ALS signed “James M. Snow,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 9.75, October 22, 1849. Written from New Bedford, a letter to Ezera T. Gifford of Grafton, New Hampshire, in part (grammar and spelling retained): "I suppose you have read the account of the sufferings of Capt. Hosmer and his boats crew belonging to the whaling bark of Westport all three ware out after whales and took one to each boat and after the captain had took his in tow the boat capsized at this time they ware far from ship and the other boats and after the ship had looked foure days for the absent boat and her crew she put away…and reported their loss the ship was one thousand milds from land when this actident occurred the men lay in the water clinging to the boat for 48 hours but finerly baled her out but lost two of their numbers in doing so and then put away for Cows Island where they arived in 20 days with the loss of two more men leaving the captain and one of the crew to tell the story." Integral address leaf bears a New Bedford cancellation stamp. In very good to fine condition, with light dampstaining affecting some of the readability.
