SHIP NEWS
The Sophia letter of marque, Lieutenant MAYNARD, belonging to Waterford, is put into Fyal in a distressed situation, having lost her masts and rigging; she was boarded by an Algerine corsair, who took out all her provissions, except two barrels of beef, and one bag of biscuits; the crew consisted of 39 men when she sailed, but were reduced to only five when they were boarded, having lost the others by sickness.
The Albion, a new Jamaica ship, about which some apprehensions were entertained, has arrived safe. Her arrival was yesterday announced at Lloyd's.
The following particulars of the loss of the Commerce, Capt. BELL, of Lancaster, have been given by Mr. J. GARNETT, of Manchester, who was a passenger on board the unfortunate vessel:
The ship struck about six o'clock in the morning of the 30th of April last, on the coast of Newfoundland, about a hundred yards from an iron-bound shore; the boats were fraved(?) and there was little prospect of escape for the people, 22 in number. However, with the usual intrepidity of British Seamen, they constructed a small raft, by which a few of them got on shore, carrying ropes to fasten to the rocks; up these they scrambled with great difficulty, and, making proper provision, the unfortunate crew, were singly hoisted up by them. They found themselves on a barren and unhospitable country, without seeing the trace of human feet for seven days. Whilst they were on the rocks, totally destitute of provision, the tide brought a hog from the vessel, just alive, which they killed, and eat part of it raw, such was their hunger. They had no fire, nor the means of making one, having tried wood by friction, till, happily, a powder horn was thrown ashore, and also some cotton. They put the latter to their bodies, and by that method dried it; they sprinkled some powder on it, and one of them happening to have a flint, and another a steel. They made a fire and dressed their hog, by broiling it upon stones. This being carefully divided, a few ounces to each man, with some sea-weed, made a refreshing repast, and enabled them to proceed on their search for relief.
One of the crew more provident as he thought than the rest, had secured some sea biscuit in the breast of his jacket, and left them. On their travel they found him expiring under a tree; he told them, that about two miles farther they would see a boat at the mouth of a river. They proceeded, and found the boat, which they launched, and went round nearly to the situation where they had been wrecked. Their pig was now almost consumed, and no vessel in view; but they providentially found a cask of rum, and another of coffee, thrown up. They had kept their fire in by a continued watch of four at a time, the rest sleeping, covered with branches of trees, as it rained very heavily. During this period, they had frequently a number of bears looking on them at a distance. They went about dressing their coffee, having found a copper pan cover, in which they spread it, and an iron shot with which they pounded it. By heating stones, putting them into water with the coffee, and adding some rum, they made what to them was an excellent repast. In a few days, however, they must have perished, had they not seen a fishing boat, which they got on board, and were taken to Placentia, St John's, and Halifax, and from thence by a ship with 250 French prisoners to Jersey - there meeting with an American vessel, the Captain, Mate, and Mr. GARNETT went on board, and were landed at Falmouth.
One of their number died before they left the coast.
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All three ships mentioned show how dangerous ship travel was.
Who was this J Garnett? from Manchester.
