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Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Captain Sion of the ship Commerce from New York, arriving in Charleston on Feb. 16 after distress on the American coast on Feb. 24 last year, faced contrary winds, low provisions, and a leaky ship. Seeking refuge in Nassau on Feb. 21, he was denied pilot assistance despite signaling distress, suspecting schooners aimed to wreck him for salvage. He sailed to Charleston instead.
Merged-components note: These components continue the narrative story of the ship Commerce's distress and pilot refusal, merging across pages due to sequential reading order and textual continuation.
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CHARLESTON, Feb. 16.
Capt. Sion of the ship Commerce, of New York, who arrived here three days ago from Lisbon, was on the coast of America the 24th of February last; but meeting with contrary winds and bad weather, his provisions and water being nearly expended, and his ship in a leaky condition, he was compelled to bear away for the West Indies. On the 21st of February he got off the harbour of Nassau, New Providence, and hoisted a signal of distress; a privateer schooner spoke him, and desired him to stand on for the harbour and a pilot would come off to him;
Another vessel gave the same directions. In the latter part of the day a pilot came off to the ship, with a note directed to Captain Clarke, who they supposed to be the prize master of the ship, (for they took the ship to be a prize); when the pilot found it was not the ship he expected, he refused to carry Captain Sion into port; he told Captain Sion it was more than he dare to do to carry his vessel in; Captain Sion prevailed on him to carry a letter to the Governor, in which he stated the distressed situation he was in, but no answer was returned.
Captain Sion at this time found himself in a dangerous situation, being near the Breakers; he was told that a windward current was running, but in the morning he found himself so far to leeward of the port; no assistance appearing, he was obliged, in order to save himself, his crew and vessel, to stand for this port.
Captain Sion fears, that he is fully convinced from the directions given to him by the two schooners, that it was their wish to run him ashore, that they might reap the benefit of a wreck.
The following is the note alluded to in the above paragraph: "Mr. Miller's compliments to Captain Clarke, and informs him, that as it is supposed his ship is a prize, he has sent on board a very good pilot, in case capt. C. should not be acquainted round the west end, who will carry her into safe anchoring, until the wind comes round, as it is perceived that the ship is losing ground very fast."
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Story Details
Key Persons
Location
Nassau, New Providence; West Indies; Charleston
Event Date
February 21 24 Last Year
Story Details
Captain Sion's ship Commerce, low on provisions and leaking after bad weather off the American coast, seeks entry to Nassau harbor but is refused pilot aid after being mistaken for a prize; suspects schooners intended to wreck him; sails to Charleston for safety.