Wreck of Ship William Laytin

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Wreck of Ship William Laytin - 4 Lives Lost


Ship William Laytin, Captain Tucker, which sailed from this port, February 16th for Antwerp, with a cargo of flour, logwood, coffee, sugar, resin, turpentine &c., experienced a heavy gale from the north-east, on the 20th, which lasted until the 22nd, with heavy cross sea, in lat. 39�, long. 59�, when she was suddenly thrown on her beam-ends, having doubtless started a plank ; immediately cut away ail her masts, when she righted, and in less than five minutes everything was swept from the decks, including houses, poop, boats, &c. ; also John Coster and William Brown seamen, Anne Forsyth, stewardess, and the carpenter who were lost. The remainder of the crew then lashed themselves to the wreck, the sea making a clean breach over them, where they remained until the 27th, without food or water. On that day, the barque Sylph, Captain Heleux, from Granville, France, for St. Peters, Miquelon, hove in sight, and bore down for them ; but the sea running too high to board her, she lay by her until the 28th, when they succeeded in taking the remainder of the crew off and carrying them to St. Peter, whence they were brought to Boston, is schooner Amanda Powers, which arrived on Saturday morning. Captain Tucker expresses his warmest thanks to the officers and crew of the Sylph for their humane treatment while on board his vessel. The William Laytin was a fine Ship, 961 tons burthen, owned by Layton, Post and Hurlbut, of this City ; built in Williamsburgh in 1854 - valued at about 60,000 dollars ; cargo about 80,000 dollars ; freight, 7000 dollars. Ship and cargo largely insured in Wall-street.- N. Y. Tribune, April 16.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 177 ; 30 Jul 1855

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