Continuation of the loss of the Ferdinand, — Misunderstanding of the Spanish Government, — Attempt to retain our Stores at Mahon, — Find their mistake, — Promptness and energy of Com. Shaw, — Arrival of a wreck, — Superstitious observance of a vow, — Terrible row between the U. S. Seamen and the Spanish Soldiers, — A midshipman killed, — Funeral,— Affair at the burial ground, — Eneigyof Major Hall, — Sailed for Marseilles, — Arrival there, — Receive orders from the Captain of the Port to land the Powder, — Positively refuse to conform with the order, — Captain of the Port yields, — Curious idea of a French Custom officer, — Remarks on Marseilles, — Bonaparte excitement not over, — Sail for Malaga, — Arrive, — Arrival of U.
S. Frigate, — Dreadful gale, — Get onto the rocks, — Frigate slips, and goes to se.i, — Fortunate rescue, — Expectations of the Spaniards disappointed, — Visit to the Cathedral, — A good piece of advice from an invisible mouth, — Sail for Barcelona, — Death of a Sailor bv a fall. — And of another bv relapse. — A man overboard, — Stave the boats, — In consequence of winch a boat's crew get overboard,— All rescued, — Miscellaneous character of our crew, — Story of a privateersman, — Boxing match between two men, — Arrive at Naples, Splendid new of an eruption of Vesuvius, — Visit to Herculaneum and Pompeii, — Description, — Visit through the grotto of Pausilippo, and other places of much interest, — A brief description of Naples, — Beggars, maimed and deformed, — -Wretched condition of the population, — Sail for Messina, — Mount Stromboli, — Arrive at Messina, — Superstition of my Cicerone, — Account of an Earthquake, — Superstitious reverence.
Had it been otherwise with our boats, probably every soul would have perished. Part of her hull remained above water, which was also a fortunate circumstance, enabling them to prepare the boats with everything necessary for the shore, as the sea was very high, and it was dangerous to attempt a landing in the surf. The Spaniards had now ceased to cry to St. Antonio, and began to make preparations to save their lives on their own hook, having no further confideD in their Saint. The Spanish captain and * >egan to ily round, but all discipline and control was at an end. Our seamen took possession of their boats and only awaited a favorable chance to shove off for the shore.
It was very evident that the Spaniards depended on the American seamen as leaders, and after a great deal of confusion, the boats left the wreck. The ship was fast settling in the water, and would, in all probability, soon disappear. The boats in which were our men, went ahead, and at times were nearly filled with water. The Spaniards were far behind, and it was almost certain that they could not reach the land, as their boats were so badly managed. On approaching the shore, it was discovered that the breakers extended out some distance, and very heavy surf running on the beach. By this time the inhabitants had come to the sea-shore in large numbers, and were waving to the boats to keep further South, where at last they effected a landing." I could not ascertain whether all had been saved.
It was supposed that some were left on board when she went down. " We had no sooner landed," continued the young man, " than we were all seized as prisoners, our clothes torn from us, then secured and placed in an old stone building. Our young Greek interpreter, who understood Arabic, told the Algerine soldiers, that there were seventy-five Americans among the crew; but they made no distinction, treating all as Spaniards, with whom they were at war. When we asked for something to eat, the Turks pointed to the stones, saying, "They were good enough for Christian dogs." The Greek, by knowing their language, was permitted to go at liberty. He fell in with a fisherman that was going to Algiers, and with much difficulty procured materials, and wrote to the Consul; giving a brief statement of the wreck, and of our confinement, which as soon as the Consul had received it, employed means for the immediate liberation of the Americans, and their passage to Algiers: all which was promptly done.