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Sable Island 15th February 1855

Dar Sir

I have to report the loss of the Brig "Nisibis" of St Johns Newfoundland, Callahan Masteron the SE side of the NE bar of this Island on the night of the 18th January during a most violent gale of wind from South East. The "Nisibis" sailed from New York for St. Johns Newfoundland on the 10th of January with a cargo as per memorandum enclosed, and struck on the NE bar on the 18th at 10 O,Clock PM while under close reefed topsails, and almost instantly filled with water.

The crew clung to the wreck until 8 O,Clock the next morning when they cut away the foremast and getting on the floating spars were miraculously thrown onshore.

The gale raged with such violence throughout the whole of the 19th that it was next to impossible for our men to go the rounds, and if those poor fellows had not had a fair wind and the house of refuge in their road, where they made a fire and warmed themselves and got bread to eat, some of them at least would certainly have perished before they could have got to the Eastern Station, the distance from the wreck to the Station being 7 miles.

The greater part of the Cargo is landed and hauled to the first high spot on the bar, about a mile from the wreck, where we have it as secure as we could make it, and the rigging saved is there too. The sails are
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