WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 



15 



By this melancholy accident perished Mr. Gor- 

 don, a most excellent young man, possessed of 

 every quality to fit him for the highest station in 

 his profession. He was much esteemed by his 

 captain, not only for his efficiency, but for his 

 many estimable qualities. He was greatly be- 

 loved by his brother shipmates, and much re- 

 gretted by all. John Edwards, an excellent 

 seaman, was also lost by this sad event. Their 

 bodies were never found, and were supposed to 

 have either been carried out to sea by the back- 

 set, or buried in the sand. The others of the 

 crew of the gig were taken out of the water by 

 the crew of the jolly-boat, nearly exhausted, and 

 more than three quarters of a mile to the south- 

 ward. 



At about 6 A. M. this morning (20th), a ship 

 was discovered through the haze about three 

 or four miles outside the breakers, standing in 

 for the land. Seeing the danger of her situ- 

 ation, one of the after main-deck ports was 

 opened, two guns fired as a signal to her, and 

 an ensign hoisted to the main-topmast cross- 

 trees, with the union downwards : she tacked, 

 and stood off, hoisting Swedish colours. The 

 rollers broke outside us, to a distance of at least 



