The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-08
~ From me Dsiaeare Gazette
couRTsHIp ON A FRAGMENT OF THE
WRECK OF THE PULASKI


couRTsHIp ON A FRAGMENT OF THE
WRECK OF THE PULASKI
Many Interesting as well as painfa incidents sJ hy
nected with that awful disaster are rela.su s.rsons
those who have seen and conversed with peISo .a
saved from that awful wreck. AmoSs sw Orleans
following Is told of Mr. Ridge, no Sar,hs,n states
and Miss Onsow, from one OF me sIcaa nm IN he
I've I've o. .he ~ .si,es from land Il Is stated Of
The Gentleman ,hai he had been sitting on Ine aeoN
alone for half an hour previous 70 the Nm :,
Another gentleman VINO was wam ,n overheard and
himself was precptated nearly over me siae o. Inc
hoat and stunned. He recovered immediately, US
he supposed. when he heard some one remark, gG
out Ms6oats--shs Is snksag re was no1 ancS
circumstances II is natural 10 suppose he wonid
feel ouile as much concern for himself as Tor any
one else. He was consequently amongi Inc ioremos,
OF those who sought the small boat Tor saiey, ana
was about to step into It, when he discovered young
lady, whom he recognized as one whose appearances
had sundry times during the passage arrested nus
attention. Her protector was the senl,ennan VIZ Il
was walking on deck and blown overheard he
sprane towards her 10 take her into the small boat
bui hi The crowd and confusion he lost sight OF her,
and he supposed she was with some other friend
During his rui,less search the small boat showed on
The wreck was fast sinking. The night rank win
the PRAYERS and shrieks Of the helpless and the
drowning. He turned away IN despair, and tum-
bled over coil of small rope Hope like The exPir-
ing spark frightened again He eaugh, up the rope
dashed together couple OF seifees-threw lhem
upon piece Of an old sail and small empty casS'
and thus equipped. launched upon the element:
II was all the work OF moment He believed
death inevitable and that effort was his last grasp
at life His pessel bose him up much better than he
expected and he was consoling himself win ms
escape such as il was while others were perishinS
all around him, when he discovered female strug-
cling for life almost within his grasp, He len his
ark-swam but twice his length, seized his oo)eci,
and returned safely his craft again, which proved
sufficient sustain them both, but with their heads
the young lady for whom he had lost passage IN
the small boat. She fancied their float would DC
unable to support them both, and said, sou WIN
" We live or die together" Soon AFTER they drilled
upon piece of the wreck, probably part OF the
same floor partition, torn asnnder by me explo-
sion. This with the aid ofsettees fastened beneath
il, proved sufficient to keep them out Of me waeI
them but already heavy loaded. He implored them
TO take the young lady But she said, no, she could
but die-he had saved her life, and she could not
leave him. They were fairly at sea, without The
least morsel to eat or drink in scorching climate
The young lady,in her night clothes, and himself
with nothing upon him but his shirt and thin pair
Of pantaloons, already much torn. Ofthe boat which
bore them all in quiet and safety but half hour be-
FORE nothing to be but scattering pieces Of
The wreck The small boats were on their way to-
wards the shore--their own craft being light and
lightly loaded, drfted fast away from scene indie
scribably heart-rendng and which he Still shudders
10 think Of.
Al daylight nothing was visible TO them but the
heavens and waste of waters In the course OF the
lay they came in sight Of land, and for some lime
were confident of reaching it-but during the sue
ceeding night the wind changed and soon after day
light next morning, ii vanished again, and with Il
III their lively hopes Of escaping from their dread
ul dilemma On the third day sail hove in sight
but she was entirely beyond hailing distance
When found, they were sadly burned by the sun
starved and exhausted, though still in possession of
heir faculties and able TO move and talk But their
pain and suffering was not without its pleasure and
enjoyment The romantic part OF the expedition is
yet to come, and there's no telling how much longer
hey would have subsisied on the same Jood that
seems 70 have aided at least in sustaining them so
we'll such an incredible length Of time.
fhe inirepidity he displayed-the risk he run
he danger he incurred, and above all the magma
,imity he evnced in saving her life, strangers as
hey were TO each other, at the imminent hazard OF
his own, elected with her at once, the warmest and
strongest feelings Of gratitude towards him, and be-
'ore the torture Of hunger and thirst commenced,
1indled that passion which burns nowhere else, asst
,urns in womans bosom. On the other hand, her
good sense, her fortitude and presence OF mind at
he most perilous moment, and particularly her rea-
illness 10 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 waters Wild" amid the ter
ened Them in presence Of an all seeing God did they
pledge their mutual love- and declare II their lives
were spared, their destiny, which misfortune had
united, should then be made as inseparable, as es-
cape from it was now impossible.
Amer their rescue, he informed her that sense OF
duty impeled him to apprize her, that by the mis-
fortune which had befalien them, he had lost every
dollar he possessed earth (amounting TO 25 OOO)
that he was in poverty TO his very lips'-a beggar
among strangers, wi'hout,he means Of paying for "a
single meal Of victuals and painful as was the
thought of separation to him. he offered to release
her from her engagement if it was her choice to
leave him. She burst into tears at the very thought
of separation, and asked him IL he thought 1t was
possible for the poverty Of this world to drive them
to more desperate extremity than that which they
had suffered thus together He assured her of his
Willingness to endure for her the same trial again
and Of the Joy, more than he could express, which
he felt at finding her so willing to fulfil her engage
ment, which ii IS said is to be consummaed. It
was not till then that he was made acquainted with
the fact that his lady love is heress to an estate
worth 5000 900. Who would not be shipwrecked;
and henceforth, who will say, matches are not made
in Heaven"