Richmond Enquirer

Extract of a letter from a passenger on board the ship Francanian, Capt. William Brevoort, dated BORDEAUX, June 13.

" It is with the greatest mortification I inform you of the loss of the bountiful ship Araucanian, at the entrance of the river Garonne. As a witness of the melancholy catastrophe, and feeling it a duty I owe to Capt. Brevoort, I will give you the particulars. After a passage of 36 days, we reached the Cordouan. About 15 miles from the light-house we procured a pilot ; being nearly night, Capt. B. proposed to him to keep at sea : to this he replied, " I am a pilot, give me the command, and I will conduct you to Bordeaux." We accordingly continued our course, with light winds from W. N. W. or thereabouts. At 9 o'clock she struck on a bar; by the great exertion and skill of Capt. B. she got off in the course of half an hour, without making any water. The captain then requested the pilot to come to an anchor, as the water permitted it: to this he replied, " there is no danger now, all is safe." Finding that she was then safe, the captain used every exertion to induce him to anchor, but in vain. A short time thereafter, she struck on a rock, where she remained nearly an hour, without making water. The tide being very strong. we endeavored to get out the bower anchor, to keep her off the beach, in which attempt we lost our long-boat; but with infinite exertions and fatigue it was recovered. The vessel had then every appearance of going to pieces, lying nearly on her side, the masts in danger of falling, the rudder lost, &c. Capt. B. then called his officers, passengers and crew, and consulted what best should be done. It was determined to abandon the ship, in order to save our lives. The pilot, seeing all was lost, concealed himself till just before we left the ship, About 10 o'clock. with the greatest reluctance we got into the long-boat, and with much difficulty reached a coasting vessel about 3 in the morning. The captain of her received us kindly, gave us refreshment, and dispatched a guard immediately to the wreck, and about 4 o'clock sent the crew and passengers ashore. He then steered for the wreck, and found her on the beach, her bottom bilged, masts gone through, and the cargo washing out We saved our baggage, and perhaps a small part of the cargo may be saved. Capt. B. went immediately to Bordeaux, where he remained but a few hours, and procured every necessary aid, to endeavor to save such part of the cargo as could be come at, the rigging. &c. I feel it an imperious duty to state, that the loss of the Araucanian was entirely owing to the pilot. who ought to be made an example of, as I learn this is the fourth vessel he has cast away. It would be doing the greatest injustice to my feelings, were I not to express my high sense of the conduct of Capt. B. who did every thing that could be done on so melancholy an occasion. Had he been in command of the vessel, the accident would not have happened!."