The Loss of His Majesty's Frigate Anson
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British (England - South East - Oxford, Sussex) British (General)Transcript
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the following account of the unfortunate loss of His Majesty's frigate Anson on DH of the much lamented death of Captain Ledyard is communicated by the captain Stewart, who was continually about his person on dawn, whose veracity our readers may depend. On the 27th of December 18 07 cruising off the black rocks and perceiving the approach of a gale kept a lookout for the Commodore in the Dragon. The next morning, Monday, the gale increasing from the southwest on not perceiving the dragon in any direction at nine o'clock shaped our course for the lizard with a view of getting into foul meth at 12 o'clock, all hands upon deck, the sea running very high to bow spritz on the starboard side, washed away by the violence of the sea. Also a porter breast, the main mast by which means she shipped a great deal of water. The captain sent for the master at the time to determine the situation of the ship on at half past 12 o'clock, or thereabout land was seeing about two miles distant. But from the extreme thickness of the weather, we could not ascertain what part Captain Lydia it ordered the ship to be war to the South east, not thinking it's safe to stand in any nearer under such circumstances of weather. Soon after 10 o'clock, the master wished them to run in again and make the land which was supposed to be the lizard, and that if we could make it out, we should get into Fellmeth, Captain Lydia to us. If he thought it could be done without risk, he the master said he thought it could. The ship was then war but the weather still continuing thick. We had a cast of the lead and having 27th album, we were convinced we must be to the westward of the lizard on immediately warship again and made all sail. Soon after three o'clock, as the captain was going to dinner, he looked out of the quarter gallery from whence he saw the Breakers close to us on the land, a long distance ahead. The ship war instantly, and Captain Lydia's mind made up to come to an anchor for hat we kept underway. The ship must have struck upon the rocks. In a few hours, the top gallant masks were got up on deck, and she rode very well until four o'clock on Tuesday morning. When the cable parted. The other anchor immediately let go on the low yards and top mass struck at daylight Thie other cable parted on. We were then so close to the land that we had no alternative but to go on shore when Captain Lydia desired the master to run the ship into the best situation for saving the lives of the people. Unfortunately, a fine beach presented upon which the ship was wrong. Shortly after she struck, the main mast went but hurt. No one captain's. Ledyard and Sullivan, with the first leftenant, were resolved to remain with the ship as long as possible. Many people were killed on board the first leftenant and a number of others washed overboard. It was the captain's great wish to save the lives of the ship's company, and he was employed in directing them the whole of the time. He had placed himself by the wheel, holding by the spokes where he was exposed to the violence of the sea, which broke tremendously over him, and from continuing in this situation too long, waiting to see the people out of the ship. he became so weak that upon attempting to leave the ship himself, on being impeded by a boy who was in the way aunt, whom he endeavoured to assist, he was washed away and drowned. Such is a steward's account of this melancholy accident. Another correspondent furnishes us with the following particulars. His Majesty's frigate Anson of 40 guns, after completing her stores of all kinds for a four month cruise, sailed from Fellmeth on the 24th of December 18 07 to resume her station off breast as it blew very hard from the south west south. We were never able to get so far to the West would, however, Captain Idiot persevered in his endeavours until the 28. On the morning of that day, we made the Isle of Bar on the French coast, which they had seen the previous evening. They're being now every appearance of bad weather. Captain Legit, determined to return to port on accordingly, shaped a course for the lizard, the gales still increasing and it coming on very heavy. About three o'clock PM, the land was seen about five miles west of the lizard, but at the time not exactly known as many opinions were expressed as to what land was then in sight. The ship was warned to stand off at sea but had not long been on that tack before the land was again described Right ahead. It was now quite certain that the ship was invade on every exertion was made to work her off the shore. But finding she lost ground every tack she was brought to an anchor in 25 fathoms at five PM with the best bow anchor veered away to two cables length by their anchor. The ship wrote in the most tremendous see and as heavy a gale as was ever experienced until 4 a.m. Of the 29th when the cable parted. The small Bower anchor was then let go and veered away to two cables length, which held her until eight AM, when that also parted and as the last resource. In order to preserve the lives of as many as possible, the fore topsail was cut on the ship run on shore on the sand, which forms the bar between the low pool, about three miles from health stern and the C. The tide had ebbed about an hour when she struck on taking the ground, she broached to, with her broadside to the beach on most happily healed into the shore. Had she, on the contrary, healed off. Not a soul could have escaped alive. Now commence the most heartrending scene to some hundreds of Spectators who have bean in anxious suspense onto exerted themselves to the utmost at the imminent risk of their lives to save those if they're drowning fellow men, many of those who were most forward in quitting the ship lost their lives, being swept away by the tremendous see which entirely went over the wreck. The main mast formed a floating raft from the ship to the shoal on the greater part of those who escaped passed by this medium never.