The New Hampshire Gazette

PORTS MOUTH. Having mentioned in a former Paper the foundering of Capt. William Pearne of this Town, at Sea, the following Particulars are extracted from his Journal of that Misfortune, viz. On the 14 of January last, we sailed from Portsmouth in New Hampshire, bound for Barbados, and had fine pleasant Weather till the 21st. at Night, when a hard Gale at S. W. split our Fore sail to Pieces; after which the Wind veered to the Westward, and then at N. W. we run under our reefed Square Sail most of the Time till the 22th. In the Morning the Wind being S. W. we ship'd a large Sea, which threw the Vessel almost on her Beam End, washed over part of her Cargo, and made her so leaky, that we could not keep her free with one Pump, and the other we could not work, which obliged us to throw overboard the Lumber on Deck; yet notwithstanding on the 27th in the Morning she sunk all under, excepting the Quarter Deck, and part of her Bows, being then in the Lat. of 35 D 40 m. N. and Long. of about 56 D. 10 M. West. We saved about three Pound of Bread, 25 Pound of Flour, with 60 Gallons of Water, with Beef, Pork and Salt Fish enough, but in three Days after had 40 Gallons of Water wash'd overboard, which obliged us to come to the short Allowance of half a Pint a Day, having five Men besides myself on board. We endeavoured to keep her Head before the Wind, which continued to the Westward for 14 or 15 Days, and most of the Time hard Gales; we had not two Gallons of Water on board at this Time, and were bro't to the yet smaller Allowance of Six Spoonfulls, and about one Ounce and half of Flour for 24 Hours. Three Days after was a very hard Rain, when we procured 16 Gallons of water. which was the chief Means of preserving our Lives. In this Condition we remained till the 20th of February, when my People all gave out, the Sea constantly breaking over us. and washing overboard almost every Thing we had saved. We saw plenty of Fish but could catch none till the 24th. when we catch'd two fine Dolphins. The same Day we saw a Vessel. which made towards us, and on coming up. proved to be the Enterprise Man of War, who took us all on board, we being almost spent, and but one Gallon of Water and three Pound of Flour left, myself and two Men having bad Fevers. Capt. Houlton and all the Officers on board the Man of War, treated us in the most kind and friendly Manner possible, and are all now in a fair Way of Recovery, tho' low in Flesh. William Pearne.