Phenix Gazette

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK.

Extract of a letter from Capt. James H. Dill, late master of brig Potomac, of Boston.

Sr. Cruz, Teneriffe, Nov. 20, 1826.

Sir: I am sorry to have to announce to you the unfortunate loss of the Potomac. When we had performed our quarantine, and discharged our cargo that we had to Grand Canary, we came directly to this place, and were waiting here to obtain license from the government to take passengers, for within a few months an order has been sent out here from the king, preventing all foreign vessels from taking natives of these islands away; consequently we kept the vessel here to wait the result of an interest with the government, to go on with the expedition, and finally, a few days previous to the loss of the vessel, we succeeded, and had taken in a large quantity of stores, &c., for the passengers; and the day before we were ready to sail for Lazaretto, there came on one of the most tremendous hurricanes that the oldest inhabitants remember to have witnessed in these islands. Notwithstanding it came on very suddenly, and right on shore, I had got off a chain cable and anchor, from the shore, before the communication to the vessel became impracticable; but the storm raged with increasing fury, every vessel parted and went on to the beach, one after another, the wind hauling every 15 minutes so fast that no vessel could ride a strain on more than one cable, till at length my small bower parted, and the chain was let go, and a scope veered out—the sea was very bad—the boats all washed away—the vessel was unable to bear so hard labour, and leaked very badly; still, every thing was done to keep her free, and to save her, but all in vain—at half past nine, the best bower parted, and the chain and anchor would not bring her up and she was dashed against the rocks—and in five minutes nothing was to be seen of the Potomac but some small pieces afloat in the surf; and with her, my mate and cook shared the same fate, of the rest, some made their escape by throwing themselves from the yards and rigging on to the rocks, and some were thrown up by the sea on to the rocks, with broken arms and legs; and I have scarcely recovered yet sufficiently to write you a description of the shocking scene. The general destruction in all the islands has not left a vessel that we can procure. The Potomac was to take her passengers at Lazaretto, and proceed to Montevideo.