The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-09-11
MISCELLANEOUS
From the DcLa,oare Gazette
COURTSHIP ON A FRAGMENT OF THE
WRECK OF THE PULASKI.

WRECK OF THE PULASKI.
Many interesting well as painful incidents
connected with that awful disaster. are related to
us by those who have and conversed with
persons saved from that wreck. Amongst 9TH
ers the following is told of Mr. Ridge, from N.
Orleans, and Miss OnsioW, from one of the
Southern States, two of the unfortunates who
were picked up on the fifth day about so miles
from land, 1t is stated of the gentleman, that
he had been sitting on the deck alone, for half
an hour previous to the accident. Another gen.
teman who was walking near him at tho time
oi the explosion was thrown overheard, and him
self was precipitated nearly over the side of the
boat and stunned. He recovered himself i'm
medately, as he supposed, when he heard some
one remark, get out The boats--she IS sinking -
He was not acquainted with solitary indvidu-
al on the boat. Under such circumstances, 1t is
atural TO suppose he would feel quite as much
concern for himself rs for any one else. He was
consequently among the foremost of those who
sought the small boat for safety, and was about
TO step into 1t, when he discovered young lady,
whom he recognised as one whose appearance
had sundry times during the passage arrested his
attention. Her protector was the gentleman who
was walking on deck and blown overheard lie
Sprang towards her. to take her into the small
boat, but in the crowd and confusion he lost sight
OF her, and he supposed she was with some 9th
er friend. During his frui!less search the small
boat showed off. The wreck fast sinking.
The night rang with the prayers and shrieks of
the help less aud drowning He turned away
in despair, and tunbled over a coil ofsmall rope,
lie caught up the rope--lashed together cou-
pie of settees-threw them upon piece of an
old sail and small empty cask and thus equip
ped launched upon the element.
1t was all the work Of Il moment. He believe
ed death inevitable and that effort was his last
grasp at life. His vesSei bore him up much bet
ter than he expected, and he was consoling him
self with his escape, such as it was, while others
were pe'ishing all around him, when he discoV-
cred Il female struggling for life almost within
his grasp. lie left his ark-swam but twice his
length-seized his object, and returned safely TO
his craft again, which proved sufficient TO sustain
them both, but with their heads and shoulders
only above water. The female was the young
lady for whom he had lost passage in the small
boat. She fancied their float would be unable
10 support them both, and said, You wiii have
10 lei me go to save Yourself" He replied, we
live or we die together" Soon after, they dried
upon u piece of the wreck, p. obahly IL part of the
same 1oor or partition, torn asnntler ny Inc eX-
plosIon. This. with the aid of the sehees, fas-
tened benenh it, proved sufficient to keep them
out or the water. About this time one OF me
small boats came towards them but already heav-
NY loaded. He implored them TO take the young
lady. But she said no. she could but die--he
id saved her life, and she could not leave '''ii,
They Were. fairly ut sea, without the least mofse
30 eat or drink, in searching climate--'he young
lady in her night clothes, and himself with moth
falcons, already much torn. Of the boat which
bore them all in quiet and safety lint half hour
before, nothing to he seen bat scattering
pieces of the wreck. The small boats were on
aheir way towards The shorc-their own craft be-
ing light and lightly loaded, drifted fast away
from a scene indiscribably heart -rending, and
which he still shudders to think of.
At day light nothing visible to them but
the hea"ens and waste ofwaters In the course
Of the day they came in sight Of land, and for
Time We're confident OF reaching it--bIit during
the succeeding night the wind changed, and soon
alter day light next morning, it vanished again,
and with it all their lively hopes Of escaping from
their dreadful dilemma. On the third day sail
move IN sight-but she was entirely beyond hail
sng distance. When found they were sadly
burned by the sIn-siarved and exhausted, tho
still IN possession of their faculties, and able to
move and talk. But their pain and suffering was
not without It's pleasure and enjoyment. The
romantic part Of the story OF their expedition IS
yet to come, and there's no telling how much
longer they would have subsisted on the same
food that seems 10 have aided at least in sustaining
them so well such ar incredible length of time.
The intrepidity he displayed--the risk he run
the danger he incurred, and above all the mag
nanlmitY he evinced in saving her lite, strangers
MS they were TO each other, at the eminent hazard
ot bis own, elected with her at once, the warm
est and strongest feeling ofgratitude towards him,
ana before the tort,lres of hunger and thirst COM
menced, kindled that passion which burns no.
where else, as it burns in wonan's bosom. On
the other hand, her good sense, her fortitude and
presence of mind at the most perilous moment,
and particularly her readiness to meet and share
with him the fate which awaited them excited
on his part an attachment which was neither to
be disguised nor deferred. And there upon the
g waters Wild" amid the terrors which surround
ed, and the fate which threatened them, i'm pres
ence of an all seeing God, did they pledge their
mutual love, and declare, if their lives We're spar
ed, their destiny, which misfortune had united,
should then be made inseparable, as escape
from it now impossible.
After their rescue, he informed her that sense
of duty impelled him to apprize her, that by the
misfortune which had befallen them, he had lost
every dollar he possessed on earth amounting to
$25OC0) that ha was i'm poverty +" to his very lips
beggar amongst strangers, without the means OF
paying for single meal of victuals, and painful