Rhode Island Republican

DISTRESSING PARTICULARS.

Loss of the brig Flora, of Philadelphia, Thomas Burrows, master, on a whaling voyage to Cayenne.

On the 28th Sept. sailed from Philadelphia in good order and well conditioned, with a crew consisting of Thomas Barron, master, Jacob Oidenbargh, mate, Wm. Davidon, supercargo, John Nevan, Samuel Babcock, Wm. Story, Joseph Wilder, Seamen, Josiah Smith, James Cameron, boys, and Josiah Anderson, Reward. Nothing particular occurred till Friday the 12th Oct. lat. 28. 0, N. long. 54. W. the wind began to blow hard from the N. E. the gale continuing to increase, accompanied by thunder, lightning rain & a heavy sea, the pumps constantly going. Next day at 2 A. M. finding it impossible to lay too any longer, determined to cut away the mainmast and scud before the wind, but before that could be done, was struck with a whirlwind, which hove the brig on her beam ends, Joseph Wilder, being in the forecastle, was drowned--the mainmast went by the board, the hatches bursted off, the vessel filled with water and the cargo floating out at each hatch way. For our preservation we endeavored to lash ourselves to the main-chains, but the sea breaking furiously over us, William Davidson, Wm. Story, and the two boys were washed away; the foremast now went by the board, and day coming on we beheld a most awful sight, mast and spars hanging to the wreck, and the cargo coming out of the hold washed over us ; at this time we shipped a sea which stove in the stern and the cargo broke out of the cabin ; at 9, A. M. we took to the bowsprit, when William Story and Wm. Cameron, drifted aboard on the camboose house, the boy shortly after died ; the latter part of the day the gale began to abate, but a heavy sea continued.

On Monday, William Story died. We continued in this dreadful situation until Friday the 19th of Oct. when we discovered a large ship to leeward, made all the signals we could but in vain. On the 20th several kegs of butter came out of the forecastle, one of which we immediately opened and fed on, which greatly increased our thirst. On the 21st, the mate went out of his senses, and a schooner passed to leeward so near that we could see every man on deck, but they took no notice of us. On the 23d the mate died, his blood we drank and devoured part of his flesh, with the remainder we caught a large shark which proved a great relief to us. On Wednesday the 24th, at sun rise, saw a brig standing towards us. At 10 A. M. she hove to and hoisted out her boat to our assistance. and we were taken on board in a weak condition. The vessel proved to be the sloop Thames, Capt. Burton. from Madeira to New-Providence, then in lat. 25 N. long. 59 W.--To the humane attention of the officers and passengers we feel ourselves much indebted, and thus publicly express our thanks.