Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

From the Norfolk Steam Boat Reading Room Books, March 28.

DISTRESSING SHIPWRECK

The brig Clotilda, Wm. Brotherton, master, sailed from N. Orleans the 24th of Feb bound to Philadelphia, with a cargo of sugar, tobacco, cotton, &c. On the 1st March, left the Balize with a light wind from the southward and westward which continued increasing till the 4th, when they made the Dolphin Head, island of Cuba. On the 5th the wind hauled round to the northward and eastward, blowing a gale; kept beating for 7 days, and on the 12th found themselves off Cape Antonio. The wind having moderated on the 13th, made the Moro, bearing south, distant about 20 miles.— Spoke a Buenos Ayrean armed brig, with a schooner in company; the brig having, to appearance, suffered very much in the previous gale, and lost her stern boat— On the 14th made Cape Florida, the wind continually blowing from the northward and eastward. On the 15th cleared Maranilla, with a pleasant breeze from E. S. E.; the Clotilda having labored so much during those several gales as to cause her to spring a leak, and to keep her free it was found necessary to pump every half hour. On the 16th spoke the brig Betsey, of Portland, from Havana bound to Boston, but in consequence of having suffered much by shifting her cargo of molasses, was then bearing away for Charleston. On the 18th, experienced a most violent gale from N. which made it necessary to lay too for 18 hours, the leak increasing so as to require one pump to be kept constantly going.

On the 21st, Cape Hatteras bearing N. N. W. distant 60 miles, experienced another violent gale from S. S. E. which increased the leak so as to require both pumps to be kept constantly going, the passengers taking a spell with the crew every 20 minutes. Expecting the vessel would sink, proceeded to clear the boats, and discovered a leak in the forward wooden ends; also that a butt had sprung on the larboard side near the gangway and the plank-shear was shutting out about five inches. A heavy sea running at the time from N. E. and being nearly a calm, caused the vessel to labor much, and in an attempt (though in vain) to stop the leak forward, by forcing in blankets, found that the stem was loose and that the breast-hooks were working out. A breeze springing up at this time from S. E. and judging the vessel incapable of reaching her port of destination, thought it advisable to bear away for the first port.

On the 22d at noon the wind hauled suddenly round to N. N. W. and the water gaining on the pumps. Steered for the Chesapeake, and shortly discovered that Cape Henry bore W. by S. distant about 70 miles. At 6 A. M. on the 24th blowing a fresh gale from N. N. E. made Smith's Island. The sugar in the lower hold all this time washing out of the casks, while that between decks remained full, the vessel became quite top heavy.

Spoke on the Middle Ground, the pilot boats Berry and Pughboy, both belonging to Baltimore, and desired them to send a pilot on board to conduct the brig to Norfolk, but was answered they had none. The pilot boat passed the brig so suddenly that capt. B. had not time to inform them of his situation but presumes they must have known something of his distresses, from seeing both pumps going. Capt. B. then hoisted both his colors at the fore-top-gallant mast-head, union down, as a signal of distress, and at 10 A. M. saw Cape Henry light, bearing S. W. distant 10 miles.

The wind hauling to N. by W. endeavored to weather the Cape and run into Lynnhaven Bay, but a strong ebb tide drifting the brig fast out and the wind blowing violently, they judged it best to run her ashore, sensible that she could only be kept afloat a few hours longer.— This was done at half past 1 o'clock, P. M. about 5 miles S. of Cape Henry.—

The mate with 11 others of the crew and passengers immediately took to the long boat and endeavored to reach the shore, but the boat instantly filled and sunk, and every one on board perished.

Capt. B. and 7 others of the passengers and crew remained on board until the vessel went to pieces and then drifted ashore on the deck.

The names of the persons lost were John Labaune, of France, Wm. Anderson, of Limestone, (Ky.) and Joseph C. Rutherford, of Alexandria, cabin passengers; and Ichabod Buel, of New-York, and Doctor ---, (name not recollected) of Kentucky, steerage ditto; Robt. Johnson, mate, of Philadelphia, Thos. Britton James Usher, of Baltimore, Wm. Smith, of Newburyport, Samuel Richardson, steward, and John Franklin, cook, the two latter blacks, both of Philadelphia.

The survivors on reaching the shore made for the light house on the Cape, where they were very kindly received and assisted by Mr. Burrous' family, and reached this place yesterday afternoon, having lost nearly every thing they had.

Their names are, Wm. Brotherton, captain; Mr. Foucher and Dr. H. Smith cabin passengers: Messrs. Isran, Sommer, and Welch, steerage passengers; and Henry P. Osborne, and Thomas Brotherton, seamen.