Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-08-30
lFrom the pelaware Gazette.

conversed with persons saved IRON that
wreck. Amongst others the following Is told
of Mr.. Ridge, from New Orleans, and q
Miss Onslow 70 ON one ofthe Southern states,
two of the uniortunates who were picked up
OH the ifth day about fifty miles from land;
Il is stated of the gentleman, that he had
been sitting on the deck alone, tor hall an
hour previous 10 the accident Another
gentleman who was walking near him at the
time of tho explosion was thrown overheard,
and himself was prec ecipitated nearly over the
aide of the boat and stunned. lie recovered
Immediately, as he supposed, when he heard
some one remark, 'get om The boats-she is
sinking" lie was not acquainted with a
solitary individual on the boat. Under such
circumstances, 1t is as natural to suppose that
he would feel quite as much concern for
himself as for any one else. lie was conse-
qnently among the foremost Of those who
sought the small boat for safety, and was
about to step into II, when he discovered
young lady, whom he recognised as one
whose appearance had sundry times during
the passage arrested his attention. Her pro-
tector 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
other friend. During his frutless search the
small boat showed off. The wreck was fast
sinking. The night rang with the prayers
and shricks Of the helpless and drowning
He turned away IN despair, and tumbled over
coil of small rope. Hope like the expiring
spark frightened again. Ilo caught up the
rope-lashed together a couple of settees-
threw them upon piece OF an old sail and
small empty cask,an thus equipped launched
upon the element 1t was all the work Of a
moment. lie believed death inevitable, and
that effort was the last grasp ut life. Ills
pessd bore him up much better than he ex-
pccted, and he was consoing himself with
his escape such as it was, while others were
pcrishing all around him, when he discovered
a female struggling for life almost within his
grasp. He left his drk-swam but twice his
length-seized his object and returned safely
to his craft again, winch 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 q
passage in the small boat. She fancicd their
float would be unable to support both, and
said to him, 'you will have to let me 60 to
save yourself" lie replied, 1--WE live or we
die together" Soon after, they drfted upon
a piece Of the wreck, probably part Of the
same floor or partition torn asunder by The
explosion. This with the aid Of the settees,
fastened beneath it, proved sufficient to keep
them ont Of water. About this time one of
the small boats came towards them, but al
ready heavily loaded. lie impored them to
take in 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 inorsel TO eat or
drink, in scorchng climate; the young lady
in her night clothes, and himself with nothing
upon him ut his shirt and thin pair Of pan
falcons, already much torn. OF the boat
which bore them all in quiet and safety but
half hour before, nothing was to be seen but
scattering pieces of the wreck. The small
boat was on their way to the shore, their own
craft being light, and lightly loaded, drifted
fast away from a scene indescrlbably heart
rending, and which he still shuddcrs to think
Of.
At daylight nothing was visible to them
but the heavens and waste of water. ln
the course of the day they came in sight Of
land, and for a time were confident of reach
ing it-but during the succeeding night the
wind changed, and soon after daylight next
morning it vanished again, and with it all
their lively hopes Of escaping from their
dreadful dilemma. On the third day a sail
hove in sight-but she was entirely beyond
mailing distance. When found, they were
sadly burned by the sun-starved and cx-
hausted, though still in possession OF their
faculties, and able to move and talk. But
their pain ard suffering was not without its
pleasures and enjoyment. The romantic
part of the story OF their expedition is yet to
come, and there's no telling how much Ion
ger they would have subsisted on the same
food that seems TO have aided at least in sus-
tanning them so well such an incredible length
Of time.
The in,repidity lie displayed-the risk he
run-the danger he incurred, and above all
the magnaninity he evinced in saving her
life, strangers as they were to each other, at
the eminent hazard Of his own, elected with
her, at once, the warmest and strongest feel
ings Of gratitude towards him, pnd before the
tortures Of hunger aud thirst commenced,
kindled that passion which burns nowhere
else, as ii burns in woman'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 "waters wild, amid the
terror which surrounded, and the fate which
threatened them, in the presence only Of an
all seeing God, did they pledge their mutual
love, and declare il their lives were spared,
their destiny, which misfortune had united,
should then be made as inseparable, as es-
cape from it was now impossible.
After their rescue, he informed her TINT
sense Of duty impelled him to apprisc her,
that by the misfortune which had befalen
them, he had lost every dollar he possessed
on earth amounting to about S25,000,) that
he was in 'poverty to his very lips"- beg
gar amongst strangers, without the means Of
paying for single meal Of victuals, and pain.
ful as was the thought Of separation to him,
he offered to release her from her engage
ment, if it was her choice to leave him. She
burst into tears at the very thought Of sepa-
ration, and asked him if he thought it was
possible for the poverty Of this world, to drive
them to more desperate extre nifty than that
which they had suffered thus together. lie
assured her Of his willingness to endure for
her the same trial again-and of the Joy, moro
than he could express, which he felt at find.
ing her so willing to fulfil her engagement
which it is said, is soon TO be consummated
II was not till then that he was made &C.
quainted with the fact, that his lady love is
heiress to an estate worth 100000. Who
would not be shipwrecked and henceforth
| h., xy,lI ea,t 60 taI. a.. =.