Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-07-06

4 Y ~
auempt to row any further, Mr. I, oupvr re-
iuclanlly consented TO attempt the landing
Before making the attempt, il was though,
necessary to preven, the infant Of Mrs Night
lngale, which was only seven months old
lton being lost, TO lash il to her person
which was done. just as the sun was set.
ting, the bow Of the boat was turned 10 The
shore. and Mr. Copper sculling, and two men
at the oars. she was pulled into the break
ers-she rose without difficulty upon the
first breaker, but the second, coming on,
with great Violence, struck the oar from the
hand OF one of the rowers The boat was
thus thrown into the trough of the. sea, and
the succeeding breaker struck her broad.
side, and turned her bottom upwards. Tn.
on reganing the surface, Mr. Copper laid
hold OF the boat, and soon discovered that the
rest OF the party, with the exception of Mrs.
Nightingale, were making for the shore -
OF her, for few moments, be saw nothing.
but presently, feeling something like the dress
oil female touching his foot he again dived
down and was fortunate enough 10 grasp her
by the hair. The surf continued to break
over them with great violence, but after a
struggle, 10 which their strength spent its
last efforts they reached the shore, utterly
worn out with fatigue, watching, hunger,
thirst, and the most intense and overwheln.
ing excitement. Besides this, the ladies' and
children were suffering severely fom the
cold. The party proceeded short distance
from the shore, where the ladies laid down
upon the side of a sand hill, and their pro-
tectors covered them and their children with
sand, TO prevent them from perishing. Mean
time some OF the party went in quest of
aid, and about 10 O'Clock, the whole ofthem
found kind and hospitable reception, shell
ter, food, and clothing, under the roof of Mr.
Single Redd, Of Onslow county,. sd.
Mrs Nightingale is the ughter OF John
A. King, Esq. Of New York, and grand
daughter Of the late distinguished Rufus
King. During the whole of the perils
through which they passed, she and Mrs.
Frazer displayed the highest qualities of for.
titude and heroism. They owe the preser-
walton Of their own and their children's lives,
under Providence to the GOODNESS, intrepid
ity and firmness of Mr. Copper and his as
sistants. and to the steadness which thew
seconded the wise and humane efforts of that
gentleman in their behalf s aii
On Monday they reached Wilmington,
where they found deep sympathy for their
misfortune pervading the whole city, and
generous emulation among its inhabitants
TO -ender them every possible assistance.
The forward part OF the boat, after her
separation, continued to float On il were
Maj. Heath and twenty-one others, We
have had long conversation with Major
Heath, in which he related with great min.
uteness every thing attending the preserva.
ton OF the persons who were on the wreck
with him. 1t is impossible to convey in
words any thing more than faint idea OF
the suffering they underwent, or OF the ma.
ny narrowing and distressing circumstances
which occurred during the four days they
were on the wreck.
But short time previous TO the explo-
sion it was remarked by one OF the passen-
gers TO Major Heath that the guage showed
thirty inches of steam. On the attention OF
the Engineer being called 10 this fact, he re-
piled that il would bear with safety forty
inches Major Heath had just retired TO the
after cabin, A number of passengers were
| lying on the settees. and when the boiler
burst, the steam rushed into the cabin, and
il is thought, instantly killed them, as they
turned over. fell on the floor, and never were
seen by the Major to move afterwards He
had, on hearing the noise of the explosion
got out Of his birth and ran 10 the steps, the
steam meeting him in the cabin. He go
under the steps. as did also Mr. Lovejoy o
Geo, and they were thus shielded from its
effects y "a4
| In few moments he went on deck, and
found all dark He called for the Captain
and, receiving no answer, made for the mas
as he felt that the boat was sinking. Be
fore he could secure himself the sea burs
over him, and carried him away, Fortu
nately, however, rope had caught round
his leg, and with this he pulled himsel
back The mast, as soon as he had beer
washed from il, fell, and crushed one of the
passengers Mr. Auze, French gentlemen o
] Augusta. The boat now broke in two, and
the deck, forward of the mast, was carried
awav from the rest of the vessel, seemingly
very swiftly. Nothing more was seen aftel
this, by Major Heath, Of the yawl or the al
ter part Of the boat, but in about halt an hour
he heard wild scream and then all wa'
Quiet This must have been when thu
promenade deck turned over with at least
hundred human beings upon it GUS epl1 'sa9
When daylight broke, he found that ther'
were twenty-five on the wreck with him
among them Captain Pearson, who hat
been blown out intothe sea- but who hat
caught plank, and succeeded in reaching
them during the night. ~ tth"
The danger Of their situation was at ones
fully realized The heavy mast lay across
the deck on which they rested, and kept ]
about twelve inches under water, and TN