LOSS OF THE BARQUE RIENZI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1400, 24 January 1860, Page 5

LOSS OF THE BARQUE RIENZI.

SUFFERINGS OF THE CAPI'AIN AND POBTIOH OF

THE CREW — THB MATE AND FIVE B K AMEN

LOST,

(Front the Panama Star, October 27. )

The American barque Rienzi, 442 tons, of Boston, Captain Seabury, sailed from Arica (Peru) for Rotterdam on the lUth August, with a car ; oof nitrate of soda. On the 2Utl), when in about lat. 27.4 S., lon. 96 36W., a strong gale blew from the E.S.E , and the vessel was put under double reefed topsails, hut the gale increasing with a heavy sea, the vessel laboured heavily ; she was next day put under close roefocl topsails, and though she shipped v great deal of water, the pumps shewed that otherwise she made no water, At 4 p.m., on the 20th the pumps were tried, and she was then light; but at 9 p.m. she was leaking fast, and though both pumps were kept going, at midnight she had 4 J. feet of water in her bald.

Finding the leak increasing, the vessel's course was changed to the eastward, with the hope of being able to keep her afloat uiisi| some port in 'Chili or Peru Was reached ami every f-ffort was made to prevent the leak from gaining on her. On the morning of September 2ml the f<ale still continuing, the vessel became un_ manageable, and was settling down on the water — whereupon preparations were made to abandon her. By two pm. the two boats were lowered, and a small quantity of bread and pro* visions placed in them, and the captain, with five of his crew and a passenger embarked in one, whilst the mate and four other men entered Ihe other. This was about latitude 25 40 S., longitude 08.17 W.- the sea running high, and the ill-fated vessel's lee waist already under water. The boats set thtir small sails, and kept together, being in sight of the ship until 4 p.m. when she was seen oniiei broadside, and her bows under water. Owing to the heavy sea lunning the boats came too with a drag, and kept together until two o'clock on the morning of September 3rd, when the mate's boat was last seen and spoken by the captain. At daylight the boat was not visible, and Captain Seabury supposes it almost certain that it foundered in the heavy sea. All day on the 4tl» the boat with the surviving crew had to lay to to, and when the wind moderated she set sail, hoping to make the coast of Peru or fall in with some of the homeward bound vessels, in whose tiack she was crossing. Owing to contrary winds, the boat was unable to head up better' than N. to N. N. E., until latitude 12 S. was reached, when she succeeded in making more easting. The provisions running short, the crew were now reduced to half a biscuit and half a pint of water a day, and this wus again further reduced to an ounce and a half of bread each, and a gill of water.

On the 23rd. George Wilson seaman, a Dative ol England, died from exhaustion, aud all the men were so overcome with fatigue, exposure, and hunger, that they could scarcely manage to steer the boat. On the 30th of September, after twenty-eight days in an open boat, and as the unfortunate sufferes were reduced to their last day's scanty supply of bread and water, the coast of Peru was reached, about seventy miles below Tumbes, and fortunately at a spot where there was a small Indian village. On being perceived from the shore, the Indians put off in their balsas, anchored the boat, and conveyed the now helpless crew on shove, were they afforded them every relief in their power. After four days' rest, the party again started for Tumbes, which they reached iv safety, and were kindly taken on board the whaling barque Edward of New Bedford, and received every attention from the captain and crew. Capt. Seabury in afewdtysstartedforPaita.intheburque Clara Bell, where he also received kindness ; his men be left sick in Tumbes. Edward Sweeney, seaman, of Brooklyn was very ill, and not ex pected to live. Tbe captain and all bis men ware covered with boils from bend to fool, and suffered the usual consequences from long exposure and starvation.

Captain Seabury arrived in this city in the steamer Valparaiso, and is on Lis way home. The following is a list of the men lost in mate's boat: —

James Frai ley, mate, native of Liverpool; John Hargreaves, steward, Liverpool; George Williams, Robert Warren, Thus. Cunningham, seamen, England ; Franklin Cost, seaman, ! ranee.