The ship Thomas Watson.
--This ship, says the Charleston
Courier, which we announced yesterday ashore near
Folly Island, was burned on Tuesday afternoon by the Federal fleet now off this bar.
Captain Allen, his officers, crew, and three passengers, reached here in boats yesterday evening.
They gave us the following information:
The
Thomas Watson sailed from
Liverpool on the 26th August, and had moderate weather all the passage.
Her cargo consisted of 3,200 sacks of salt consigned to order, two
printing presses and lithographic stone for
Evans &
Cogswell, and several bales of merchandize for
Kerrison & Leiding.
On Monday last at 10 o'clock A. M., got out of the
Gulf Stream, and at 8 o'clock P. M., the same evening stood in for the Bar. At 5 o'clock, A. M., Tuesday, supposing the ship to be to the northward of this port, and while steering southwest by west, got ashore on the north breaker of
Stono Inlet.
After daylight discovered seven blockading vessels five near by and two in the offing.
One of the former, a small steamer, soon came towards the ship, when
Captain Allen and crew had to abandon his vessel and take to the boats, in which they went to
Cole's Island.
About half-past 7 o'clock A. M., the boats of the squadron boarded the
Watson and took possession.
Her sails, and other articles that were convenient, were taken and boated to the fleet.
During the day
Captain Allen left
Cole's Island and proceeded to
Folly Island beach, where he had a good look out, and where he anxiously watched the operations of the vandals.
About midday one of the steamers stood in towards the beach and fired a shell, which fell short about five hundred yards. At half-past 5 o'clock P. M., on Tuesday, after having made the most of their prize, they set fire to her and burned her to the water.
Her officers saw the lights of the fleet on the night she stood in shore, and the ship came into the land about a half mile to the
South of them.
The
Thomas Watson hails from
Mobile, and is mostly owned there.
She was built about fourteen years ago, and is considered a fast sailer.
