Sandwich Islands. Communicated by the commander of the United States exploring expedition to the Navy Department of the United States. U. S. ship Vincennes, Harbor of Paperte, Otaheite, September 24, 1839. Sir. Previous to sailing from the island, I take leave to communicate the following information relative to it: The harbor of Paperte, situated on the N. W. side of the island, is in lat. 17 deg. 31 min. 30 sec. S. and long. 149 deg. 35 min. 02 sec. W.; and is the only harbor of the island visited by vessels engaged in the whale fishery for supplies, and one of the principal resorts for the commerce engaged in the Pacific Ocean. There is some difficulty in getting in and out of the harbor, and some delay occasionally, owing to head winds; but the anchorage is perfectly safe from all gales. A pilot appointed by the Queen, attends vessels visiting the harbor, and it is the only island in the Pacific, except the Sandwich Islands, New Zealand, and New-Holland, which now affords an abundant supply of fresh beef. Ample supplies of hogs, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, Bread-fruit, cocoa nuts, etc. can be obtained. Collision of Steamboats. Loss of Steamboat North Carolina. From J. Chapman Huger, Esq., of South Carolina, who reached this city yesterday evening in the Norfolk steamboat, we learn the particulars of a fearful collision which occurred at sea on Saturday night last, between the steamboats Governor Dudley and North Carolina, and which resulted in the loss of the latter boat, together with the passengers' baggage, and the United States Mails for the South. Providentially, no lives were lost. These boats both belong to the Wilmington and Roanoke Railroad Company, and at the time of the collision, which took place at sea, about 60 miles south of Wilmington, the North Carolina was running towards Charleston, with the northern passengers and mails, while the Governor Dudley was on her way towards Wilmington. The collision took place about one o'clock, A. M., on Saturday night last, on a beautiful starlight night, with a perfectly calm sea. The boats were going at the rate of 12 or 14 miles an hour, and were seen by each other for a mile or two before they came together. How they managed to run into each other is not known; the captain of each boat was in his berth at the time-having stood his regular watchand the mate of each had charge of his respective boat. In the collision which took place, the Governor Dudley's bow struck the North Carolina between the ladies' and gentleThe vessels which annually visit the islands of Otaheite men's cabin. The shock was terrible, and its violence may and Emio consist of whale ships, (principally American,) be inferred from the fact that in ten minutes after it took transient merchant vessels, and traders from New Southplace, the North Carolina had sunk to the water's edge. Wales, bringing cotton fabrics, coal, naval stores, &c. in return for sugar, molasses, arrowroot, and cocoa-nut oil. The value of these exports, all of which are produced in the island, is estimated at $35,000. The average amount of American manufactures and productions, brought in whale ships, is estimated by the consul at $800 each; the quantity is annually increasing. About one hundred foreigners reside here, several of whom are engaged in trades, and supply vessels with such articles as they require. I annex a statement of the number and tonnage of American vessels which have visited this port during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, and to 30th June, 1839. Pennsylvania Silk.-The Westmoreland (Pa.) Register of the 8th instant notices a skein of sewing silk, manufactured from cocoons of the present season, by the household of Mr. Christian Stoner, of that county, which, although reeled and spun upon the common-wheel and reel, is pronounced by good judges to be equal to Italian silk!" The worms are stated to have been fed upon the leaves of the natural mulberry. The success of this experiment in the silk culture is, according to the Register, expected to induce many others to engage in the laudable enterprise of making silk at home. Shad. The vessels engaged in Shad Fishery off Chatham, have generally been very successful the present season. We understand, says the Yarmouth Register, that a vessel's crew belonging to Barnstable, last week enclosed five hun. dred barrels in their seine at one time. On account of the multitude of the fish taken, they were unable to dress and salt the whole. These fish, had they all been seasonably salted, would have brought in the market forty-five hundred dollars a good haul for fishermen in these hard times!Gloucester Telegraph. The passengers of both boats were all in their berths at the time, and had barely time to escape with their lives. The great coolness and self-possession manifested on the trying occasion by the captain of each boat, were doubtless the means of preventing any loss of life. The small boats were immediately manned, and the passengers of the North Carolina all conveyed in safety to the Governor Dudley. In about ten minutes after every one was transferred to the latter; the North Carolina, then down to the water's edge, keeled over. Among the passengers in the North Carolina were several members of Congress-one of whom, Gen. Dawson of Georgia, lost fifteen thousand dollars in his trunk. Other passengers also lost considerable sums of money, and some were losers of their little all. The aggregate loss in money was large. The Governor Dudley had a hole of about four feet square knocked in her bow, and at first leaked badly, but the aperture was in a measure closed with blankets, tarpaulins, &c. She laid by all night, and the next morning picked up two or three floating trunks, which were all that was saved from the North Carolina-every thing else having gone to the bottom in her. The passengers of the North Carolina were all taken back in the Dudley to Wilmington, and while on the way thither, some passengers of the latter generously raised a subscription to aid those who had lost their all in the sunk en boat. Sandwich Islands. Communicated by the commander of the United States exploring expedition to the Navy Department of the United States. U. S. ship Vincennes, Harbor of Paperte, Otaheite, September 24, 1839. Sir. Previous to sailing from the island, I take leave to communicate the following information relative to it: The harbor of Paperte, situated on the N. W. side of the island, is in lat. 17 deg. 31 min. 30 sec. S. and long. 149 deg. 35 min. 02 sec. W.; and is the only harbor of the island visited by vessels engaged in the whale fishery for supplies, and one of the principal resorts for the commerce engaged in the Pacific Ocean. There is some difficulty in getting in and out of the harbor, and some delay occasionally, owing to head winds; but the anchorage perfectly safe from all gales. A pilot appointed by the Queen, attends vessels visiting the harbor, and it is the only island in the Pacific, except the Sandwich Islands, New Zealand, and New-Holland, which now affords an abundant supply of fresh beef. Ample supplies of hogs, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, Bread-fruit, cocoa nuts, etc. can be obtained. About one hundred foreigners reside here, several of whom are engaged in trades, and supply vessels with such articles as they require. The vessels which annually visit the islands of Otaheite and Emio consist of whale ships, (principally American,) transient merchant vessels, and traders from New South Wales, bringing cotton fabrics, coal, naval stores, &c. in return for sugar, molasses, arrowroot, and cocoa-nut oil. The value of these exports, all of which are produced in the island, is estimated at $35,000. The average amount of American manufactures and productions, brought in whale ships, is estimated by the consul at $800 each; the quantity is annually increasing. I annex a statement of the number and tonnage of American vessels which have visited this port during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, and to 30th June, 1839. Value 1,817,000 1,268,250 9 merchant ships, 1,700 1839, 34 whaling vessels, 11,574 75,000 1,027,650 1 merchant do. Pennsylvania Silk.-The Westmoreland (Pa.) Register of the 8th instant notices a skein of sewing silk, manufactured from cocoons of the present season, by the household of Mr. Christian Stoner, of that county, which, although reeled and spun upon the common-wheel and reel, is pronounced by good judges to be equal to Italian silk!" The worms are stated to have been fed upon the leaves of the natural mulberry. The success of this experiment in the silk culture is, according to the Register, expected to induce many others to engage in the laudable enterprise of making silk at home. Shad. The vessels engaged in Shad Fishery off Chatham, have generally been very successful the present season. We understand, says the Yarmouth Register, that a vessel's crew belonging to Barnstable, last week enclosed five hun. dred barrels in their seine at one time. On account of the multitude of the fish taken, they were unable to dress and salt the whole. These fish, had they all been seasonably salted, would have brought in the market forty-five hundred dollars a good haul for fishermen in these hard times!Gloucester Telegraph. Collision of Steamboats. Loss of Steamboat North Carolina. [AUGUST, From J. Chapman Huger, Esq., of South Carolina, who we learn the particulars of a fearful collision which occurred reached this city yesterday evening in the Norfolk steamboat, at sea on Saturday night last, between the steamboats Governor Dudley and North Carolina, and which resulted in the and the United States Mails for the South. Providentially, loss of the latter boat, together with the passengers' baggage, mington and Roanoke Railroad Company, and at the time no lives were lost. These boats both belong to the Wilof the collision, which took place at sea, about 60 miles south of Wilmington, the North Carolina was running towards Charleston, with the northern passengers and mails, while the Governor Dudley was on her way towards Wilmington. urday night last, on a beautiful starlight night, with a perThe collision took place about one o'clock, A. M., on Satfectly calm sea. 14 miles an hour, and were seen by each other for a mile or The boats were going at the rate of 12 or into each other is not known; the captain of each boat was two before they came together. How they managed to run and the mate of each had charge of his respective boat. In in his berth at the time-having stood his regular watchthe collision which took place, the Governor Dudley's bow men's cabin. The shock was terrible, and its violence may struck the North Carolina between the ladies' and gentlebe inferred from the fact that in ten minutes after it took place, the North Carolina had sunk to the water's edge. the time, and had barely time to escape with their lives. The The passengers of both boats were all in their berths at great coolness and self-possession manifested on the trying occasion by the captain of each boat, were doubtless the immediately manned, and the passengers of the North Caromeans of preventing any loss of life. The small boats were about ten minutes after every one was transferred to the lina all conveyed in safety to the Governor Dudley. In latter; the North Carolina, then down to the water's edge, keeled over. Among the passengers in the North Carolina were several members of Congress-one of whom, Gen. Dawson of Georgia, lost fifteen thousand dollars in his trunk. Other passengers also lost considerable sums of money, and some were losers of their little all. The aggregate loss in money was large. The Governor Dudley had a hole of about four feet square knocked in her bow, and at first leaked badly, but the aperture was in a measure closed with blankets, tarpaulins, &c. She laid by all night, and the next morning picked up two or three floating trunks, which were all that was saved from the North Carolina-every thing else having gone to the bottom in her. The passengers of the North Carolina were all taken back in the Dudley to Wilmington, and while on the way subscription to aid those who had lost their all in the sunkthither, some passengers of the latter generously raised a en boat. |