The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-01-13
From tie ~. Y. Herald.
HlPWRECK OF BRIG EDGAR, HORRI-
RLE SUEEERINGS OF THE GREW.

BLE SUFFETINGS OF THE CREW.
II has seldom fallen to our lot, to record an II
sta nee of more aggravated suffering, than is preser
ted in the following relation which was taken froi
the mouths of the sufferers, we having by permls
sion of H~B nj. Consul, been present, when the
DEF )qions were taken.
On the Sth of November last the brig Edgar sail
ed from Quebec, for Liverpool, with cargo OF Lun
her. The crew consisted of nine men, lncludin
the captain, and alsosfwo boys. There were ais
four steerage passengers on board. tavorn
breezes waited the naples vessel clear of the dan
gerous St. LawrepU and the hearts of all o" boar
were pladdened by tie prospects of speedy ternin
alton of their voyage, and joyous meeting wit
their friends relations, and the beloved ones of hei
hearts, But alas how sad the charge, how dread
ful the reverse, brought on In n few short hours
On the 22d of the same month, tremendous gal
sprung up from the n. W. The sea was running
very high, and on the Gath, they obliged T.
take in all sail, and heaye the vessel to under
hammock in the main rigging. A mere gale o
wind brings no terror the heart of true sailor
A good sea boat and plenty of sea room, and sal
lor is satisfied, as it regards personal safety. Th
gale had continued now so long, and with such un
RENTED severity, that great anxiety was expressed
for and aft, for the safety of the vessel.
On the morning Of the 25th, while still lying to
about o'clock, A. NJ, she capsized-although th'
sea was even then tremendous, such as is only seer
in the gulf Stream, such an event was wholly un
looked for, and consequently, all were unprepared
BY this xpected event, the chief mate Mr. Poole
one seaman, the four Storage passengers, and two
bows were hurried unwarned, and unprepared Into
the presence of Him who gave them being Ihe
four steerage passengers were brothers. natives OF
Lancaster, and by this dispensation none was left
to mourn the loss of brother. While on her beam
ends, the head of the fore-nas was carried away,
the stern stove in and the ruddGr ana wheei
carried away The boats, and entire deck load were
lost-and the rudder was gone, hope seemed
to have fled with it. Soon after this, the man top
gallant and yard, main top mast and yard, ana
the main yard went, and at about noon, the doomed
vessel righted-but what ii spectacle was presented
to the wretcled survivors-bob masts gone, the rud-
der carried away, and the main deck burst a mid
ships. Out of l3 souls, eight missing, and
as each looked upon the other, despair was written
their faces The captain and six men, among
whom were the survivors, went forward and lashed
themselves to the MINDLESS, the was now
making a clear breach over the wreck The vessel
was water logged. No provisions and water were
to be had and that most dreadful Of all DEATHS thirst
stirred them in the face.
A the storm continued with unabatcd fury, these
survivors, deemng their present situation too unsafe,
proposed to tho captain to remove to the main top.
This he and two of the men declined, and these
survivors went aloft and lashed themselves in the
top. In this situation they remained all night, ex
posed to the pelting of the pitiless storm. On the
morning of the Goth, the captain and men, who
were still ashed to the MINDLESS, desired to ascend
70 the top, but from exhaustion, were too weak TO
10 So unassisted. They were however, hauled up
,y rope, and lashcd there likewise.
About III o'clock A. NJ, one of the men, James
Wright, became delirous from thirst, and descended
n hopes Of getting some water but being too weak
o support HIMSELF washed overheard, and thus
mother of the hapless swallowed by the
u,hless waves. On the 9th it became calm, but
he suiferings Of those aof may better be imagined
han conceived when it is known, that their horri-
lie thirst compelled them 10 drink Mcr own Winc.
Without food they might suhsisl for some time, but
Without water, Oh it was too horrible, and The
lrcndu certainty of n lingering death, grew strong
II, the soutes heart grew faint, and they looked
lpon each other, they wept iatuitously. About
clock in the afternoon, as they could rcck
,n, it commenced raining and with grateful hearts
hey descended to slake the parching thirst which
vas too dreadful to have endured much lon
ger. The Captain too excited to dream of the
consequences of over indulgence after such long
and he drank freely that he died that
night in delirium, still crying for more water.
Every sound OF his voice pierced the hearts of the
wretched men, who saw, but could not relieve his
dreadful situation.
On the 2Sth it again came on to blow, accompan-
led with rain and seet which frozc upon them as
fast as it fell, About noon vessel hove in sight
standing to the Eastward, which from her particu
lar shape and cut off the sails, was believed to be
English. Although she near TO the wreck
that the wrctchej tenants could distinguish the man
at the helm, and the men about the deck, effort
was made to rescue them from the terrible fate
which it now seemed impossible to avert. We hope
and trust that the nhuman monster who comman-
dcd her, may be known, and be publicly branded
with the odium of every member of the human race.
Although hope was now nearly dead in their breasts,
they did not at give up to despair, and surely
if curses were vented upon the passing vessel that
might have saved them-nay they be forgiven
About 4 Z. d., another vessel was with her
manmast gone she bore down for the wreck, hut
from the high wind, and tremendous then run
ming, succour from them impossible, and she
too passcd.-Yet did not these gallant fellows yield.
Manluly they stroye TO encourage each other, and
although when they spoke of hope twas faint in
deed.''
On the following day at noon the wind changed
to the S. w. and at 4 =. NJ. another of the seamen
yielded up his spirit. For four days they had now