Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-08-08

when iound myself IN the steerage OF !
ship bound from Quebec to Liverpool.
Immediately communicated every
thing TO my fellow passengers "a young
man and wife, and from them learnt tho
following particulars. They first met
with me on the 9th April, in steam
boat on its trip from Montreal to Que,
bee, about 3 o'clock, P. NJ. / then fol-
lowed them TO public house close at
hand, they told me they were about to
take passage in a ship for Liverpool. -
On their inquiring Of me if / remained in
Quebec, ! replied go no, l am going
with you" They then told me they
were glad oft, as the vessel lay at
Condre Island, ~ miles down the river,
and there was no way Of getting 20 it but
by hiring small boat with pilot which
would be expensive, but by sharing the
expense between us we could do very
well. The ship sailed from Quebec
last fall, but being blocked up by the
ice, was obliged to lie at the Island, un-
til spring. ] went with him to engage
boat, after which he went to brokers'
to get a note changed for gold. On his
asking ifl had any l replied eyes"
and got mine changed also. | remem-
ber getting the amount of that check,
(S70) at the Utica Bank, Saturday al
ternoon, 9th April. We then returned
to the house, remained there during the
night, and early the next morning set
sail for the ship. The wind being un-
favorable, we should not have gone, but
for fact that the vessel was ready for
sea, and only waiting a fair wind. We
sailed about P. NJ, and stopped at a
small Island to wait for the tide, Git being
impossible to stem the coming-in tide.
We then kindled fire, for the weather
was intensely cold, and at 10 P. NJ. with
out moon or star TO light the way, a
gain embarked in our little skif The
next afternoon Sunday commenced a
tremendous snow -storm--and the sea
running very high, Che river at that
place about e5 miles wide) obliged us to
retracc our course 5 miles to find safe
harbor--lor the shore is generally rocky
and dangerous. Landed about sunset,
and then walked two miles through the
pathless woods, the snow averaging l8
inches in depth.
The next morning tide found us again
on the water, and we tackled to and fro
till 2 o'clock next morning, when the ex-
cessiye cold compelled US TO cast anchor
and wade through the water knee deep
10 the shore, and from there to travel
half mile TO hut occupied by French
family, who understood not word OF
English. The next afternoon arrived in
safety to the ship, and sailed the next
morning "wednesday 24.) While in
the Gulf we were detained FIVE days by
the ice, and afterwards were in great
danger OF icebergs, some Of which were
two or three hundred feet in thickness
and several miles in circuit.
The Captain informed me that ] en-
gagged as cabin passenger, but as he
found had only small amount Of NOR
ey, was obliged to AXE passage in the
steernge. Such passengers must find
their own bedding and provisions, but as
had none, he sold me or lent me every
thing necessary. l was taken sea sick
rs soon as we had a very high sea, and
was just able to sit upon deck after q
weeks confinement, day before yester.
day morning, and had just come dowr
| into the hold, when my mind in an instan
| was as clear and rs rational as ever.
\ The Captain remarked that he hat
sometimes suspected me to be little de
ranged, & my fellow passengers though
my appearance very odd at Quebec, blu
as was frequently on board reading
has sr he hnu AoI hot A
owing to !"absence Of r,ind and natu
raj eccentric character" They coult
hurdly believe, when ] first made knowr
to them my utter ignorance of every
transaction since the time / met will
them on the St. Lawrence. They tolt
me had been uniformity courteous ant
cheerful, and that when we walked from
the shore to house during the storm,
carried her in my arms about half th'
way, she being too cold and wearied t.
walk. They were well wrapped up il
blankets, but l had nothing but my cloak
and got two Of my fingers frozen. Yo,
can better conceive than | can expres
how strangely l felt when reason frs
told me that was in the cabin Of YES
sci, and when / knew from the pi,chin.
: and tossing that that vessel was on th'
Ocean. am in hopes Of meeting will
snmn vossel hound homeward, and if
cannot return in her to send this letter
!. Ii we speak no vessel in which can re
turn, | shall probably take passage i'm
mediateIy after arriving in Liverpool
Till then leave all other incidents con
nected with this almost incredible los
Of reason. do not doubt that stud,
was the cause, and thus are all my hope