Alexandria Daily Advertiser

DISTRESSING PARTICULARS.

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

On the 28th of September, sailed from Philadelphia, in good order and well conditioned, with a crew consisting of Thomas Burrows, master, Jacob Oldenburg, mate, William Davidson, supercargo, John Navan, Samuel Babcock, William Story, Joseph Wilder, seamen, Josiah Smith, James Cameron, boys, and Josiah Anderson, steward. Nothing particular occurred till Friday the 12th of October, in lat. 28, 50. N. long. 54. W. the wind began to blow hard from the N. E. the gale continued to increase, accompanied by thunder, and lightning rain and a heavy sea, the pumps constantly going-- next day at two A M. finding it impossible to lay too any longer, determined to cut away the Main-mast, 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 fore-castle was drowned : the mainmast went by the board. the hatches were bursted off, the vessel filled with water and the cargo floating out at each hatchway; for our preservation we endeavoured to lash ourselves to the main chains, but the sea breaking furiously over us, William Davidson, William 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, masts 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 8 A. M. we took to the bowsprit, when William Story and William Cameron drifted on board on the cambouse 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 October 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 22d, 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 too and hoisted out her boat to our assistance, and we were taken on board in a very weak condition. The vessel proved to be the snow Thames, captain Burton, from Madeira to New Providence, then in lat. 35, N. long. 59, W. To the humane attention of the officers and passengers, we feel much indebted, and thus publicly express our thanks.