The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-08 00:00:00

RESCUE OF A CREW AT SEA.

The Glasgow Herald says :—"lf the recent gales
in the North Atlantic have been productive of much
disaster to our merchant shipping, they have also
been instrumental in calling into exercise some of
the noblest qualities of mind and heart in our sea-
faring men. We lately had occasion to notice a
gallant rescue at sea by one of our ocean steamers,
and to-day we have to record another of those
heroic deeds, in which accuracy of judgment,
promptitude of action, and generous self-denial
were strikingly displayed. The ship St. Lawrence,
one of the traders between our city and Canada,
commanded by Capt. Hugh Wylie, had sailed from
Montreal early in Nov. last, and after contending
with adverse winds and severe weather in the gulf,
1 had only on the Bth December succeeded in reach-
ing the eastern edge of the Newfoundland banks, I
when, towards the afternoon, she sighted a brigan-
tine at some distance with ensign union down. '1 he
wind was then blowing fresh from the westward,
accompanied with a heavy sea. The St. Lawrence
bore down upon the vessel in distress, and, ap-
proaching to her as near as possible, hove to. Hail-
ing her, Capt. Wylie ascertained that she was the
Harriet, of Newfoundland, bound for Greenock. A
gale of wind had swept the deck, the crew, eight
in all, were enfeebled with fatigue and exposure;
several of them were disabled; captain and men
were living in the forecastle, the cabin having been
destroyed, and the vessel was making water faster
than they could discharge it. Another day on board
at such a season, and all might have found a watery
grave. Night approaching, Capt. Wylie felt that
succour, to be eifictive, must be immediate. Calling
all hands on deck, and asking for a volunteer crew
for the quarterboat, the mate and four men stepped
forward. The boat was soon lowered, manned by
them, and on her way to the sinking ship. With
such a sea running it needed all the skill and power
of her crew to bring the boat alongside. This ac-
complished, six of the men, which were as many as
the boat could safely take, were rapidly Danzd on
board and conveyed to the St. Lawrence. Anotber
trip had still to be made to bring away the re-
mainder of the crew, and this, ton, was successfully
performed, night closing in as the boat with its res-
cued freight came alongside.' Captain Wylie, after
receiving them on board, and attending to their im-

mediate wants, resumed his homeward course, leav-
ing the Harriet to her fate. The already protracted
voyage having caused heavy inroads to be made on
the St. Lawrence's stock of bread, it became neces-
sary to practise strict economy in the use of what
remained. Captain Wylie ordered that his crew be
put on half allowance. To this they submitted with-
out complaint, and only when the odour from; the
wounds of one of the disabled seamen became into-
lerable in the forecastle was a murmur heard. Capt.
Wylie thereupon had the wounded man removed
to his own cabin, where he was tended with the
utmost care, master and officers cheerfully sub-
mitting to much personal inconvenience from his
presence. Despite the use of every sanitary
appliance at their disposal, the cabin was
for several days pervaded by an effluvium so
noxious as to deprive its occupants of all relish for
food. Notwithstanding, theae attentions to the
sufferer were not relaxed, and Capt. Wylie had the
satisfaction of seeing him improve under his care,
and at the end of the voyage last week he and two
others were sent to the hospital at Greenock in a
hopeful state. The rest of the rescued crew were
also landed in good health and spirits, grateful to
their benefactor for all the kindness they had re-
ceived."