Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-01-30

hre was bursting up through the deck, then
went ait and down on 10 the main deck
They were then ut work with the hose, but
whether by the aid Of the engine or no, |
cannot say. ] did not know at the time that
there wasa force pump on hoard.
The smoke was 80 dense that I could not
see distinctly what they were about. think
that the communication with the fore part of
the boat was by that time cut off. Up to this
t'me' from the first hearing Of the alarm, por-
hops twenty minutes had elapsed. The ell
glne had now been stopped about 5 minutes.
then recommended TO the few deck hands
and passengers who remained to throw the
cotton overheard. This was done, myself
lending aid. told the passengers they must
do something for themselves, and the best
thing they could do was TO take to the cotton.
There was perhaps ten or a dozen bales
thrown overheard, which was pretty much all
there was on the larboard side which had moi
taken lire. then cut off piece OF line,
perhaps four or five inihoms, and with il
spanned bale of cotton, which believe was
The last one not on fire. II was a very snug
square bale. 1t was about -four feet long by
three feet wide, and foot and half thick.
Aided by one OF the frcmcn, put the bale
upon the rail, round which we took a turn
slipped the bale down below the guard, hen
we both got on it, We got OH the bale be-
lore we lowered it.
The boat then lay broadslde to the wind
ana we were under the Ice of the boat on the
larboard side. We placed ourselves one on
each end of the bale, facing each other.-
Wilh our weight oh the bale it remained
about one third out of the water The wind
was pretty fresh, and we drfied at the rate
ot about knot and "A half We did not lash
sp "a. tI,. hal. ht tI,,.1
and laid it on the top Of the bale. Ny com
panion did not like the idea of leaving the
boat Immediately, but wished to hold on to
the guards. determined to get out Of the
way. believing that tn remain much longer it
would become pretty hot quarters. We ac.
cordlngly showed the bale along round the
stern. The moment We had reached the
stern, wa left the boat and drilted away about
knot and half This was Just 8 0'c lock
by my watch, which took out and looked at
As we left the wreck picked upa piece
of board, which used as paddle or ruddcr
with which to keep tho bale "end to the sea-"
AT The time we left the boat there were
but few persons remaining on board. ! saw
one Indy. The ladies' cabh was then all on
fire. The reason why | noticed tho lady
was, that her child had got overheard and
was then about two rods from her. We pas
q, sed by the child so near that could put my
hand on it as it lay on its back. The lady
saw Us approaching the child, aud cried out
for us To save it. We then drihed away
from the boat and in 10 minutes more we
could SEQ no persons on board except those
on the forecastlc. ] should think the child
was female from lis dress. | think it had
on a bonnet. The child was dead when We
passed il. don't recollect how the lady
.hat ho A | Al nI
any other child with the lady; ! could not
notice particulars, as it was very rough; u
had as much a. | could do to manage my
bale of cottou; VIC were sitting astrlde Of the
bale with our feet in the water: was wet
up To my middle from the water which at
times washed over the bale we were in
sight Of the boat all the time TILL she went
down, when we were about n mile distant i
when we left The wreck it was cloudy, but
about 9 o'clock it cleared off, and we had
fine night Of ii until The moon went down.
! looked at NV watch as often as every
half hpnr, through the night; the boat weIt
down al , O'Clock 1t was so cold as to make
it necessary for me to exert myself to keep
warm. which did by whipping my hands
and arms ar1!nd NV body about O'Clock
the bale carszed with us "A heavy sea came
and carried the bale over eudwlSe; my com
panlon was at this time with me; we man
eyed to get on tp the bale on lis opposite
side we at this time lost our piece 0 board.
and atterwari The bale was ungovcrnable and
went AS 1t liked; my companion had com
planned good deal of the cold from our first
setting out he diint seem To have that
spirit about him that he orght to have had !;
he WAS continually froiiug himself about
things which he had no business to. He
~ hat "a,
lived in this cny, at II Cherry street. lie
appeared TO have given up all hopo of or
being saved. On our first starting from the
boat gaze him my vest, as h" had on his
chcs, only flannel shirt. He had on panta-
looms. boots aud cap. He said he was fre-
man on board the boat.
Cox remained on the balc after it upset
about 2 or "a hours until it was abont day
light For the lust half hour that he re-
mainrd he had bcpn speec!llrss, and seemed
to have lost all use Of his hands, as he did
not try 10 hold on. ! rubbed him and beat
his flesh. and u.cd otherwise every eif'lrt
could 10 keep his blood in circulation. Ii
wus slll very rough. and was obliged to
exert myself to hold on. The bale coming
broad side to the sea, it gave lurch, and Cox
slipped off and saw him ~ more. lie Went
down without a struggle. ! then got more
into the middle oi the bale, TO make IL roe as
it should and in that way continued for about
M hour. got my feet on the bale and SO
remained until the sIoop picked me up. The
sea had by this tlnc become quite smooth
On seeing the sloop waved my hat, to at
tract the attention of those on board. was
not frozen in any part.
The name oi the sloop was the ".Herchant,'
Captain Mecksr, of Southport think Capt.
nj. and those on board the sloop are entitled
toa great deal of credit, as they did more IN
this OCCASION ;iian any one else. ], appears
TINT they tried during the night to get out TO
the aid of those ua board the Lexington. but
in coming ont the sloop grounded ON the bar,
md they were compelled before they could
get her off to Tighten her Of part Of her cargo.
1t was II O'clock when | was picked up
The sloop bad previous to reaching me spo
ken the light boat to make inquirlc' relating
to tho direction Of the fire. On going Oh
board Of the s!oop had every possible at
tcntion paid mc-they took me into the cabin
and then cruzed in search of others. They
picked up two other living men and the
bodies OF two others. The living men were
Captain Manchester, pilot of the Lexington
mud no other Charles Smi H. n hand on boa rd