The New York Herald Newspaper, January 14, 1856, Page 1

es HE NEW YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 7077. MARINE DISASTERS. ‘The Hffects of the Late Snow Storm and Intense Cold. TERRIBLE SUFFERING ON OUR COAST. Shipwrecks on the Jersey and Long Island Shores. SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE, &e., cn, é&e. THE PILOTS AND THE SEVERE WEATHER ‘WRECK OF THE PILOT BOAT E. K. COLLINS AND LOSS ‘OF FOUR LIVES—THRILLING NAREATIVE OF ONE OF THE CABIN BOYS WHO WAS ON THE FROZEN WRECK FOR THIRTY-TWO HOURS—MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF THREE OF THE PILOTS BY DIVING UN- -DER THE FROZEN SURF—AGONY ON THE OCEAN— SUFFERING OF THE NEW YORK PILOTS DURING THE RECENT TERRIBLE WEATHER. The exceedingly cold and stormy weather of the last ten days has done great injury to the pilots and their vessels along our Northern coasta. Snow storms and carnivals may be very pleasant to thoee who live in large cities, and who can successfully resist the effects of the low temperature, but to seamen and all who are com- pelled to go “‘ down to the sea in ships,” they entail ter- rible suffering, and not unfrequently loss of life. There is one class of citizens to whom the recent cold snap has been most disastrous, not only in » pecunfary point of view, but also from the loss of life ard physical suffering they have been compelled to endure—we mean the New York pilots, These hardy seamen have braved all kinds of weather; neither snow, nor storm, nor cold, could make them ehirk their duty or forget their obli- gations to those entrusted to thefr care, During ‘the raging snow storm of the 5th and 6th inst.—and they describe it as being indeed fearful—their vessels lay to along the cosst, and to their vigilance may be ascribed the comparatively small number of marine disasters com- pared with the extent of coast over which the storm raged. Nor did the Arctic weather that followed abate their devotedness to their duty; and to this the suffer- ings they endured, of which an account is given else- where, most abundantly testity. We heap honors upon “the soldier who has fought for his country, and justly; but surely those hardy, brave and devoted men who face all the horrors of the tempest, the frigid temperature sand the treacherous coast, should not be forgotten when self-devotedness, bravery and endurance are to be re- ‘warded. What the pilots are compelled to endure may be judged ‘by the following account of the loss of the boat E. K. ‘Collins off Fire Island Inlet:— It appears that the boat had for some days been chasing up the clipper ship Stingray, from Canton, bound to New York; but on Wednesdsy night, the 9th inst., the clip- “per was lost track of, and the pilot boat lay to along the coast. This she could do without danger, as the wind was W. N. W. This night, it will be remembered, was intensely cold, and « frozen mist rose from the ‘water, and encrusted the little boat, so that she resem- ibled a floating iceberg "more than a vessel. This mist is caused by the evaporation of the water, a phenomena that is constantly occurring, but ate very low tempera- ‘ture of the air, the water being warmer, the evaporation , ds much greater, and sometimes the ocean seems fairly to seethe and boil up,a thick vapor arising meanwhile. This mist contains no salt, and it consequently forms ice much more readily on the rigging, deck and sides of the ‘vessels than does the salt spray. In the case of the Collins the men on deck could tearcely seo the boat’s length ahead. ‘Near five on the morning of the 10th inst., Mr. James R. Murphy, who had command of the helm, saw what he considered to be the light of a large ship immediately ahead, and he attempted to put down the helm, but the vessel would not yield to it, so heavily was she encom- parsed by the fee. Suddenly the boat shoaled and was ‘thrown on her beamends, with head to the north and ‘deck towards the shore It afterwards proved to be Fire Island Inlet, and the shoal on which they run was about a mile from the shore. The light they had seen ‘was from the lighthouse, which, owing to the severe cold, did not revolve every sixty seconds, as it should have done, and hence the mistake of the belmsman. The sea broke heavily over the vessel, and the largest oat they had, the lee yawl, was washed away by a wave, ‘It was with great difficulty the weather yaw! was cleared of the ice, and into this boat Morris Ellwood, the boat keeper; James R. Murphy and Wm. Rosch, pilots, and James Sullivan, an apprentice, entered, and pulled for the shore, The sea was rolling heavily, and as the yaw! neared the shove she filled twice, and it was with the ut- most difficulty the crew could bail her out and keep them- selves afloat. On nearing land the surf rolied completely over her; and to eave themselves, Murphy and Roach dove under the ice that fringed the coast, and made their way to shore, which they eventually reached, chilled and frostbitten, but out of danger. Sullivan also reached shore, but Ellwood in attempting to dive trom the yawl caught his foot in the lashings and was drowned. But a fearful fate awaited those who remeijned in the -veasel. The colored cook, whose name no one on board knew, died of cold soon after the yawl left, and Wm. Wil liams, a cabin boy, soon after perished. Mr. Robert B. Mitcheli was the next victim, and only one remained alive—a lad, named James Rush—who, strange to say, lived thirty-two hours, and was eventually savei, though his companions died within two hours after the yaw! boat left the wreck. After his companions died, Rush, seeing the tide had subsided, managed to crawl into the cabin, where he found a bed, which, though covered with ice, was better than the exposed place he had left. Here he remained during the night and part of the tollowing day, suffering dreadfully, as he was most of the time in the chilling water up to his arm pits. During the afternoon of Friday, he broke open the state room, on deck, and attempted to construct a raft, and was fortunately seen from the shore and rescued fromhis dreadful position. He was taken to the light-house, and on Saturday evening was brought home to this city, and is now undergoing medi- cal treatment at the New York Hospital. Dr. Dash, the attending physician, thinks him out of danger, though he will doubtless lose the use of his hands and feet. Our reporter called upon bim yesterday, when the boy made the fellowing thrilling statement of his puinfal ‘experiencer:— STATEMENT OF JAMES RUSH, THE CABIN BOY, WHO WAS FOR THIRTY-TWO HOURS ON THE FROZEN ‘WRECK. We struck the shoal about § A. M. on Toursday morn- ing. It was bitterly cold, and a thick mist, like a cloud, rose from the water, so that we cold vot see the boat's length ahead. On looking out I saw a dull light ahead, that looked like as if it shone from the ji»boom of a large ship. None of us thought it was the lighthouse, as the ‘awp off that point revolves every sixty seconds, and this seemed through the mist to be stationary. We after- wards learned that the intense cold had covered the glass with frost, an that it looked lite isingiass, and the lamp cea.ed revolving. I went below # little before 5 o'clock, and Mr. Murphy had charge of the heim, at which time the Dont was laying to with a three-reo’ mainsail and jib. ‘On seeing the light Mr. Murphy put the helm aboat, but the vessel would not obey it, as the ice with which it was surrounded prevented its doing so. We soon after struck, and the boat was thrown on hor beam ends, with her deck tilted toward theshore. The sea broke over the boat heavily, and the lee yaw! boat, the largest we had, ‘was swept away before we had time to secure hor, and it ) was with the utmost difficulty we could clear the weather yaw), it was so encrusted with ice. I was in the cabin when I was called upon to enter the boat, but before I had time to get to the side of the veswel, tho sea raised so that Mr. Murphy was compelled to cut the lashings, and the yawl was swept towards the shore, leaving me on board, with Mr. Robert B. Mitchell, the other boy Wellan Williams, and the colored cook, whose name none of us know, as he had been but recently shipped. Abont half an hour after the boat left, (this was about ten o'clock, as near as I can remember,) the cook died. We were all in the companion way which loads to tne cabin, at this time, and the cook, when he died, was seated on the lowest step and fell over on the floor. Billy Williams died about half an hour afterwards, and rolled over by the dead man’s mde in doing #0. Mr. Mitchell, was ‘a large fat man, was seated om the same step with me, and did not die for an hour and » half after boat left. During all this time scarcely any of us spoke; in- deed, we were so numbed with cold that we Jost all sen- sibility, and hardly cared what happened. They ali died easily, first falling into a quiet sleep before expiring. I had three flannel shirts on and an oilskin overcoat which kept me dry and tolerably warm. About eleven o'clock the tide had fallen, so that the cabin was fit t enter. I crawled in and found my way to the bed, upo which I lay down. It was wet and encr usted with ice, and the floor was covered with frozen water, in which were swimming the seats and cabin utensils. The nex tide in the afternoon floated the bed, and durin the whole of Thursday night oud Friday morning, I remained in the cabin up to my armpits in the freezing water. I did not suffer a great deal, con- sidering, yet it seems to me now ike a fearful dream. wished for the morning to break, and the night seemed as though it would never end. But with the morning my position became much more dangerous. The tide rose #0 high in the cabin that there was not left room enough for me to breathe in, and I came near suffocating—to prevent which I broke the window of the stateroom to get fresh air. I remained in this way until the tide went down, and about 12.0’clock I forced my way on deck through the stateroom, as the cabin door was s0 blocked up by timbers and floating wood as to prevent its opening. I was much exhaus‘ed on reaching the open air, and the cold wind had the ef- fect of increasing my sensibility. I looked anxtously on the land, and toward the sea, but could seo nothing stir- ring, At length, towards two o'clock, I saw # schooner, due east, bearing down towards me, and, eager to attract attention, I climbed up the gaff to make gignals, and in doing so burst my fingers, which were frost-bitten, open. On reaching the gaff, I waved my hat, but no one heeded iton deck. I then took my coat and shook it violently; but the schooner kept on her way, and not a soul on board saw or knew of my condition. 1 returned to the deck, terrified at the prospect before me, a nignt was pproaching, and I could not have survived the horrors cf another night like the last, I got some loose timbers, with the intention of making raft, which the returning tide would sweep in towards shore, andi got out on the sand to construct it. By this time the people on shore saw me on the wreck, and they launched the life boat, and took me off, after having been on board for thicty- two hours. I was taken to the light house, and on Satur- ay night came up to the city in the steam-tug Tiger. ‘There is one lesson to be learned by this painfal affair, and that is, the necessity of inducing our government to have @ sufficient force of men employed at the light- houses to rescue the seamen or passengers who may be cast away. Had there been a proper force on the island at the time, not a life need have been lost. The follow- ing will be found interesting:— STATEMENT OF MR. JAMES R. MURPHY. About 5 o’clock on the morning of the 10th instant it was blowing fresh from the W.N.W., and we were heai- ing N.N.W. Owing to the severity of the cold a com plete haze covered the water, and to auch an extent as to render us unable to discern an object at a ship’s length. We made a light on our lee bow. Supposing {t to be @ vessel’s light we put our helm up, and before we got before the wind the boat struck upon the outer bar of Fire Island, which is about thirty-six miles from the Hook. ‘When she struck, we of course at once found out our posi. tion, and that the light was from the lighthouse on Fire Island; but the light did not revolve; hence we were deceived as to the character of the light and as to where we were. Knowing that if we remained upon the outer bar we must all perish, we took measures to beat her over all the rest of the bars, some four or five in num- ber, and finally she bilged on the inner bar, in the mouth of the inlet. She then fast filled with water. As soon as the daylight broke, we set the ensign union down. OC course, when ashe filled all hands were of necessity driven on deck, ex- pecting every moment to get assistance from shore, from which we were about a mile distant, and some two miles from the lighthouse. As we had but one boat on board that would float—our other boat having been stove in when we struck—we cut loose the disabled yawl, in order to let our other boat float off the deck. Roach, Sullivan, Elwood and myself got into that boat—the others remained on board—our object being to make the shore for the purpose of obtaining sucoor. The boat filled twice in going ashore, before we even reached the surf, When we struck the surf the boat capsized, and Elwood got entangled somehow underneath the boat; and owing to our feeble state we could not render him any material assistance to extricate nim, and the conse- quence was that he was Jrowned. When we reached the shore we had a mile to walk before we got to the light” house, and only for the kind attention that was shown us by the keeper of the lighthouse—Mr. Smith and his wife—in getting us dry clothing and restoratives for our frozen limbs, we would have all perished. We applied of course at the lighthouse to have a life boat sent to the rescue of our comrades on the E. K. Collins. Our request was complied with, but unfortunately when the life boat was brought to the beach there were no men to man it. our frozen condition rendering assistance from us for ‘hat purpose impossible. The next day, th» 11th instan’, ia the morning. the sea at high tide was making a breach over her fore and main gaff. When we first saw her that morning we supposed that there could not bea liviag soul on board the Collins, so great had been the intensity of the cold of the previous day and night. We concluded, however, that as the life boat was on the beach, we would wake an endeavor to get the bodies out at low water. some citizens of Babylon, having heard of our disaster, kincly consenting to assist ua in the effort. We observed from the beach one person on the pilot boat’s deck, and at first supposed it must be some one who had boarded her that morning, not thinking that any of our comrades could have survived the night. We made signals to him, which he answered, so we determined at once to launch the life boat. Iwas going iu the oat, but they would not permit me, on account of the weak coa- dition I was in. They made the pilot boat wit much difficulty, im consequence of the amouat of rift ice out of tne inlet. This man on the pilot boat proved to be James Rush, one of the hands employed on beard. He is now in the City Hos pital. The people in the life boat took off Rush, together with the bedies of R. 8. Mitchell and the cabin boy, Wm. Williams. The body of the cook—whose name I am not acquainted with—still remains on board the pilot buat; be was a colored man. Those I have named were al! frozen to death. Ellwood’s body we had recovered the previous day, about an hour after we got on shore. Tho three bodies were, up to the time I left Fire Island, in the boat bouse on the shore, no coroner having been in attendance to hold an inquest. Had sucha fanctionury made his appearance in discharge of his duty, we would have been enadled to have brought the bodies up to the city on the Titan on Saturaay evening. The pilot boat, at the time I left her, was headed northwest—that is, at 5 o’clock yesterday (Seturday) afternoon, with but slight probability of getting her off, in consequence of her be: ing #0 badly bilged. She is of some eighty-nine tons burthen, and is owned by Wm. P. Tornure, John L. Tor- pure, James H. Tornure, Evgene H. Sullivan and James R, Murphy. We valued her at forty five hundred dollars. I wili here state that in my judgment the pro- visions made by the general government for succor to those who may be cast upon that bleak shore are en- tirely inadequa‘e for the constantly resurring wants of the shipwrecked, in the regard especislly of there being no men to work the life boats, and an insufficiency of fuel to warm shipwrecked crews thrown on that icy beach. The boat houses on Fire Island are some five miles apart, so that it aman be cast away there on such a night as that on which our comrades perished, in all likelihood be would eink before reaching shelter; or if he did reach the boat house, he would have to undertake another journey to find out who had the key of the place, In fect, had we landed where the Stiogray now lies, iaxtead of making the lighthouse and receiving the kind aoapi- talities of Mr. Smith and his wife, itis more than pro- bable that we, too, would have sucsumbed to the fatal inclemency of the storm. The following is a correct statement of the condition of the crew:— DROWNED. Morris Eilwood, boat keeper. FROZEN TO DEATH, Robert B. Mitchell, pilot. Wm. Williams, cabin boy. The cook, (colored,) name unknown, SAVED, James R. Murphy, pilot. ‘William Roach, pilot. James Rush, apprentice boy. James Sullivan, apprenticg boy. SUFFERINGS OF THE PILOTS BY THE RE- CENT SEVERE WEATHER. From the annexed statements, taken from our Marine Intelligence since the Tth imet., it will be seen that the pilote have suffered terribly during the revent cold weather. They complain thet for years they have known nothing like it, and seareety » boat comes im but has one or more of the men composing the crew frost- bitten or otherwise injured from expesure to the frigid weather. ‘The boats that arrived last Saturday hed a number o° men on board who were frostbitten in the ears, feet and fingers. Among others reported are Gustavus Van Pelt, obn Small, John @’Keefe and John Fredel, who are thus injured. The following is our record:— [From the New York Herald, Jan. 8.] The pilot boat Sylph, No. 1, came up to the city youter- ¢ay, and reports having experienced a tremendous gale from the northeast on Saturday night and Sunday, 6th ep 6th inst,, during whioh, and while lsying to under her trysail, was boarded by a sea which broke rail, atove boat, and swept overboard twe of the pilots, named James Johnson and Charles White, and the boatkeeper. ‘The latter got back on board, but the two pilots were not seen afterwards, The Sylph is one of the Jersey boats; but this has not prevented a deep feeling from being mani- fested by the New Yorkers. The pilot boat Julia, No, 15, was out in the same gale, and Jost foresail, stove bulwarks, and washed the seats out of the cockpit. [From the New York Herald, Jan. 10.) Pilot boat Mary & Catharine, No. 6, came up yesterday forenoon from @ cruise, and reports Sunday, 6th, 4A. M., shipped a sea which stave one of the yaw! boats and starboard bulwarks, also aplit the jib and carried away the foresail. Her hull and a porvion of her masts ani rigging were encased in ice six or eight inches in thick- ness. Some ten or twelve boats were outside during the gale of Saturday night last, among which the A. B. Neil- ron arrived on Monday last, with loss of jib. The M. H. Grinnell came up on Wednesday, having lost foresail. The Washington, No. 2, Jacob A. Westervelt and E. K. Collins were seen on Sunday morning last, about forty wiles southeas: from Sandy Hook, and it is quite proba- ble that all will arrive safe in a few days, or as soon as their men are all taken on board of vessels bound in. All of those now in port are lamenting the loss of the two pilots from on board the Sylph, and accordingly have ‘heir colors set at halt-mast. It was formerly the custom among the other vessels in the harbor to commemorate in this way all similar disasters among the pilots, when they bad been reported in the public prints; but it would almost seem that the bustle and ain of trade and multi- plicity and strife of business had destroyed this kind of xympatby and fellow feeling, and rendered the courtesy nearly, if not quite, obsole:e. [From the Herald, Jan. 11.] Pilot beat Virginia, No. 3, just arrived from a cruise, reports a heavy gale on the night of the 5th instant. Sixty miles S.E. of the Hook, on the 7th, picked up a barrel of flour, marked “P. B, C., No.8,” with Indian corn sticking be'ween the hoops; had been in the water some ‘ime, On the8th, at noon, 45 miles S.8.E., spoke ships Katbey and Whirlwind, and bark Hope, of Limerick; also saw a clipper ship gcing N., but could not speak her; sup- pored tobe the Challenge. During the night it blew a gale from the westward, freeing very hard, with» thick vapor arising from the water. It was a dreadful night: Next morning we looked more like a floating iceberg than * pilotbeat. It continued to blow hard on the 9th and 10tb, freezing hard all the time. I¢ is supprsed that the above mentioned vessels were blown pretty well off shore. ‘The Ka‘hay, mentioned above, arrived off this port on the 8th instant. [From the Herald, Jan. 13.) The following pilot boats eerived yesterday from out- side>—Christian Berg, No. 16; Mary Taylor, No.5; Net tle, No. 20; Jacob A. Westervelt, No. 19; Washington, No. 2, and Washington, No. 4, and the Elwood Walter, No. 7. Among them, the Christian Berg reports that on Friday, the 1ith inst., ten miles east of Fire Island, John Van Buskirk fell from aloft, and was severely injured. On Wednesday, 9th, James Mitchell was so severely frozen as to be disabled. In the gale from the north- west, which commenced on Tuesday, the 8th, she was hove to for sixty hours under storm staysail; duriog which time her starboard yawl boat was stove by a sea, and her decks were cxvered with ice a foot or two in thickness. For most of the time it was flush with the top of the rail, notwiths'anding they were constantly engaged in cutting it away with axes, to keep the boat from foundering by ite weight, and the pressure of the seas that were washing cver her. One man on board, who had been in the employ for twelve years, stated that he had never experienced so severe weather as they had during this last cruise of ten days. Friday, the 11th, sawa large bark to the eastward cf Fire Island. Jacob A. Westervelt, on Tuesday right, 8th, carried away outerend of main boom. The Mary Taylor was absent ten days; discharged all her pilots. Morning of the 12th, saw the Nettle anc Thomas H. Smith 86 miles south-east of the Highlands. The Nettle also reports bad weather, and was yesterday anchored under the Cedars, in company with the Thomas H. 3mith. The Phantom is the only one not yet arrived, except the E. K. Collins, ashore on Fire Island. All those in port, yesterday, presented quite a dolefal appearance, their colore being set at half mast, in token of the late calamity which befet the E. K. Collins. In the slip at the foot of Beekman street, East river, nine of them were lyiog to- gether, rigged in this manner, and condoling with each other on the untoward event. All of the sea-going vessels on the North river side, and many on the East river side, made similar demonstrations of regret. Tnere were ne- vertheless a numder of the largest packet and clipper ships Y on the south ride of the city, which from their size and grondeur, rhould be fit prototypes for all the rest, but which em this orcarion appeared to be devoid of such kind {sympatby. There is, perhaps, no class of men more to; ortant to the commercial interests, or that necessa- rily encornters more severe hardships and perils, than do the pilots on our northern coast. It may, therefore, be inferred that ruch omissions of courtesy on the part of some of our largeat vessels were not ao much through » want of reepect or friendly regard, as from the probable circumstance that their respective owners and comman- dors were not fully posted, or bed quite forgotten some of the more essential pcints of marine decorum, SHIPWRECKS ON THE JERSEY COAST. LOSS OF THE SCHOONER PACIFIC—TOTAL DESTRUC- TION OF THE SPANISH BARK DUKE DE BRAGANZA— AN UNKNOWN BRIG WRECKED—OVER THRITY LIVES LOST, ECT., ETO. In our issue of yesterday we published such particu- lars as bad reached us of the late serious casualties upon the Jersey cvast durimg the feartul storm of the 5th and €th instant, Our special correspondent, Mr. J. B. Smith, who revives in the vicinity of the scene of those lament- able disasters, came up to the city on Saturday night, and bas furnishsd us with these additional particulars of the calamity. The statement of Mr. Smith will no doubt be reed with muc} interest, inasmuch as it embraces the ob- servations of one who was on the spot, as it were, when the wreck took place. MR. J. B. SMITH’S STATEMENT. It commenced storming on Saturday morning, the 5th instant, about 10 o'clock, and the wind gradually in- creaxed until it blew almost a perfect gale. We began to think then that there was danger on hand, but saw nothing of importance until Sunday morning. On Sunday about day-bresk, Mr. Jennings the wreck master—he lives on Long beach, opposite Man nubewkin, N. J.—together with his assistant, a young man named Wm. Webb, espled a schooner lying about three miles to the southward of them. As soon as they pereeived the schooner they immediately started for her. Webb got down to the vessel first, and as he came up to her he eaw men struggling in the surf. When he got up to them they prcved to be the mate of the schooner Pa- cific and the Captain of the same. The mate was end voring to pull the eaptain (Tilman Pharrow, of Washing. ton, N,C.,) out of the surf. The captain had been #0 drenebed and chilled by being onthe wreck all night, that he was unable to assist himself; and (besidos, his pentaloons had got loose and hung about his legs, and of couree, embarrassed him in his efforts to save him self. In fact, the captain was so completely worn out that he died in the arms of the mate immediately on reach, ing the rhore, in spite of all their kindly efforta to restore him; the only words the poor fellow said were a few of inquiry as to some stimulant—all their exertions, how- exer, were in vain. The body was then taken by Mr. Jen- rirgs, the Wreck Master, to the Government House. In sorvequenee of the excessive exposure and exertion to whigu {pe mate, Charles Pigkett, bad been subjected, he MORNING EDITION—MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1856. was for a time's'most gemea id, the cold having so 4!- ficted him. He wae broug’t %0, however, by the timely administration of seme warm s‘imulants, and was thu» enabled to make s statement to ws of the sad catastrophe. Ho stated to us that they hel got up towithin about twenty miles of Sandy Hook, when they put the schooner under close reeted sails, tut found she erould not work. ‘They then tried iayiay ver to, and found that she made sternway to such an extemt thet they had ¢o throw over deck load. They then put om three reef foresail, & two reef mainsail, and tied the jib down close; but it was of no use—they were soon blown away. They them began to prepare for going ashore, these being no other remedy for them, and got everything ready tor that purpose—the mate first lashing the captain to the wheel, im order that he might not be swept overboard, the captain at the same time giving him directions to stand by and cut him loosg when the schooner should strike. When the vessel strack the mate obeyed the captain’s direction, and the crew immediately teok to the rigging. As soon as they struck the breakers, the mate sang out, ‘Lads, we are in the breakers!” Tucy were in the rigging about an hour and a half, when the captain and the cook concluded they would fare better in the cabin, which was fastened up tight. Previous to the schooner going ashore the captain put his brother- in-law—e small lad whom he had brought on with hin— into the upper berth cf the cabin, and shut himin, with a view that in case the water should get into the cabin he would be above the reach of it. The captain amd cook had not been in the cabin but s few momenta, when seve- ral heavy seas were shipped, which had the effect of bursting in the cabin, and the captain was awept over- board. A pack sea, however, brought him in proximity to the vessel, so that he was enabled to catch hold of the main sheet, the litt!e boy all the while crying out to save his brother-in-law, as he was overboard. The mate immediately came down from the rigging, and suc- ceeded in getting him onto the ‘house.’ The little boy kept crying to the mate to save him, too. The mate locked his arm and leg into the wheel, with a view to retain his position, but the wheel was almost immediately broken into pieces. A portion of the wheel striking the Captain, he asked what it was that hit him, and the mate replied that it was the wheel that had given way. ‘The Captain was, by the same sea, washed out over the ‘‘house;” but he caught hold of a piece of the rigging and held on until daylight upon Sun- day morning. The mate stayed with him on the house un- til caybreak, when they thought they would try and get cn tothe beach. They then went out on to the end of the flying jib-boom, and the mate jumped ashore, and the captain, in endeavoring to do 80, got down into the forward rigging. Tne captain’s pantaloons being frozen, bothered him so much that he concluded he would cut them off, and he sung out to the mate to hand him his kni'e for that purpose. The mate ran to hand him the krife, but was struck down bya heavy sea and very much hurt, He regained his feet, however, and suc- ceeded in banding Captain Pharrow the knife, but the captain was so benuiobed that he could not held the knife, and so he ietit drop. He then undertook to tear off his pantloors, as it were, but he was struck by o heavy sea, and was rescued trom the surf by the timely assistance of the mate (Mr. C. Pickett,) and thore who came to his aid. The colored man, who was cook on board tbe Pacific, was all the while hanging in the rigging, where he had perished. He presented the ap- pearance of having had his skull broken in by being struck by some portion of the wreck, and at the same time there was an ugly wound in hisabdomen. The body was subsequently taken from the wreck and conveyed to the Government House, whore it remained until such time as they could get 1t removed to the main land for interment. The remains of the unfortunate captain were brought up to the city on Saturday night, and delivered to Mr, Bateman, one of the consignees of the schooner. ‘The vessel, when I left, was listed off the shore, with her head southwest. She is laden with a general assort- ment of naval stores, which are not materially injured. Her cargo was consigned vo Barnes, Bateman & Rudde- row. Mr. Jenning, the wreck master, is in charge of t! schooner, and will superintend the removal of the cargo: at the same time the consignees have despatched a per- son to the scene of the disaster to look after matter generally. From the information afforded us by Mr. Smith, wo further learned that there was no insurance upon the vessel, though a portion of the cargo is insured, where, however, we are not apprised. ‘The mate, who throughout the perils of that fearful night and morning displayed such commendable manli- ness, suffered most intensely from the cold, and would doubtless have perished but for the humane attentions of Mr. Jennings and wife. The bodies of the crew have not as yet been recovered—probably they are under the ice, with which that desolate shore is piled high. As soon as the ice and snow melt, in ail likelinood the bodies will befound. Atallevents, Mr. Pickett was the only one left to recite the sad details of that mournful disaster. ‘Nhe following are the names of those who perished by this calamity:— Captain Tilman Pharrow, of Washington, N. C., where he bas a wife living. Warren Spencer, of Ocracoke, N. C. Bryan Cadet (colored), of Newbern, N.C. Aman names Jim, believed to belong on Long Island. A boy, brother-in-law of Capt. Pharrow. A SPANISH BARK AND AN UNKNOWN BRIG WRECKED OFF BARNEGAT—ALL HANDS PERISHED. During the terrific gale in which the Pacific was wreck- ed, a bark, supposed to be Spanish or Portuguese, togeth- er with a brig unknown, went ashere in the immediate vicinity of the scene of disaster to the ill-fated schooner. Tho vessels were completely broken up, and we regret to say that not a vestige remains to afford a clue to their pomes, destination or ownership, more than that from some portion of the debris cast on the shore, it is thought thet the bark was named the Duque de Bragauza, and was Spanish, from the fact that such portions of the wreck as were cast upon the beach showed that she was caulked with bark, a distinguishing feature of Spanish sbip building, As to the other vessel, nothing hag been ascertained as yet, though it is probable that when the ice breaks up along that disastrous shore, some indications may be discovered of the nature of their cargoes, &e., &. It is supposed by those who saw the vessels that, from their size and rig, it must have taken at least thirty men to man them, not one of whom escaped the perils of that memorable night. During that gale, the surf ran so high that ice was formed thirty feet up the rigging of the schooner Pacific, Tho loss of life has indeed been lamentable. Alovg that storm-lashed coast, from Little Fgg Harbor to Barnegat, more than thi:ty souls, exclusive of the crew of the schooner Pacific, found a watery shroud while that tempest raged, though as to the exact num- ber, we of course are at present unable to speak with » positive certainty, At all events, we sincerely trast that it will be a long while before we are again called upon to record such fearful doings of “the Storm King.” VESSELS ASHORE ON LONG ISLAND. THE CLIPPER SHIP STINGRAY AND PILOT BOAT E. K. COLLINS. The clipper ship Stingray, Capt. Kirby, which went ashore five miles east of Fire Island light on the night of the 9th inst., had not, up to the last accounts, been set afleat. She ts at present lying in two fathoms water at low tide, and is heading about three points off the shore. Her stern post is started, and her lower hold has about \hirteen feet of water in it, but with this exception she has sustained very Httle damnge. It is feared, however, that during the gale which sprung up from the eastward on Saturday, she went to pieces, although she is very strongly built, Tre Stingrey sailed from Canton with a cargo consisting of tens, rilks, matting, &., valued alto. gether at $300,000, and was insured for about $60 000, On the 8th inst. sho arrived off Little Egg Harbor, where she took a pilot, On the nilt of the 9th inst, she ran ashore at the point stated, ihe pilot having mistaken Fire Island for the Barnegat light. The mistake, it gppears, was caused by a thick coating of frost having settled on the lantern, and so obscuring the light as to render its revolving motion imperceptible, To the rame cause is attributed the disaster to the pilot boat KE. K. Collins, of which a full account is given in another place. The crew of the Stingray got safe ashore, and her cap- tain, who was confined to his state room when the acci- cent bappened, is at present in Sayville, a small vil- lage near where bis vessel went ashore. The hands are lodged in the government house, near the lighthouse. The steamtug Titan, Captain Parks, left this port at 3 o'clock on Friday, to go to her assistance, and was alongside the same night about 9 o'clock, The ship's en ag anchors were fast taken and laid off, 60 as toensbie her to keep from driving further on shore. Having thus secured her, they set to work at ence te remove the cargo, which occupied them till 3 o’clock on Saturday, when they returned, arriving here on Saturday night. A portion of the cargo saved by the Titan, is in an undamaged condition, and consiste of the following g00ds:—170 bales of silks; 416 chests of tea; 524 bales of India matting; 376 bales of cassia mats, aud 213 casen of miscellaneous goods, The value of that brought by the Titan is estimated at from $60,000 to $80,000. They will be stored for the present in the warehouse of the umder- writers at the Attantic docks, Brooklyn. Before leaving, the Titan placed some steam: pumps aboard, with which it is hoped she may be kept afloat and eventually saved, should the weather prove moderate. A large part of the cargo was being removed by the wrecking schooner Henry W. Johnson, of s hun- dred tons, and will also be brought to the city. The Titan left for the wreck last night, and it is ex- pected will be able to save the remainder of the cargo, if the Stingray has not gone to pieces in the gale. If saved at all it will be in = damaged condition, asthe water must have reached it by this time. We should state that a considerable portion has been landed on the beach by the wreck master, Mr. Green, The ship was built at Greenpoint, eighteen months since, by Mr. Eckford Webb, was 843 tons burthen, and owned by Messrs. Wakeman, Dimon & Cd, of this city, and ranked #1. There ts no truth m the rumor that anether ship had gone ashore castward-of the Stingray, as was reported in the HERALD of yesterday. ‘The shtp Kathay, Capt. Stoddard, from Shanghae, which was reported ashore on Romer shoal on the 8th inst. arrived at this port yesterday, having sustained very slight damage. As soon as it was known that she had gone achore the steamtug Leviathan was sent to her sesintance, and succeeded in getting her off. Before this was accomplished she had discharged a lighter loai of her cargo. The Kathay was ninety-three days from China, and had a cargo of tea, silks, &., to Goodhue & Co, THE ICE IN THE RIVER. ‘The recent cold snap has had the effect of filling the bey end river with large masses of floating ice, that im- pede navigation not a little. When the tide is going out large quantities come down the river, and the docks on the north side are choked up, making it difficult for the terry boats to enter their slips, Should a heavy frost come now, no doubt it would have the effect of bridging the North and East rivers, a pheaomenon not seen even once in ten years in this city. News m Venezuela. OUR LAGUAYRA CORRESPONDENCE. Laavarna, Dec. 21, 1855. Cabinet Changes—New Minister to the United States—Stale Of the Markets, dc. In a previous letter I mentioned that a report had got + in circulation with regard to a change in the Cabinet of President Momagas, Senor Aranda, late Secretary of the Interior and of Foreign Relations, has been appointed Minister to the United States, and has already left for his destination. Senor Oriach, a son-in-law of President Monagas, supersedes Mr. Oranda in the Department of the Interior. Mr. Oriach is destrous of the Vice Presi- dency, and it is said that General Monagas will support his claims at the next election. So you see the affairs of the country will be under the direction and patriotic care of the dominant family. These are the men who vociferated so loudly and violently against the adminis- tration of General Paez. ‘Lhe country is quiet, and business is more active, par- tioularly in produce market. Coffee, however, ar- rivesin «mall lota as yet. Fair qualities obtain 12340. a 12%e. Ox aud cow hides are in good demand at 2034c. per 1b; cocoa, $23 per fanego; indigo, 8 reals per Ib.; and cotton 123/c. a 130. per Ib.’ The agricultural condition has greatly improved, and next year's produc- tion will exceed anything this country ever yielded. Its products will consist of tobacco, Indian corn, hem; — cane, coffee, and manufactures on an tbereaspd a. \e islands on the coast are rich in guano, and every day’s developements of mineral produc ions and richness are astonishing. Millions and millions of dollars worth of guano is to be found on our islands, @ bark Paez, from Philadelphia, is the oon Amert- can vessel in our harbor. Weather fine, and country healthy. News from South America, The Portuguese steamer Donaa Maria the Second ar- rived at Lisbon on the 10th ultimo, with dates from Rio de Janeiro, Nov. 20, Bahia, Nov. '26; Pernambuco, Nov. 28; St. Vincent, Dec. 7; Madeira, Dec. 13. ‘The Donus Maria landed 89 passengers, who have eight Gays’ detention in the Lisbon lazaretto. From Rio de Janeiro we learn that the Brazilian government, naving annulled the treaty celebrated with Paraguay by the Rear Admiral Ferreira d’Oliveira, had invited President Lopes to send a Plenipotentiary to Rio de Janeiro, which he agreed to. ‘The government of Buenos Ayres had declared to the Brazilion Envoy that the suiling of a Brazilian squadron up the Uruguay, although once allowed, was a violation of the Argentine territory, which could not again be Permits, ‘and diplomatic notes had been exchanged on e subject. Pernambuco continued entirely to escape the infection of cholera, and the report that the epidemic had made its appearance in the neighboring province of Alugoas had been ‘piletatty contradicted in the governments paper of ‘ov. 28. More activity prevailed in the import trade, in conse- quence ef the increased arrival of goods, Sugars were accumulating in the hands of storekeepers, but prices of browns kept up, and 2,260 to 2,460 were paid for low to gooa quality. Whites had declined, and 3,700 was tne last rate paid cn ’Change for shipment to Valparaiso Cotton, regular quality 4,800 up to 5,400 for very picked The cholera was considerably declining at Rio, and the mortality was almost reduced to the usual figure. At Campos it was also better, but its effects had been fear- ful; the deathe had some days reached 90, and one day they numbered 107, out of a small population. Many acts of praiseworthy benevolence were recorded in the Rio jourvals. At the instance of the imperial government, Lopez, the President of Paraguay, was about to despatch a pleni- porentiary to Rio, It seems that the arrivals and copartures of the Por- tugure steamers have little influence on commercial transactions, since, by a short-sighted policy, they are regulated so aa to obtain cargo and passengers, and not to favor the interests of the mercantile community in general. In exchanges some £30,000 were done at 2734 at 60 days, and 2754 at 90 days; there was little more firmues: since the last packer, in cenyequence oi the want of money. Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Inflexible had arrived at Pernambuco, haviog on board Vice Admiral Hope John- stone, the commander on the South American station, Be had waited upon the President of the province, who had returned the visit on board the ship. ‘The imports of sugars were much larger than was ex- pec'ed, the cause bemg the high price obtainable; still of rowns kept up, and 2 dollars 250 to 2 doulars 460 were teing paid for low to good quailty. Whites had de clined. At Bahia a solemn 7 Dewm had been celebrated, fol- lowed by a procession, joined by all the civil and mili- we authorities, in thanksgiving for the extinction of cholera, Abducting Slaves at the South. We find the following ia the Smyrna (Del.) Times of the 9th inst. Although Capt. Lambdin’s letter is not writ- ten in the most amicable spirit, we give it place in eur columus, Magna est veritas, et prevalelit. We have not yet seen the letter Capt. L. wrote to us. (From the Smyrna Times. ] The following communication we publish for the pur- pose of giving the writer the pri of making his statement of the case before the public. We know nothing of the circumstances regar@ing the affair, not having seen tho statement in the New York Herat, apcken of. It is, however, a serious case; and should not succeed in qgittahing his innocency of the inet bim, will to have to uncergo a very severe penalty. There were five negroes concealed in the forecastle of his beat, and the Stave makes each negro a separate offence ; but, if one is proved all is proved ; and, in that case, the penalty would be fifty years in the penitentiary. ¥ the negroes came there Mr. L. ex plains in the letter below. Mr. Lambdin isa native of Smyrna, and, no doubt, has friends who would interest themaelveh in his behalf :— Norrotk, Va., Jan. 29, 1865, Fprror SMYRNA TIMES ;— SR—I see many reports in the press—one in the New York HERALD-—-giving a total misrepresentation of every event connected with my detention here. If the Hentp's ‘‘correspondense”’ i# no more relinble upon other topics than it is in its account of the event leading to my detention on a “charge of abducting slaves,” &o., I know of no way in which it can ever atone for the in- jury it has perpetrated upon the public credulity. Some of the Herary’s statements are downright lies, which any one will see by comparing them with the facts. The facte are simply these:—When three hours’ sail from Norfolk, I discovered negroes secreted in my foreeastle; wndertock to put bask; lent gale commencing to blow, 1 bud _my head sails blown away; put the vessel ov the besch 514 miles south of Cape Henry, on the sea- boar’; sought out the authorities, gave them my state- ment, ard requested to be taken to Norfolk, where the facts of the case might be further investigated. I have written to the HxraLp, but he has not yet published my communication, over my he bp itheugh the lies above referred fo were published by him without a re- sponsible name atiached. nae g ® native of Smyrna, among your readers are Ck my former acquaint- ances, hence the a vA. Sone mast be obvious to you as a public ly. : Wit, H LAMBDRY, PRICE TWO CENTS. ARRIVAL OF THE ATLANTIC. TEN DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE. TERMS OF PEACE PROPOSED TO RUSSIA. NCEMENTS FOR THE NEXT CAMPAIGN. OUR RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND. Treaty Between Russia and the United States. SLIGHT DECLINE IN COTTSN, CORN, AND CONSOLS. Our London, Paris and Berlin Cor- ndence, Teapo: &., ke., &e. ‘The Collins mail steamship Atlantic, Captain West, errived at this port at hals past three o’clock yesterday afternoon. She left Liverpool at two o’clock om Satur- day afiernoon, the 29th ult., amd Cork at ten e’clook em Wednesday morning, the 2d inst. She made the passage from Cork in e'even days five hours and thirty minutes. ‘The news is not of much importance. Cotton, console and corn had slightly declined. Thereturn from the Bank of England for the week ending the 22d of December, gives the following results, when compared with the previous week:— Public deposits. . £5,844,753 Increase... Other deposits. 2 12}244,467 Decrease. rapes 3,219,877 Increase... 14,306 On the other side of the account — Government securities. £9,929,107 Increase. Other securities 19,204,123 Increase: Notes unemployed 91,920 The amount of notes in cirewlation is £28,379,890, be- ing a decrease of £201,470, and the stock of bullion im both departments is £10,981,745, showing a decrease of £524,593, when compared with the preceding return. The Enghish Board of Trade returns for the month end- irg the 30th November realize the anticipations express- ed as to the extent of business that might be expected in the latter part of the year. Contrasted with the ac- counts for the month endiag the 5th of December, 1854, they show the exiraordinary imcrease of £2,151,351, eve- ry desertption of manufacture having, with some trifling exceptions, participated in the improvement. This result is especially satisfactory, since there is no reason to at- tribute it, on the one hand, te an undue spirit of speou- lation, or, on the other, to foreed sales froth commercial distrust. It is evidently ina great measure ‘the result of our heavy expenditure in the East, where an increas- ing trade is rapidly developing itself, coupled with the impulse given to Ameriesn orders by the Luropean de- mand for breadstuffs, and hense there is good ground to ‘twust that it will be sustained. There was a report in Berlin to the effect that Russia and the United States have concluded a treaty, offensive and defensive, in case war should break out betweem Great Britain and America, but another version of the affair fs, that the convention merely relates to the pur- chase of ships of war. It is now rumored that some doubts exist as to whother Count Esterhazy has taken either propositions or am Austrian ultimatum to St. Petersburg, but it is believed be goes rathér to prepare the way for future proposals, Baron Seebach, the Saxon envoy 6% the French arrived at Dresden on’ Sunday, the 28d ult., from Paria, and after receiving insructions proceeded en route to St. Petersbu:g—his mission being, it is believed, connected with the negotiations for peace. It is stated that the Danish government will give ite acquiescence, in a few days, if it has not already done so, to the treaty concluded between Sweden and the allied Powers, and that immediately after the opening of the Baltic navigation next spring, French and English com- manders will make their appearance at Copenhagen and Stockholm, to select places suitable for the establish- ment of storehouses and hospitals, for the service of the allied fleets and armies. It is tated in a despatch from Berlin that Austria haa communicated to Prussia the preliminaries agreed upea by the Western Powers, and called upon her to advocate their acceptance at St. Petersburg. It is added, accord- ing to the Dresden Joarnai, that Russia has declared her willingness to concede the neutrality of the Black Sea under conditions compatible with the interests of Europe. On the other hand, it is averred that the latest despatches from St. Petersburg are not favorable to the success of the attempts at negotiation. It is expeoted that Sir E. Lyons and the Duke of Cam- bridge, attended by Sir A. Airey, will be present at the council of war which is about to be held at Paris, The object of the meeting will be to weigh thoroughly the several plans tor the next campaign, and, when a decision is formed, to carry out combined operations with energy and completeness. It is reported that Marshal Pelissiee has been foremost in requesting that this council should be held. The Marshal is said to have given his opinion that no campaign is possible from the present base o¢ operations. The Moniteur announces that the Syndical Chamber of the Paris stockprokers has decided that the new Rus- sian loan shall not be allowed to be quoted on the Paris Bourse, and that consequently, stockbrokers are prohibited from meddling in any manner whatever in negotiations of that stock. Immediately after the departure of the allied fleeta from the Baltic, the Russians at once began a very ani- mated coasting trade. The Sonthampton correspondence of Dee. 28, jin the London Times, says:— Tne United States mail steamship Washington, Captain Cavendy, which put back from Bremen to this port on Sunday last, in consequence of the quantity of 1e which had formed in the Weser, went into the graving dock this morning for the purpose of having her botwm ex- amined, owing toa slight accident curing the ps: fiom the North sea. About noon on the 22d inst consequence of the North Sea pilot mistaking one light ehip for another, the Washington touch ea cn the Long Sand, where she remained for about seven and a half hours, and then float- ed off easily. The weather being hazy ana caim, the ship received little damage beyond a slight displace. men‘ of copper. Had the Washing’on remained ia hec perilous position another tide, it was probable she would ave become a total wreck, ax the weather shortly after- wards set in with a heavy gale from the westward. On the following morning, while entering the steaits of Dover, the Washing'on came in contact with « ship (name um: known) standing towards the English coast. The wea- ther being very thick, and a gaie blowing from the W. 8. W., the vessel was not discovered until it was close to the port bow of the Warhington. No light wax shown by the sailing vessel. Ax soon as the vilot on bosrd the Wash- ington perceived the danger, he ordered the helm to be put hard-a-port; but a strong sea existing, the vessels were driven along side each other, and in the collision the Washington’s paddlebox guard: were stove ia, nad other minor damages done. In consequmnse of the delay necessary to render the ship seaworthy, the Post Office authcrities have permitted a detention ‘of the Washing- tin until daylight on Sunday morning week, when she will sail from this port with the usaal English, French, and German mails, togetner with a special mail, which will arrive in time for her gh ance. The Washi could have been got ready to sail on her appointed day, Dut she had to wait her turn on the graving dock, and the work has been delayed by jthe bad weather and Christmas holidays. The firet vousdl belonging to the Belgian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company is expected at this from Antwerp, on Sunday or Monday next, Tt is na the Relgique, and is a screw # of 2,500 toas and 600 horse power. In celebration of the formation of this new line from Belgium to New York, via Southamp- ton, the Mayor and corporation of thia port have decided on inviting the Commander (Captain Jack) and officers, together with any important personages who may ac- company the vessel, to a déjewner, to take piace, it possi~ ble, at the Royal Victoria Assembly rooms, on Monday next. Oar London Correspondence, Loxvon, Deo. 28, 1865. ‘The Peace Negotiations—Count Esterhazy at St. Peters burg—Uitimatum or No Uitimatum?—The King of Prus- na—Kars—~Omer Pasha—Pamphlet by Napoleon [1m Council of War at Paris—Next Campaign—Miscd- laneous, de. We are still in the miéat of peace negotiations, but we are not ope WIN Winer thAR We Were, Couny Lsterhaay