Litchfield enquirer., 1840-02-06

other. The boat then lay brOadside to the
wind, her head probably to land, but cannot
say. We lay under her lee. As soon as we
touched the water, we let 90, and coiied the
rope on to the bale. The bale was one-thlro
out of the water. We did not lash ourselves
to the bale. The wind was fresh. and the
steamboat drilled considerably. we founo
much difficulty in getting along. NY coIn'
panion seemed unwilling to leave. ne WISH
ed to hold on to the guard, but was deer.
mined to get away before we got Durneo !. 70
death, and showed the bale along roun9 tne
stern. The moment we were clear OF tne
boof she drifted away from US at about ! IL
knots per hour. This was just O'Clock, r.
Ar Took nv watch out and looked at the
time. As we left the boat took out piece
of board which afterwards used as Paddlse;
Bv Juror. When we left the boat dld
not see much, being obliged to keep the enc
Of the cotton to the sea. When we came
wound the stern, the ladies cabin was all on
! FIRE. I saw a lady and another person on
| hoard. What made me take such q notce
of the lady was, that there was child noat,
inc on the water astern, and as we passed
round the stern, we passed close to this cnlld
as it law floating on its back. The Iady see
inc us pass her child, cried out to us 10 save
f. Think this was female child. IL mao
on a bonnet and cloak. we did NOT attenPt
TO take it from the water, for 1t was periec''y
dead. s.,o
f.ono tic anparel. We passed so close that
could have put my hand upon it, but the sea
was rough, and had as much as could at
tend to, to keep my bale from upsetting. Inc
sea washed over US. We were about up 10
the waist. aoo
Nv Mr.. Wheeler. The boat went down
NJ a A M. not 10 minutes either way. we
nero about q mile from her when she went
down. II was thick weather when we nrst
leff the boat, but cleared up about O'CLOCK:
We had fine night. The moon shone, and
went down about half-past o'clock.
looked at my watch almost every half nour.
It was cold night and required exercise to
keep warm. Without exercise person
would soon have chilled through. About A.
A. M. the bale capsized with US: "A heavy
sea took the end and turned US right over.-
We contrived to get on the bale again, the
former bottom side being then uppermost.-
We lost the piece of board at this time and
the bale became unmanageable. My COM
panion complained good deal OF the cold
from the beginning. He kept fretting him.
self about his wife and family and friends
when he should only have thought OF saving
himself. His name was Cox. His wife llv-
ed, he said, at II Cherry street in this city.
He seemed to thirk from the first that we
should never get through and save our lives.
Soon after we left the steamboat gave him
NV vest, as he complained very much OF
cold. He had on only his flannel shirt, cap,
pants and boots. After we capsized he SEEM
ed to give up all hope. He remained on the
bale afterwards about 9 or 2 IL hours. The
last half hour before he left the bale he be-
came Supplied. He had lost all use OF his
hands, and could not hold on to any thing
did all could for him. beat and pound
ed and rubbed him to endeavor to keep his
blood in circulation. The sea was still very
rough, and had often to take hold OF the
rope we reeved round the bale TO keep on
The bale being broadside to the sea, now
gave lurch and my companion slipped off.
He sank Immediately without struggle
This was about half past 6 O'Clock. A. M
After the loss of my companion got more
on to the middle of the bale to make it ride
well, and drew my feet out of the water. l
continued on the bale till taken off four hours
after, about 10 o'clock. About an hour be-
fore / was picked up. a sloop hove IN slght,
and to make them observe me l waved my
hat. was pretty much chilled through. 1t
was the sloop Merchant. Capt. Meeker, who
deserves every praise for his conduct. He
attempted to get out the night before, but
could not for the ice. They took out part OF
her cargo and got out kedge anchor to en-
deavor to get her over the bar, but it was to
no purpose till the tide rose. did not see
the sloop till she had got pretty well down
to me. I do not know the time the sloop got
out. She had to beat down, the wind being
against her. The wind was think SSW..
nearly off shore when saw the sloop. She
had been into Southport and spoken the light
boat stationed there, to find out where the
fire was. The sloop took me on board and
the crew paid every attention to me. They
did all they could. The Captain took me
down into the cabin and the sloop went on
her cruizc. Some time after taking me on
board she picked up two persons alive, and
two dead bodies. One was Capt. Manches-
ter, the pilot the Lexington, who believe
was on part of the wheelhouse. The other
was Mr.. Charles Smith, who was on q bale OF
cotton.
My impression was, that Capt. Manches-
ter was on the bale of cotton, hut from what
Capt. Comstock said yesterday, it could NOT
be tia case. Captain Manchester was PICK
ed up first. was below at the time wnen
Captain Manchester and MIR. smith were
picked up. Bot: were picked up within haiI
an hour of each other. Capt Manchester
was almost gone. MIR. Smith seemed some
what better. Smith was fireman. He be-
longed to Norwich, CT believe that ne
and myself were the only two Norwich folks
aboard the Lexington. After cruising aoout
2 hours the sloop returned to the haroor,
having picked up two dead bodies. One OF
these was found on a piece of tho wheel
house, and one on a piece of the wreck. 1
did not return with the sloop to Southport
The steamboat Nimrod overlook us about
half way. She came alongside, and went
on board of her. She was bound for Bridge.
port. I was set ashore there. and went to
Captain Davis, who is an old acquaintance
Of mine. stayed there that night. Went
on board the Steamboat Nimrod the next
morning, at 8 o'clock, and came to N. York.