Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Extract of a letter from Newburyport. Nov. 2.
Loss of the ship Echo, OF NEWBURYPORT.

Mr. Albert A. Stickney, first mate of the ship Echo, who arrived in town on Wednesday morning, has presented us with the following account :

Extract from the Log Book of the Ship Echo.

Saturday, Aug. 26, at 1 PM left Cadiz Roads with a brisk breeze from SE. Nothing material occurred for several days. On Friday Sept. 8, at meridian, passed the Island of Corvo with light airs. Tuesday, Sept. 11th. Wind from the northward and westward, with a head sea. Squally with abundance of rain. At noon wind blowing hard and a tremendous sea running, sent down top gallant yards. Sept. 12. Heavy squalls, find the ship very laboursome-frequently shipping great quantities of water. On this day found she leaked more than usual. Sept. 14. Rough boisterous weather still continues-ship extremely laboursome, still making more water. Every part of her hull appeared to work. At 8 P. M. shipped a heavy sea between the fore and main rigging, which stove in our bulwarks, &c. Sept. 15. Endeavored to find her leak but in vain. Discharged the greater part of the salt between decks, and threw it overboard, hoping it would ease the ship. Sept. 16. Our leak gaining fast, our situation is truly alarming. Both pumps at work, and the leak still increasing. The weather scarcely moderated from a NW gale; and to appearance another is fast approaching. Thus situated, upon mature deliberation, and a careful examination of every part of the ship we can come at, the Captain with the advice of his officers and ship's company unanimously declare, that in their opinion the ship is unfit and unsafe to attempt getting to America, and think it most expedient for the safety of our lives and property to bear away for the nearest port. Accordingly at 4 PM put the helm up and squared the yards, to endeavor to get one of the Western Islands, the wind still at NW. Sept. 17. Strong breeze and heavy sea. Employed (at intervals from the pumps) in making preparations to leave the ship in case we can not keep her free. At 5 AM wind hauls to the southward and eastward. Both pumps constantly at work -the prospect gloomy in the extreme. Sept. 18. Made and took in sail as occasion required. At 5 PM strong wind from SSE with rains. Find we cannot free the pumps-4 men at work pumping and relieving each other every 10 minutes. At 6 PM resolved for the last effort, laboured for one hour, then found the ship still settling under us, quit the pumps, wore ship to the southward, got out the long boat, and put into her several necessary articles. At 7 PM the officers and crew, consisting of 16 souls, left the ship in the long boat the small boat in tow; trusting ourselves to the merciful protection of Providence. Strong wind and rough sea, endeavoring to keep our boats head to the sea we were carried to the NE for four hours. Midnight, more moderate, fixed 2 sails. 5 AM tacked about. Shortly saw the ship: ran down and passed under her lee,- Found her starboard fore chains under water -passed about 8 miles ahead, and at 8 AM saw her run down stern foremast! We now kept the boat by the wind. Sept. 19, heavy sea, employed in fitting masts and sails, which being completed, we made some progress. wind ahead; sea moderate, which is a great relief to us. Fitted a waist cloth. Midnight, moderate and cloudy. 5 A M. to our unspeakable joy, saw a sail ahead, under easy sail; made signal, which she discovered and kept away for us; and at 6 A. M. we came alongside, after being in the boat 36 hours. We were received on board the Spanish ship Patriot, F Carcess, commander, 37 days from Havana, for Malaga, and treated with great kindness, and humanity; for which we tender him our thanks. At 7, A. M. saw another sail. The Spanish commander, thinking it might be another American, at our request wore ship and spoke her, she proved to be the Thomas Gibson, Rockwell, of Norwich, 27 days from Liverpool, bound to Savannah, who humanely took all of us on board for which we feel great obligations & it will be remembered with unfeigned gratitude. After being on board 21 days, in lat. 35 N. lon. 70, spoke schr. Lark, of Dighton, capt. Luther, 3 days from T Island, for Dighton, who kindly offered to take 3 or 4 of us on board, accordingly capt. Niles, his two officers and cabin boy went on board and feel indebted to capt. Luther, officers and company, for their politeness and attention. On the 12th Oct. we embarked in the schr. and on the 30th, arrived at Dighton.

Signed by
Wm. M. Niles, Commander.
Albert A. Stickney: 1st Officer.
Stephen Thomas, 2d Officer.