[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Journal, 15 Jul 1815 - Shipwreck

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 15 Jul 1815   (p. 4, col. 5)

 

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECKS. 

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LOSS OF THE CLIFTON, OF WORKINGTON. 

 

                                                                                 Sydney, Cape Breton, 20 May, 1815. 

 

I am sorry to inform you of the loss of the Clifton. I left Chaleur Bay on the 21st November, and got on shore on the 25th about six
P. M. 18 miles to the N. E. of Cape St. George, Newfoundland. The first stroke she gave knocked the rudder off, and we all got on
shore in the afternoon, where we remained until the 28th, without any thing to eat or drink. 

 

On that day it was more moderate, and we got on board again; got the boat ready, (and provisions) to look for inhabitants. It came
on to blow very strong that night, and we had to remain on board till the 30th, when I thought it best to get all the provisions on
shore, for fear the vessel should go to pieces. 

 

On the 12th of December the mate and five hands took the boat, to seek inhabitants. On the 16th they returned, without finding any.
At the same time William GILE [or GITE?] and William HAILWOOD, apprentices, went off unknown to me. I expect they would find
inhabitants, as I have since been informed there are some at the head of St. George's Bay. 

 

Finding it impossible to travel, and not knowing where to look for inhabitants, but thinking that St. Peter's Island would be the
nearest inhabited place (and it being impossible for us to take provisions with us to last until we got there), I determined that we
should go upon an allowance, and remain there until the Spring, expecting its commencement early in March; but in that I was
mistaken.-We had a very severe winter; almost perished with hunger and cold! 

 

We agreed to live on six ounces of beef a day.-We had very little bread (only about a cwt.) and it was wet. We had a very good stock
of potatoes, but they too got wet in getting them on shore, and the greater part of them wasted by the frost. We had four potatoes
a-piece served out, as long as they lasted, which was till the latter end of February.-On the 30th December the cook died; he was a
native of Africa. 

 

In the winter we got the long-boat decked, and on the 20th of April launched her down the ice. On the 23d, the ice broke, and the
wind being fair, we made sail from our dreary abode. At eight o'clock got in between the ice, and stuck so fast that we could not
get out. On the 24th, blowing very hard from the N. N. E. and snowing, the ice stove in two planks of the long-boat's bow.
Fortunately having the jolly-boat with us, we all got into her. It became moderate in the course of an hour, and froze very hard.-It
was one of the coldest nights I ever experienced. On the 25th, William HAYTON, Henry TODHUNTER, and William CROMPTON, died; the
latter belonged to Newcastle.-The 26th, John DURHAM, of Whitehaven, and Thomas CHAPMAN, of Ulverston, carpenter, died.-The 27th,
Joseph ATKINSON died, and on the 28th, John CANNON.-We were still on the ice and drifting out at sea.-On the 30th, drifting close
past the Bird Islands, we hauled the boat up on a large island of ice. On the 3d of May, I am sorry to inform you, I buried Joseph
LOW [?].-On the 5th in the morning, we were between St. Paul's Island and Cape Breton. The weather clearing up and the ice breaking,
we got the jolly boat off, and pulled it towards Cape North. Finding we could not get within two miles of the shore for ice, we
stood to the S. E. twenty miles round the ice, and landed the next night,-one man, a boy, and myself; the man being nearly
exhausted. I got a fire on shore, having tinder and matches with me. As soon as I got warmed, I found great pain in my feet, J.
MAKINSON, the same. The Bay being still full of ice, we could not reach any inhabitants. On the 12th Thomas WALLSTAFF, of Exeter,
died. I kept him in the boat (to make use of); but fortunately the ice cleared away on the 14th, and we arrived here on the
15th!-Thus out of fourteen, only John MAKINSON (the boy) and myself are remaining. Our legs swell very much, but we expect to be
better soon.-I am, &c. 

 

                                                                                                THOMAS OSBORNE. 

To Mr. John OSBORNE, Workington. 

 

 

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