The New Hampshire Gazette

PHILADELPHIA. NOV. 6.

The following is an Account of the melancholy Disaster that befell the Phænix, of London, Captain M. Gacher, in Lat. 37° & Long. 72° bound to Maryland from Guinea, with 332 Slaves on board.

On Wednesday the 20th of October 1762, at six o'clock in the evening, came on a most violent gale of wind at south, with thunder and lightning, the sea running very high, when the ship sprung a leak, and we were obliged to lie to under bare poles. The water gained on us, with both pumps constantly working. At ten, P.M. endeavoured to put the ship before the wind, to no purpose. At 12 the sand ballast having choaked our pumps, and there being 7 feet water in the hold, all the casks afloat, and the ballast washed to leeward, cut away the rigging of the main and mizen mast, both which were instantly close by the deck, and immediately the foremast was carried away about 20 feet above. Hove overboard all our guns, upon which the ship righted a little. We were then under a necessity of letting all our slaves out of irons, to assist in pumping and bailing. Thursday morning being moderate, having gained about 3 feet on the ship, found every cask in the hold stove, so that we only saved a barrel of flour, about 10 lb. of bread, 25 gallons of wine, beer and shrub, and 25 gallons of spirits. The seamen and slaves were employed all this day in pumping and bailing, the pumps were frequently choaked, and brought up great quantities of sand: We were obliged to hoist one of the pumps up, and put it down the quarter deck hatchway. A ship this day bore down upon us, and tho' very near, and we making every signal of distress, he would not speak to us. On Friday the men & slaves being very sullen and unruly, having had no sustenance of any kind for 48 hours, excepting a dram, we put half of the strongest of them in irons. On Saturday and Sunday all hands, night and day, could scarce keep the ship clear, and were constantly under arms. On Monday morning many of the slaves had got out of irons, and were attempting to break up the gratings, and the seamen not daring to go down the hold to clear our pumps, we were obliged, for the preservation of our own lives, to kill 20 of the ringleaders; and 40 of them........It is impossible to describe the misery the poor slaves underwent, having had no fresh water or food for 5 days. Their dismal cries and shrieks, and most frightful looks, added a great deal to our misfortunes; four of them were found dead, and one drowned herself in the hold. This evening the ship gained on us, and 3 seamen dropt down at the pump with fatigue and thirst, which could not be quenched, tho' wine, rum and shrub, were given them alternately. On Tuesday morning the ship had gained, during the night, above 10 foot of water, and the seamen quite wore out, and many of them in despair. About 10 in the forenoon we saw a sail; about 2 he discovered and bore down upon us; at 5 spoke with us, being the King George, of Londonderry, James Mackey, master; he immediately promised to take us on board, and hoisted out his yawl, it then blowing very fresh; the gale increasing, prevented him from saving any thing but the white people's lives (which were 36 in number) not even any of our cloaths, or one slave, the boat being scarce able to live in the sea the last trip he made. Capt. Mackey, and some Gentlemen passengers he had on board, treated us with great kindness and humanity.