The Independence

CURTIS, Circuit Justice.

The ship Independence, belonging to Boston, of the burden of 827 tons, sailed from that port on the 28th day of December, 1S53, bound to Valparaiso, and while in Massachusetts Bay was struck by a violent gale of wind, which began about twelve o’clock of the night after the ship sailed. At three o’clock p. m. of Thursday, the 29th day of December, the master cut away the foremast, and let. go the larboard anchor, and she brought up in ten fathoms of water. In about ten minutes, a sea struck her, which caused her to break adrift She *8continued to drift, but slowly, till…