Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-15

bed for the night-not, however, without many
anxious forebodings on the part Of their parents.
But when the dreadful certainty was forced upon
us that the ship was on fire, our first object was TO
get The women and children on deck.
Captain Anthony coolly, calmly, and quietly
gave his orders, and they were obeyed in the same
spirit by his men. lie remarked that il was Use
less to bring up any thing but such light articles
as we could easiest find, the boats would not be
able to carry any baggage. One caught carpet
bag, another cloak /; some opened their trunks
ana TOOK out their money, leaving every thing else
behind and some cnugh, blankets from the herihs.
The steward got up n burre of bread, and others
assisted nm IN putting whatever of eatahlcs there
was in his pantry into bags, &c. A barrel and
two or three lugl of water put into the long
boat, with such conts cloaks, &c could he got
IN few minutes, ahd then she was launched over.
board.
The women and children were first handed
over the side Of the ship, and then the cabin pns-
sengers, all except three few of the steerage
passengers, the second mate, Mr.. Keller, and
four sailors The other bouts were also got out,
and two men placed in each. Allths was done
with order and regularity, without any pushing
crowding, and in Incit obedience to the captains
orders, in very short time. II was 10 o'clock
before the long boat WINS pushed off, and line at
tached TO her and the ship having on board thr-
ty-fve persons.
The ship, at the time when we first supposed
u
y course in the hope of falling in with or cutting
off ship we had pussCd in the morning and sig
nal lanterns were hoisred in the rigging, but when
we commenced getting out the boats she was hove
TO, aud she rode very easy all night, the sea not
being very boiserous, and there being very little
wind Ii ralned nj intervals all night, and u-
though it was day light aud clear about four o'clock
in the morning (Sunday,) the time seemed almost
an eternity.
We walked the deck all that night, and said hut
little. Captain Anthony was watchful, and going
silently about IN every part of the deck, stopping
up crack here, and adjusting rope there. or Civ
ing some order for the safety Of those who at that
moment he must hive felt dependent almost en-
tlrely upon his discretion for their lives. Morn
ing broke, and the sun rose, but no sail was in
sight. There we lay on the broad ocean, fine
ship smoking al every crack with three frail boats
attached TO her hy single rope, and no hope of
rescue except through the goodness Of the AL
mighty.
We remained in this state of suspense all day
Sunday, making ourselves as comfortable as pos
sible. Every crack where could fad the
smoke coming out, was stuffed with cotton, or
lastered over with pipe clay. of which the cap
tain found small lot OH board. The ice house
on deck contained fresh meat, such as beef, chick
ems, ducks, &c, and the cooks were employed all
the day in cooking. We sent some warm coffee
and fresh milk, and some boiled fowls, TO our
friends in the long boat and made every exertion
to tighten their misiortunes. Bur still no ship
came in sight, aud evening at last found us in the
same perlous situation that we were in the night
before.
During all this day the deck was quite warm,
on the right hand side forward of the mainnast,
indicating us we supposed, that the fire was un-
der that part of the vessel the thick glass dead
lights set into the deck at intervals of about two
feet from stern to stem, were also quite hot. But
toward night the deck aud glasses began to cool
| a los Ike fbp fnr.
wurd matches, too, were not quite 30 hot MS they
were in the morning, and we began to have more
hope.
About ten O'Clock on Sunday night, most Of the
unfortunate people on board the ship sunk TO
sleep OIL the deck from mere exhaustion, leaving
only three people awake TO watch for help, or TO
warn us of wha: we most dreaded, n bursting out
OF the flames. No language can tell of the suf
ferngs of that light, which was more dreadful
than the last. We we're like n people confined
on the top of u burning mine, with no power to
escape - death almost certain 10 be our portion
within few short hours and our minds tortured
with suspense.
Duing the night, Capt Anthony lay down and
caught short sleep The weather was tolera
bly, fair, but silence reigneh throughout, except
so far MS it was broken by the occasional rnmbling
and dashng of the sen. Just before two o. clock,
leaving only one man walking the deck, on Mon
day morning, lay down by the side of Capt A.,
and in doing so, disturbed him. tie walked, and
turning over, took my hand and remarked, 81
feel that we shall he saved-I have had n pleas
ant dream" This circumstance, slight us it was,
had its effect, and did inpart some little consola.
ton 10 both Of us. So true il is that drowning
men will catch ut siraws
About this time the weather was changing, and
the sea had rsen and the people in the long bont
had become alarmed. MIR. Wainwright hailed
the ship, to know If il would NOT he hest to take
The boat in. Capt. Anthony answered that they
had better wait patiently until daylight, and Then
walked forward 10 examine the stat of the burn
ing ship. We now found that the fire had evil
IDENTITY increased the deck and matches were still
quite warm, and the pitch beginning 10 boil
or melt in the seams between the planks. shor,
conference convinced US that but little time could
elapse before the fire would hurst through the
deck, mud then there would he no farther hope.
What we said and what we felt between that time
and daylight is not TO be told here. The two
small boats could not hold more than fifteen per
SONS, and there were nearly thirty on board the
ship; under the hest of circumstances some of
us must he lost, and il is needless TO say Capt. An
thony determined that he should stick tn his ves-
sci and run the risk rather than crowd the boats
with too many people, or exclude any one else.
Al daylight, Mr.. Wainwright came on board in
one Of the small boats, and we explained our stu
alton TO him. There was lint u chance for any OF
us. lfhe aud his party remained in the boat, they
might be saved, hut If they were taken on board
the ship, and the fire should break out, il womb
he then impossible 10 put the people into The baots
again, and launch them over the side, and death
by fire or drowning would he the certain fate of
all. The was too strong, and the horrid CON
viciion was too apparent 10 he disputed, and, ms
was Ills duty, he prepared to return to his family
and meet his fate. In parting, we commended
our family to each other, in either should he
saved and with n silent shake of the hand, he re-
turned TO the boat, 10 make such preparations
prudence suggested, to protect his almost hopeless
companions in case we should find it necessary to
cnt his boat adsiit.
! From this time the sea became more boisterous,
and at last, after some hours OF anxious watching
we sent far AZ, kVainvrI,t IN ronle on board u