposed of;
from there Milk River, Jamaica, in the brig Belear
Captain BohD, and January they left Kingston, ia
maIca for New York. in the steamer Henry Chauncey,
arriving in this port at twelve O'Clock Tuesday. The
schooner Cyrus Fossett valued At about $4,000,
and is total loss there being insurance The cargo,
worth about s., ,CO0 insured.