The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-07-21

were willing to do any thing for the safet!
Of the ship.
The long boat was cleared away, and
provisions. water, compass, quadrant
and several other articles were pu, or
board other. One or two of the passen
gers secreted themselves in her while she
was yet on board, and were hoisled out il
her. When she was in the water, the
passengers made arush. and believe tha
several of them perished in their haste to
get on board. In the meantime the stern
boat was also lowered down; but did moi
see what trainspired; will not state any
thing upon hearsaY. The boats both
dropped astern, where they remained fast
by their painters to the ship until she was
on the eve of sinking, when they were GU,
adrift. The ship went down in about
three hours, l think, after she struck
There were forty-two in number in the
long boat.
At daylight, Capt. Harris told the mate
the latitude and longitude, and advised
him to steer N. w. The captain then
took the names the passengers and crew,
after which The mate told him that the
long boat was very leaky and could not
live. Sume communication, which did
not distinctly hear, then passed between
the captain and the mate, to which The
captain replied, IL will not hear such talk"
The mate then distinctly said 1--WE
must cast lots-we cannot all live-some
of us must die, the boat is 81 leaky."-
The captain again demonstrated with the
mate, urging him to do the best in his
power pefore he resorted 10 such measures.
Before leaving us, the captain addressed
the boats crew encouragingly. desiring
us to keep our hearts up, not to quarrel or
fight among ourselves, but TO be advised
by the mate, and TO do what he should
desire us. He then bid us good bye, and
in fifteen minutes or SO he was out OF
sight.
During the whole of the day the weather
was extremely cold, and the sea very
rough. We rugged drag with our oars,
in order 10 keep tile boats head TO the sea,
and to break the force Of the waves. To-
wards night fall the mate consulted IN a
low voice, with several ofthe crew, about
tightening the boat / was aft at the tlme'
with my back against the stern. AT last he
said to me and another man, who was near
me,"Well, suppose. you have no ohjrc-
tions TO lending us hand TO tighten the
boat" inquired how he Intended to do
su7 and while was speaking, heard a
splash alongside, and the whole boat was
in an uproar,-,he work of death had
The other man and myself
both demonstrated againstsuch cold blood
ell proceedings, and said-"if we are to die
let us die fair-let lis cast lots "Vrry
we'll" said the mate, "hey will throw
Won overboard next" I then drew my
5 ealh.knife. and swore, that whoever
should lay hand on me. should share my
fate. The mate then called tall negro,
one of the crew, ait, to loss me overboard'
bu, when he saw my knife he went for.
ward, and lent the others hand. MY
companinn stuck close to me during the
whole Of the heart-rending scene, deter.
mined to defend himself to the last.
One old man. native Of Ireland, when
abou, to be seized, fell upon his knees and
enlreated them TO spare his life, and he
would give them all he had. He then drew
from his purse a number of sovereigns,
and offered them to the crew, but they
were thrown aside and himself passed over
board. A lad, about lS years of age. re-
quesled time 10 say his prayers, which
was granted, and when he concluded ne
said,'' | am now prepared-1 do not wish
YOU TO throw me over b.'ard-I will 60 my.
SELF" and he stepped off the gunwale OF
the boat into the sea. Of all who were
thrown overheard, not one, to my knowl-
edge, succeeded in getting on board again.
There were no hands cut off, nor any
blood split; neither did any one, except
ing The young man already mentioheo'
Jump overheard voluntarily
The unfortunate passengers offered no
resistance; prayers and rntrealies were
all they used. "Oh, spare me" several of
them cried, even while they were half
overheard. will moi attempt descriP'
tiong Of this awful scene-it would melt
heart of stone. believe there were Six
teen thrown overheard.
The boat was hailed out after she had
been 1ghtened; she then rode very well,
and made bu, little water. The following
morning discovered sail, and commu-
nicatcd the fact TO the mate, VII" said.
BY God, Jack, you re lucky fellow;y"n
have saved your life" The ship that