Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-08-26
shipwreck of the Francis spaight.
RELATED BY ONE OF THE CREW

| NHhAi I'D M ONE OF THE CREW.
The Francis Spaight, OF 345 ions, laden
with timber, sailed from St. Johns. New.
loudland, on the oath of November bound
Tor Limerick The crew amounted TO IA
men with the captain and mate; they had
ilne weather for few days, but it afterwards
blew so hard, that they were Obliged to
drive before the wind. At 3 o'clock on the
morning OF Dec. Sd the vessel, through
The carelessness OF the helmsman, suddenly
preached to. and in less than an hour she
lay on her beam ends. the greater part OF
the crew saving themselves BY clinging TO
The rigging. Patrick !Cusack and Patrick
Behane were drowned ia the fore-castle.
and Griffith, the mate in the after cabin.
The captain and Mulvile got to the fore and
main masts and cut them away; the mizen
top mast went with them over the side and
the ship Immediately righted. AS soon as
lshe righted. she settled down in the sea,
and there was scarcely any Of her to be
seen except the poop and the bulwarks. No
situation could be more miserable than that
oil the unfortunate crew, standing ancle deep
on The wreck, in winters night, and cling.
ing to whatever was nearest. as sea after
sea rolled successfully over them. On the
dawn they discovered that their provisions
had been washed overheard, and they had
no means Of coming at fresh water. The
gale continued undated, and for safety and
shelter they gathered into the cabin under
the poop. Even here. she was so deep with
wafer dry plank could not be found, and
their only rest was by standing close togeth-
er At ten in the forenoon a vessel was des.
cried TO the westward, but she stood far a.
way beyond the reach OF signal, and was
soon out Of sight There were 10 hands
alive, and not one OF them had tasted NOR
sci oil food since the wreck; and they had
only three boules of wine; this was served
out in wine glasses at long intervals There
was some occasional rain, which they were
not prepared at first for saving; but on the
fourth or fifth day they got cisiern under
The mlzen mast, where it was filled 10 two
Fdays The periods in which no rain fell
were, however. often long, so that they stin-
ted themselves TO the smallest possible allow
ance. In seven days after the appearance OF
the first vessel. another was seen only four
miles north. An ensign was hoisted, but
she bore away like The former, and was
soon lost TO their view. Despair was now
in every countenance. How they lived
through the succeeding FIVE days il would
be hard TO tell some few endeavored TO eat
The horn buttons Of their jackets. the only
substitute Tor nuiriment which occurred TO
them. There was no means OF taking fish,
and although birds were sometimes seen
flying past they had no means OF bringing
them down. Horrible as this situation was,
II was made yet worse by the conduct of
ha IN rdc ona,bar A. r..
sufferings increased they became cross and
selhsh-the strong securing place on the
cabin floor, and pushing aside the weak
to shit for themselves in the wet and cold
There was boy named O'Brien especially,
who seemed to have no friend on board, and
endured every sort OF cruelty aud abuse
Most Of the men had got sore legs from stan
ding in the salt water. and were peevish
aud apprehensive Of being hurt; as soon as
OBrien came near them in search of dry
berth. he was kicked away. for which he |
retaliated in curses
On the 10th December. the 10th day since
the wreck. the Captain said they were now
such length OF time without subsistence, |
that it was beyond human nature TO endure
II any longer, and the only question for them
TO consider was whether one or all should |
die; his opinion was that one should suffer |
fol the rest and that lots should be drawn |
between the four boys, as they could not be |
so great loss 10 their friends as |
those who had wives and children depend
ing on them. None objected to this except
the boys. who cried out against the injustice
Of such proceeding. OBrien in particular,
protested against ii and some muttering
was heard amongst the men that led the lat
Ter 10 apprehend they might proceed in a
more summary way. Friendless and for.
Iorn as he was, they were well calculated
10 terrify the boy into acquiescence, and he at
length submitted. Melville now prepared
some sticks of different lengths for the lots.
bandage was tied over O'Bnen's eyes,
md he knelt down resting his face on Null
niles knees. The latter had the sticks in !
lis hand, and was 10 hold them up one by S
me demanding whose lot it was O'Brien
vas to call out a name and whatever person $
lie named for the shortest stick was to die.
Aulvile held up the first stick and demand {
ID who il was for ? The answer was for !
title johnny Sheehan,' and the lot was laid {
side.-The next stick was held up, and the I
Iemand was repeated. 'on whom is this lot
o fall 2 OBrien's reply was, 'on myself a
lpon which Mulville said, that was the death {
ot-that OBrien had called for it himself {
The poor fellow heard the announcement
Without uitering word. The men told
lin he must prepare for death, and the Capt. a
proposed bleeding him in the arm The Il
)aptain directed the cook, German, to do it, L