Litchfield enquirer., 1831-12-22
Frou. the United Service Journal.
PRESENCE OF MIND IN sHIPwREcK,

PRESENCE OF MIND IN sHIPwRECK.
 ] The following narrative exemplifes in g
 most striking manner the commanding
 sway which a bold and daring spirit exer-
 cises ovRftthe energies of its fellow men ir
 the hour of peril. The recital may serve
 to hold forth to the young officers of the
 British army, noble example of resolution
 in the time.of danger.
 On the 2d June, 1916, the " Archdnke I Charles" transport, sailed from Quebec for
 Halifax, having on board six companies ol the Royal Nova Scotia regiment, consist ing of II officers and the staff of the regi- lment, 200 men, and AS women and child-
 ron. The former part of the voyage was lprosperoas the vessel had been ten days
 at sea, and was approaching her place of
 destination. q On the evening of the 18th
 of June, dense fog arose, stretching from
 northeast to southwest. The " "Arch-
 duke Charles" was then in the track of the homeward-bound West Indiamen, and as
 is usual in such cases, every precantion was taken to prevent the danger of col- Elision with other ships doring the continu- lance of the darkness. A dead silence was fpreserved by all on board, in order tog.ve the greater effect to the blast of the bugle, or sound of the drum, which at regular in-' IArvals, alternately broko the stiffness, con- veying to other vessels which might happen to be within hearing, intimation of tho ap- 4proach of the ship. In this manner pas sed seyerakhours of deep solici,ude. At length those pn board, whose duty did not require their presence upon deck, retired to their births in anxious expectation of the
 mornings dawn-,hat morning, which they
 hoped would see Them safely anchored in the port for which they were steering, but
 which many were fated to behold as the last of their mortal existence. Between the hours of twelve and one, the vessel struck. The shock was violent. Ina mo- ment, men, women, and children hurried Ihpon deck. Horror was depicted upon every countenance--even the oldest of the seamen quailed, for the people had scarce ly time to reach the upper deck when the vessel began to fll. They were not with in sight of land, and even if the coast had been nearer, the density of tho fog would baAXee, ,prevented its being visible. In this V"; s,.,,as, bsaia mia pot to hs wondered at if the sea ran tremcn ndousI Aigh, and so freqdetIr= ly washed over the deck, that every att tempt to tighten the vessel by cutting away the masts. was found unavailing. For the re remainder of the night, the darkness rem dered it impossible for those on board to know the exact nature of their situation, and every individual exerted himself to the utmost to retain his hold of the wreck.
 As the morning dawned, the fog partial ly cleared away, and the sufferers beheid the top of rock at short distance; put
 between it and the wreck there was a
 gulf, across which the heavy swell seemed
 to render the idea of passing an utter im- possib;lity. The waves ran mountains
 hieh. It was at this perilous moment that
 tho hopes of all pointed to the rock us the
 only means of attaining chance of nltim'
 ate rescue. Each individual seemed t' shrink from incurring the risk of death Il , the attempt to gain the wished-tor point Lieut.. Charles Stewart, of the Grenade :, Company" at length neryed himself [ the enterprise. He secured the end Of rope round his waist, and threw himse z overboard with the heroic determination rescning himself and his fellow sufferer
 or perishing in the attempt. He disar peared from the view of his companions
 and all gave him up for lost the word wa passed, that Lieut.. Stewart and two me !. lwho were washed off the deck) had peI ishcd. As the day advanced, the atmos z phere became clearer, and Lieut.. StewaI was seen op the rock waving his regimen !, tai cap to those who remained on board 2 This sight inspired them with new vigo and sailor, after two or three inetfectu' attempts succeeded in joining Lieu Stewart with another rope. By this neal , communication was open with the rocl '. by which the men were hastening from tt ' wreck, while the jolly boat (lhe only on :. that had escaped destruction) was active . employed in saving the women and chile ren. Many perished in the attempt
 reach the rock, for the swell had not aba l. ed, and their bodies were thrown up. Sd n spectacle to the survivors. At length the ,r was not a single individual remaining { If the wreck. The unfortunate beings vt ii had found shelter on the rock. soon di !" covered that they had protracted their p .- riod of suffering, for the footing which tho e had gained vas on a sunken rock. whi' ,e would soon be overAowed by the rising ,r the tide, and period be thus put at on 's to their suffering, unless they could quic ,s Iy find a refuge. This seemed impossibl Io for within the limits Co which the fog col "a fined their vision, nOught appeared but q v raging sea, roaring as if fo: the prey whi v E.r... sa~ saavh fra.a if