Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-07-05


would bear with safety forty inches
Major Heath had jus, retired in the AZ
ter cabin. A number of passenger!
p "ete i,Ing on the sattees, and -wher
he boiler burst. the steam rushed into
4, the cabin, and, it is thought, Instant,
h.icc them ~ they turned over. Eel
on the floor, aud never were seen D,
the Major 10 move afterwards. II,
had, on hearing the morse OF the oxplo.
>ion, y, out OF his berth and ran 20 the
steps, the steam meeting him IN the
cabin. lie go. under the step.. as did
also Mr.. Lovcjoy Of Geo. and they were
thus shielded hom is effects.
In icv moments he went on deck
and found all dark. lie called FOR The
Captain. and receiving no answer, made
Tor the mast as he felt that tho boat
Was sinking. Before be could secure
himself the sea bUrs, over him, and
carried hun away.-Furiunalelv. how
ever. rope bad caught around his leg.
and with this he pulled himself back.
The mast, ~ EOon as he had been
washed from 1t, tell, and crushed one
oi the Passengers, Mr.. Auze. FrcnCh
gentleman. o. augusta. The boa: now
broke IN two. and the deck, forward Of
the r'.as'. was carried away from the
rest OF The vessel, seemingly very swift
~. Nothing more was sccn after this.
By MAJOR Heath, Of the yawl or the az
ter rafi al the boat, bu, IN about hell
a. hour, lie heard Wild shull scream.
and then all vas quiet, This must
have NceG whcn thc promenade deck
turned over, with q; least one hundred
human beings upon il
When daylight broke, be 'orrd iha,
there were twenty-five on the wreck
With h!m-among them CAPTAIN Pear
son, who had been blown out into the
sea, 5at who had caugh, a plank, end
succeeded n reaching them during he
night,
The danger O! ihcir situation was &,
once fully realized The heavy mas,
lay across The deck GA which ID Y rest.
Cd, and Kept Il ah5u; twelve inches TN
der wafer aad The planks we're ey..
gently fast paJting Captain Pearson.
with tho rest. set himself to work 10
lash Tie week i7ce:her 10y the all o.
The ropes on Tie mas,-lculrg the
ropes sink on tue side OF tie raft, which
pa.siag under, cane up on tho other
eide, and by repeating tAis operation
they formed kind Of net work over il.
They also suecee dcd in la.hing two
large boxes 20 their rOit. which formed
seats.
Friday passed without any vessel
coming ~ sight. Their thir.t now be.
came intense. The heat cf he Gun was
very oppressive, is RAYS pouring down
90 their bare head. aud blis,erinc their
faces and backs. somc not having even
sh'r; on, add none more than shirt
aud psntaloons.
The suffering Of the younger portion
Of their company at ih,s time. became
very great. Maj Twiggs, Of the L..
). \. had saved lis child, e boy about
twelve years Of sse. lie kept him ia
his arms nearly all the time, aud when
las would call on has mother who va,
safe at home, and beg for water. his IA
'her would seek in vain 70 con fort him
by words Of kindness, and els ping him
closer t. bis heart.
On Saturday they fell in with ano
Their portion Of the wreck. on which
were Chicken aud three others, whom
they took on their raft. Towards the
close u evening they had approached
within half mile Of shore, as they tho't
aud many were very anxious to make
an effort to land. THIS was objected
- b. MAJOR Heath, a. the breakers ran
very high. and would have dashed The
raft b pieces on the shore Mr. Green.
wood. from Georgia. told the Major
tia, be was one Of the best swimmers
"a the conniry and that he uuld tie q
rope around him sHd saim 10 the
shore. No MOI replied Tie Mslo,
you shall not Usk your lie ~ nc.
under these ciTcumsisnccs, and ~ such
% attempt yod would lose your life
No ! am the Oljeu man 30 danger
and vii not increase The risk - Others.
Al hope 90 landing then was shortly
aiicrxarts gwen Up - slight breeze
from tie shore Has uoW CaffJ IN them
into tho sea. Dc.plif nos. sremcd g.
SEIZE on some of them. and one s4k
gestcj that u relief dad not soon reach
!hcm u would 30 necessary h. cast lots
The frmue8 and decision Of Major
Heath soon plt Ills horrid idea 60
iixht. We are Omissions lie told
hem. and s. cannot innocenIv im-
bfle our hands So tbe blood Of fellop-
creature. a horrible catastrophe has
deprived bahifcfs % their lives end
brought sorrow 90 many hearth and
thrown rs Upon the mercy ofthe winds
add waves Te have sl,l lite len. let
40 not give ~ Ell ml1!i1eB and Gak
g. the brute. We have al o1f thoughts
4h0u, we. and should face death, Which
must sooner or later oyefiake W. viih
ih8 spirt that becomes ps ~ chnsu1u
men when ihat hour arrives vii
lay down MS iifc without a murmlE
sd I aill nsk 81 n0w i3r The safety 90
any ore q you. tat wili never stand
by anil eee s18ihers sscu6ccf ttat We
nsy 5sak Lts Blood an1 est h. nesh''
With such words az these dij b. quiet
hem. and reconcile them % await the
Issue Tho day wore awav aTsin
g.'hoot tbe sight ~ a vessel % cheer
thcis drs1p.sT spIiis.