The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-01-04
NUMBER 100.
sHlPWRECK OF BRIG EDGAR, HORRI-
Bile SUFFERlNGS DE THE CREW.

OF more aggravated suffering than is presented in the
following relation, which taken from the mouths Of
the sufferers, we having, by permission of H. B. NJ
Consul, been present, when their dispositions were
taken.
On the oth of November last the brig Edgar sailed
from Quebec, for Liverpool, with a cargo of Lumber
The crew consisted of nine men, including the captain
and also two boys There were also four steerage mas
sengers on board Favong beezes waited the hapIess
vessel clear Of the dangerous ST. Lawrence, and the
hearts of all board gladdened by the prospects
OF speedy termination of their voyage and JOYOUS
meeting with their friends relations, and the beloved
ones of their hearts. But alas how sad the change
how dreadful the reverse, brought on in a few short
hours On the 22d of the same month"; tremendous
gale sprang up from the N. w. The sea was running
very high, and on the evening of the 2ih they were
obliged to take in all SAIL and heave the vessel TO under
a hammock in the main rigging. 4 mere gale of wind
brings terror the heart of true sailor good
sea boat and plenty of roon and sailor is salts
fed, IT regards personal safety. The gale had con-
tnued now long, and with such unremitied severity
that great anxiety expressed for and aft for the
safety of the vessel.
On the morning of the 2jth while still lying to- about
Z O'clock A. NJ, she capszed-altneugh the sea was
even then tremendous, such only seen IN the Gu
Stream, such event wholly unlocked for, and
consequently, all were unprepared. BY this unexpect
ed event, the chief maie MIR. Poole, one seaman, the
four steerage passengers, and boys were hurried
unwarned, and unprepared into the presence OF Him who
gave them being. The four Storage passengers were
brothers, natives of Lancaster and by this dspensatien
was left to the loss of brother. While on
her beam ends the head Of the forenast was carried
away the ill., and the rudder and wheel
carried away. The boats and entire deck load were
lost-and the rudder was gene, hope seemed to
have fled with it, Soon after this the main top gallant
and yard, main top and yard and the main
yard went and al aboutnoon the doomed vessel rghted
but what spectacle presented TO the wretched
snrvivors-both mass gone, the rudder carried away
and the main deck burst midships. Out of 10 souls
eight were missing and as each looked upon the Other
despair written their faces. The captain and
six men, among whom the survivors, went forw ard
and lashed themselves the wndlass, the sea was
making clear breach over the wreck The YES
sci logged. No provisions and water were
be had and that dreadful of all deaths thirst
stared them in the face.
As the storm continued with Hnebated fury these sur
vivers deemng their present situation too unsafe pre-
posed to the captain to remove the main too. This
he and of the declined, and these survivors
situation they remained all night exposed the peltt.g
of the pitiless On the morning of the Goth, the
captain and men, who still dashed to the windase
desired to ascend the top, but from exhaustion,
too weak TO do so unasssIed. They were, however,
hauled up by rope, and dashed there likewise.
About ii o'clock A. NJ, one of the men, James
Wright, became delrious from thirst and descended.
in hopes of getting water but being too weak to
support himself, washed overheard and thus
ether of the hapless swallowed BY the ruth
less On the 9th became calm, but the suf-
erings of those aloft may better be imagined than
conceived, when it is known that their horrible thirst
compelled them 10 drink their opn urine. Without
food they might subsist for some time, bur without
water, Oh. il was too horrible, and as the dreadful
certainty of lingering death, grew stronger the
est heart grew faint, and they looked upon each
other they wept fatuiiousy. About O'Clock in the
afternoon as they could reckon, it commenced
raining, and with grateful hearts, they descended
slake the parchng thirst which then toe
dreadful to have endured much longer. The Captain
excited dream of The consequences of over
indulgence after such long abstinence, and he drank
freely that he died that night in deliriun, still crying
for water. Every sound of his voice pierced the
hearts of the wretched men, who saw, but could BOT
relieve his dreadful situation.
On the 28th it again came blow, accompanied
with rain and seet which froze upon them as fast
it fell. About vessel hove in sight standing to
the Eastward which from her particular shape and cut
of the sails, believed TO be English. Although she
came to the wreck that the wretcbed tenants
could distinguish the man at the helm and the men