1854 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT FORMAL REPORT ON THE SHIPWRECK OF THE BRIG EMILY

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On offer is an original handwritten account in beautiful calligraphic hand of the Shipwreck of the Brig Emily in 1854. This is a superb nautical piece of Americana being a formal i nquiry account of the ill-fated ship. It also details a list of expenses paid to different people related to the wreck. Ten pages long and large folio size with numerous signatures. Here are some of the highlights of the account: "Sept 1 Sailed from Philadelphia. Sept 10 While at ancor in Holmes Hole, experienced a very severe gale from E.N.E. both anchors down and all chain out. The gale continued and at noon the brig was Hedging towards the shore. At 4 P.M. she struck, thumped heavily and began to leak, at 6 PM the gale increased, Vessel thumped heavily and leaked, as the sea increased it was deemed best to slip the chins and to let her drive further up, to prefent her pounding to pieces. At 11 the sea was still running high and the brig continue to thum. Sept 11 Heavy gales and sea. Vessel still thumping and the sea washing her. At 4 the tide ebbed and she remained quite still, with 2 ½ feet water in the hold. At 3 PM there was five feet water in her. Sept 12 HP Worth, Jn Howland and GD Smith found the Brig stranded in the west side of Holmes Hole, five feet water in the hold, the hull badly strained, rudder broken and unhung, rudder post damaged tiller and steering apparatus broken, whinglass bitts started, much running rigging chafed and parted, mainsail unseaworthy, fore top gallant sail badly torn, also the flying jib, main top mast stay sail badly chafed, both chains and anchors gone, guff topsail much torn, Stream hauser chafed and parted, channels on both sides started and some of the bolts broken. Sept 28 David Adams, Benjamin Spooner and Stephen Andrews examined the vessel at New Bedford, found her full of water and badly strained and the bottom so far as they could judge badly damaged. Rigging and sails have suffered much and are in bad condition. Recommended that she be taken upon the railway for further examination, Value of Vessel $1025." Calligraphic title on a manilla type paper wrapper with report enclosed. Folded. VG+.; Manuscript; Folio - over 12" - 15" tall; Shipwreck, Wrecks, Nautical, Sailor, Seaman, Seamanship, Sailing, Manuscript, Naval, Navy, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, DIARY, JOURNAL, LOG, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, DIARIES, JOURNALS, LOGS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, AMERICANA, MASSACHUSETTS, Holmes Hole, Show more