The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-08-08
From the correspondence Of the Deia'oare
Gazette, dated WAsmNGros, June %.
THE PULASKI.

are related 10 US Dy tnO5e VINO nave seen
aud conversed with persons saved from that
wreck. Amongst others the following is
told of Mr.. Ridge, from New Orleans, and
n Miss Onslow from one Of the Southern
States. two of the unfortunates who were
picked up on TIE fifth day about fifty 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 gentleman who was walking near
him at the time ofthe explosion was thrown
overheard, and himself was precipitatcd
nearly over the side Of the boat and stunn-
ed. He recovered Immediately, as he sup
posed, when he heard some one remark,
|" get out the b0dts-she is sinking" He
was not acquainted with solitary indIvid-
ual on the boat. Under such circumstana
ces, it is as natural to suppose he would
feel quite as much concern for himself as
for any one else. He was consequently n
mong the foremost of those who sought the
small boat for safety, and was about to step
into il, when he discovered young lady,
whom he recognized as one whose appear
ance had sundry times during the passage
arrested his attention. Her protector was
the gentleman who was walking on deck
aud blown overheard. lie sprnng 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 senrch
the small boat showed off The wreck was
fast sinking. Night rang with the prayers
and shricks of the helpless and drowning.
He turned away IN despair, and tumbed
over IA coil of small rope. Hope like the
expiring spark frightened again. He
caught up the rope-lashed together a cou-
pie of sellecs--lhrew upon them piece of
an old sail and small empty cask, aud
thus equipped launched upon the element.
| 1t was all the work Of moment. lie be-
! Iieyed death inevitable, aud that effort was
the last grasp at life. His Uessei bore him
up much better than he expected, and he
was consoling 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.
lie left his ark-swam but twice his length
seized his object aud 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 tho young lady for whom he had lost
passage in the small boat. She fancicd
their float would be unable to support him,
and said to him, "you will have TO let me
90 to save yourself" lie replied, "we
live or We die together" Soon after, they
drfied upon piece oc the wreck, probably
part of some floor or partition, torn asun-
der by the explosion. This with the aid of
the settees, fastened beneath it, proved suf-
fcient to keep them out of water About
this tiRc one of the small boats came to-
wards them, but already heavily loaded.
lie implored them to take in the young
lady. But she said, no, she could but die
he had saved her life, and she could not i
leave him. They were fairly at sea, with {
out the least morsel to eat or drink, in n
scorching climate-thc young lady in her
night clothes, and himself with nothing up :
on him but his shirt and thin pair of pan
falcons, already much torn. OF the boat
which bore them all in quiet and safety but I
n half hour before, nothing was To be seen
but scattering pieces of the wreck. The
small boats were on their way towards the
own craft being light, and
lightly loaded, drlfted fast away from a
scene indcscrlbably heart-rending, aud
which he still shudders to think of.
AT day light nothing was visible TO them
but the heavens and waste of waters. In
the course fthe day they came in sight OF
land, and for time were confident of
reaching n.--but during the succeeding
night The wind changed, and soon after day
light next morning, il vanished again, and
with it all their lively hopes of escaping
from their dreadful dilemma. On the third
day sail hove in sight-but she was en-
tirely beyond hailing distance. When
found, they were sadly burned by the sun
starved aud exhausted, tho still in posses
sion of their faculties, and able to move and
talk. But their pain and suffering was not
without its pleasure and enjoyment. The
romantic pnrt of the story of their expedlt-
iou is yet TO come, aud there's no telling
how much longer they could have snbslst-
ed on the same food that seems to have
aided ut least in sustaining them so well
such an incredible length of time.
The inlrepidiiy he dlsplayed-the risk he
run--,he danger he incurred and above all
the magnanim,ty he evinced IN saving her
life, strangers as they were to each other,
at the emneot hazard of his own, ecitel
with her, at once, the warmest and strong
est feelings of gratitude towards him, and
before the tortures of hunger and thirst
commenced, kindled that passion which
burns no where else, as it burns IN woman's
bosom. On the other hand, her good sense,
her forlitude and presence of mind at the
most perilous moment, aud particularly her
readiness To meet aud 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 wlG," amid the terrors which
surrounded, aud the fate which threatened
them, in presence only of un All-seeing
One, did they pledge their mutual love,
md LnrIarn if fhcir Lyes Mrre SHARED. thclrL