The Enquirer

Domestic Intelligence.

Loss of the sloop Martha, Samuel Briggs, of Middletown, master and owner.--Extract from capt. Briggs's letter, dated New-Providence, June 6, 1806.

On my passage from Long Island to Nassau the weather squally, at 8 in the evening took in sail and hove the vessel to, between 12 and 1 o'clock at night she struck on a sunken rock about six feet under water, which instantly went through her bottom--in ten minutes she filled, and in about so her keel was alongside and her bottom out, the sea breaking over the vessel into deep water, the ocean water very near, we got the boat forward and remained on the bow the remainder of the night; at day light saw no land, but discovered a rock about eight miles distant, the ebb tide running from 4 to 5 knots; as soon as it slacked we got the boat over the bow-- at this time the vessel was near parting, her sides coming off and her bottom entirely gone, we thought best to leave the wreck; we got on the bowprit and let ourselves down into the boat, the mate Mr. Jones and one seamen preferred staying by the wreck, as the wind was high and a heavy sea, the boat shipping much water, one hand continued bailing, we arrive safe to the rock, found at half tide that the water broke over, so that we could not long preserve our boat--From this rock we saw some larger ones and set off in hopes to find a safer place, and fresh water, as we did not have a drop after the vessel struck. After running all day without refreshment, except a few biscuit we had in our pockets, and those soaked in salt water, we arrived at anchor rock, went under the lee, hauled our boat on; at sunset the weather cleared and we saw the wreck. During the night the water rose and beat over the rock, so that we had much to do to save the boat-in the morning could see nothing of the wreck; the weather being more moderate we went in pursuit of the wreck and men-saw nothing of the wreck- as we were bearing away for the land, saw a man standing on the water to appearance, which proved to be the mate and sailor on a beam, much bruised and almost exhausted--we took them in and ran before the wind-at sunset we saw the land which proved to be the island of Eleuthera; in the middle of the night we found ourselves on a rocky coast and dismal shore, the wind blowing on and a heavy sea, we found a small cove, one hand swam on shore, and found a secure landing place for our boat.--We then went in pursuit of water and a house, through prickly pears and sharp rocks, barefoot, found neither--returned to our boat, at day-light saw a house about a mile distance, went and got water and refreshment, found ourselves about 50 miles from Quay settlement and 10 from Cove Harbor, set off for the Cove; found a small schooner which took us in, and we arrived here the 21st of May--Since which I have been very ill, owing to fatigue, bruises, &c. I had no dry clothes from the time the vessel struck, until we arrived at Eleuthera nor a drop of fresh water to drink from the time we hove to, Suppose the vessel must have drifted 20 miles before she struck.

This rock has not been known by any person that I have seen.

N. Y. Merc. Adv.