Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-09-17

On the 3Oth June last, the ship Byron left}
Liverpool for New York, heavily ladened
with iron, salt, &c. and having on board, in
passengers and crew, 119 or 100 souls.-OnI
the morning of the Sd of August, "a days out,
in lat. A. %, lon. 48 so, n scene occurred
which can never be effaced from memory.l
1t was the watch of the first mate, man oil
great fidelity; but, being indisPosed, his place
was taken by another. An unusual degree
of levity and thoughtless security among the
passengers had just given place to sleep.
And now all was still, save the tread of the
watch on deck, or the occasional toll of theI
bell to warn fishing craft, if near, of our ap-I
proach; but we had more heed to be warned
ourselves than to give warning to others of
danger. About O'Clock A. NJ.
a hurried step awoke the writer of this sketch;
and the rapid whispering of some created
the suspicion that all was not right. Spring
ing from his berth, he asked one of the men
near the cabin door what was the matter.
1--WE are in the midst of 90 = said he; ~WilI
you inform the captain and mater" The
captain was Instantly on deck; he ran for
ward to look out. In q moment the vessel,
|going at the rate of five knots, struck as if a.
Igainst solid rock. 1t was an island of ice!
II lifted its head above the water more
than one hundred feet, and leaned over as if
ready to fall down upon us.-The word was
given to put up the helm and back the sails.
As the sailors were Fastening to obey the
latter order-as the terrified passengers were
rushing on deck and looking up at the i'm
mense, overhanging, freezing mass, the ship
!, struck again with increased force. Oh,whai
) a shock Crash! Crash! it seemed as if the
masts were falling one after another on the
deck. The second mate entered the cabin
/ and, clapping violently his hands together
Z exclsimed, my God! our bows are stove in
,I-we're all gone" An awful death appeared
: now inevitable. In this moment of genera
!, panic, the commanding officer gave order.
y to sclear away the boat Then, while tn,
: knife was being applied to the cordage fas
tening her along side the ship,a rush wa
: made to her by men and women. Tha
+ small boat was in a moment filled with thirt,
It or forty persons. 1t seems utterly marvel
e lous that she did not break down, precipits
d ken place, our commanding officer must hav
5. shared the same fate; for, from the desire
e, gain possession other for himself and crew
1t or to save the miserable crowd that had &c
D. into her from destruction-it may be froi
q. both motives-he entered the boat and stoo
m in her until he drove out every one at til
Is point of the sword.-Then was a scene Z
n terror! In front of the cabin the passeI
K gers were collected, half naked-some Q
a their knees calling for mercy-some clapPin
Id their hands, and uttering the most apPaliiu
to shrieks. Nothing distinctly could be hear
m All was confusion and horror. 1t WI
he enough to penetrate a heart Of stone. Som
IN more collected, were dressing themselve
e preparing to resist the cold, If perchance the
no should survive on the wreck. Others we
i'd looking for something to which they cou
be lash themselves for support for time in q
ne water. Here, you might see one with
safety-belt slung over his shirt, endeavoril
Ne to 6ll it with air: there another pale and a
nd tated, inquiring, 'Is there any hoPer Al
in. there, one standing rs if in sullen despa
lellsaymg, at IS no use to do anything
net must de- ~Are we sinking, uncley' cri
Of a dear boy. A child running to brave s
ed lor says, ~Won't you save metz And Z
stsl loud waiting and lamentation from the Gro,
onl rose higher and higher. Then, - if to cle
ectIthe painful scene, the ship struck again on
The shock reverberated like thu
toI der, making every joint Of the vessel sha