This intelligence came by a Greek Coaster. Agreeably to our orders we were to wait here until the commodore arrived. While we layliore I had a good opportunity of examining the arsenal and capacious docks. This was once a strong naval depot for the Spaniards, an admirable harbor, and every convenience for building and cqupiping their largest ships. The country around is beautiful and productive, but the inhabitants are abominably lazy. At length the commodore arrived. He had heard the news about the Ferdinand, and we were sent to Algiers for our seamen. On arriving there, we ascertained that the sloop-of-war Erie had been there a few days since and taken them. I received the following account of the disaster from a young man on our arrival at Port Mahon.
His story was as follows: ^ " Shortly after the gale commenced, we sprang a leak, and neither pumps nor pump gear were good for anything; so tl\e pumps were entirely useless. And instead of bailing or hoisting the water up, as might have been done, until the gale abated, the officers and men were in groups all over the ship with their beads and St. Antonios, crying most hideously, without doing a hand's turn to save their lives. The sails were nearly all blown from the yards, no one willing to 0*0 aloft, except our men and four young Greeks. There were but four or five among the Spaniards that knew any seamanship or that could steer the ship.
The mizzen-mast and fore and main top-mast went over the side. Her head was kept in shore as long as she was manageable? and on the followino' Wednesday she went down, head foremost. The land was on the lee bow, about ten miles distant. The Americans cleared away the boats and kept possession of three of the best. She was fortunately well supplied with boats, all of which were tight and strong.