Good Seamanship

The barque Marcia, Capt. Fitz, from New Orleans, arrived at this port 1st inst., and is now lying at Battery Wharf, undergoing repairs, having lost her rudder and damaged her stern on the passage. On the 21st utl., she struck on the Nantucket South Shoal, and broke her rudder-braces so badly, that she lost her rudder the next day. A temporary rudder was made, but owing to the severity of the weather, it was carried away. Having cleared the Shoals, she was anchored, but a tremendous gale came on, which compelled her to slip both chains, and she drifted to George's Bank. This was on the 27th. An attempt was made to bring her head to the southward, but after cutting away the mizzenmast, she fell off only three points and drifted, with all sails furled, exposed to the fury of a severe gale and a heavy cross sea, the sprays of which froze as they fell upon her decks. On the 28th another rudder was made of a spare lower yard; 30 feet of it formed the stock, and the balance the backing or after part, which was spread at the foot and filled in with plank, the whole bolted together with pieces of the iron railing, which had formed a protection to the outline of the poop deck. The workmanship of it is good, and reflects credit upon the captain, who designed and made it. On the 29th, this rudder was hung over the taffrail, and confined to the sternpost with a chain brace on each side, and a tiller was lashed to its head. It worked well, and the next day the weather moderating, an observation of the sun was obtained, the first for 12 days, and the vessel's position was ascertained. A fair wind sprung up on the 30th, sail was made, she continued her course without further accident, and arrived on the 1st inst. Capt. Fitz is certainly entitled to great credit for his skill and perseverance, for we have known vessels to have been abandoned under circumstances less discouraging than those which he overcame. He may also state to his credit, that he speakes in the highest terms of his officers and crew. He says they were all first-rate sailors, and did their duty right manfully.

Boston Semi-Weekly Atlas, 1857. Saturday, January 17.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius

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