Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-06-22
near me. f-sueeeeded IN getting to Il, and

1Flu ny crack III Que ti'o WI " "S w
ence of the water. and the falling out OF
the casks of ashes, had quite wrecked it.
Cor long time contenttd myself with
this ho!i, not daring to endeayor to get
upon the bottom. which at length effect
ell; and from this, my new situation,
called out TO my companion, who still pre-
served his hold of the gaf. He shook his
head add, when the waves suffered me
to look up again, he was gone. He made no
attempt % come nesrme, being unable or
unwilling to let go his hold, and trust him..
self to the waves, which were then rolling
over his head
The Cascades are kind Of fall, or ra-
pid descent in the river, over rocky chan
mel below going down is called by the
French sSauter." to leap or shove the cas-
| cades. For two miles below. the cha mel
| continues in uproar, just like storm at sea;
and was frequently nearly washed Oft the
barge by the waves which rolled over
| now entertained nohope whatever OF escap-
| ing and although continued 10 exert my
self to hold on, such was the state to which
| was reduced by cold, that | wished only
for speedy death, and frequently thought
of giving up the contest as useless feit
as if compressed into the size OF monkey;
my hands appeared diminished IN size one
half; and certainly should latter became
| very cold and much exhausted) have fallen
asleep, but tor the waves that were passing
over me, and obliged me- to attend to my
situation. had never descended the st.
Lawrence before, but knew there were
more rapids ahead, perhaps another set OF
the cascades; but at all events, the La
Chine rapids, whose situation | did not
exactly know. was in hourly especta-
ton of these putting an end to me, and Of
ten fancied some points of ice extending
| from the shore to lie the head OF flaming
| rapids. AT one of the moments in which
the succession Of waves permitted me 20
look up, saw at distance canoe with
| four men coming towards me, and waited
| in confidence to hear the sound of their
paddles but in this was disappointed;
the men, as afterwards learned, were In
dams genuine descendants OF the Iartars)
who happening to fall in with one OF the
passengers trunks, picked it up, and re-
turned TO th2 shore for TIE purpose of pill
laying it, leaving, as they since acknow-
lodged, the man on the boat to his fate
Indeed, am certain. | should have had
more to fear from their avarice, than to
hope from their humanity and it is mere
tnan probable thatmy life would have been
taken 10 secure them in the possession OF
my watch, and several half eagles which
had about me. The accidt nj happened
about sight o'clock in the morning in the
course OF some hours as the day advanced,
he sun grew warmer, the wind blew iron
The south, and the water became calm
en- | got upon my knees, and touna my
self in the small lake OF st. Ions, about
three 70 FIVE miles wide; with some difficult
ty | got upon my feet, but was soon con-
WINGED, by cramps and spasms in all
my sinews, that | was quite incapable
Of swimming any distance, and was then
two miles from shore was now going
with wind and current to destruction and
cold hungry and fatisued, was obliged to
sit down in the water TO rest, when an eX-
traordinay circumstance greatly relieved
me. On examining the wreck, to see II It
was possible to detach any part thereof to
steer by. perceived something loose, en-
tangled in fork of the wreck, and SO car
RED along. Tins found to be small
trunk, bottom upwards, which with some
difficulty bragg I'd upon the barge. After
near an hours work in which | broke my
pe,knife, trying 10 cut out the lock, | made
hole III the trunk, to my great satisfaction
drew Out bottle of rum, cold tongue, |
some cheese, and bag full OF bread, cakes
&c. all wet. OF these | made seasonaole,
though very moderate, use aud the trunk
answered the purpose ot chair to SIT upon
elevated above the surface OF The water.
After in vain endeavurInS TO steer the |
wreck, or direct lis course to the shore,an |
having made every signal with my waist |
coat, &C. in my power, to the headiand'
which had passed, | fancled was drl-
wing into bay, which however, soon pro-
veo i, Ia tho termination of the lake, and !