Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-07-28
SUFFERING AT SEA.

count by Capt. Blanchard, Of the brig Tur
ner, of the painful sufierings of himself and
crew, during. forty-six days on the wreck Of
the vessel
i The L. sailed from Portland on the 3Jth
Of last January, bound for Madeira. They
experienced heavy weather for IL DAYS az
ter saiing--when in lat "a 35-Ion. 80 a
tremendous sea knocked her down--in Is
minutes, by cutting away, she righted.-
Having recovered from the first shock, they
tried to make themselves as comfortable as
they could. The brig rolled so badly that
II was impossible to enter the cabin-and
they found themselves without drop of
| fresh water. The provisions were barrel
Of bread, which, however, was nearly all wet
with salt water, four or five pieces Of salt
pork, and, subsequently about two-thirds of
barrel of beef
On the third day the gale abated. Their
only hope was that some vessel would come
to their relief. for TO all human appearances
they could not survive a week in their pres
ent condition, destitute Of water as they
were, scaniily supplied with provisions, and
continually exposed to the ycissitudes of
the weather and the sea spray. Aud now
they began to suffer the intolerable pangs of
thirst. The allowance per day of food was
biscuit and three ounces of pork, as much
indeed as the sufferers could dispose of.
without water Eight days thus passed,
long, interminable days, but it was nothing
TO what was to follow. During this time
some raw potatoes were found which il was
a great relief to chew. One potatoe was d.
vided among eight persons. They found
some relief in chewing lead. Some Of the
crew were indiscreet enough TO drink salt
water, which caused slight arrangement and
dizziness. a
On The oath of February they had fine
rain and caught eight gallons of water, A
well in the desert could not have been more
grateful TO the parched throais Of the suffer-
ers They fell on their knees the day be-
fore and prayed 10 him only who could save
and the grateful shower they tonk as an
omen Of Gods care of them, and took cour-
age. On the 25th they had another show
er, that gave them water enough for IL days,
at pint day, which was as little as they
could do with considering their food.
On the same day they caught "a shark,
from which they got more than a gallon OF
blood poured this into two boots and al
lowanced il out. When the shark was cut
open some Of the men thrust their heads in
to the bowels, aud sucked up the blood and
water that flowed out They tried TO eat
the shark afterwards, but having become
saturated with salt water, il made them so
thirsty, they could rot. At this period they
succeeded in catching several fish.
Some of the men talked seriously Of cut
ting open their veins and sucking their own
blood. Heavy dews fell some portion of
time during the night. On such occasions
no sooner did the day begin to dawn than
every man was seen tapping the moisture
with his tongue from the rails. They also
found considerable relief in bathing and
keeping their nannels wet with salt water
Still death stared them in the face: they had
awful premonitIon of approaching dissolu-
ton in aching eye-bals and failing sight.
Again Providence visibly interposed his
arm. On the 18th Of March barrel was
discovered under water in the cabin. One
ffhe men, Joseph Malore, ofNew Orleans,
who was an excellent swimmer, went down
and succeeded IN bringing il to the surface,
and it was finally got on deck To their in
expressible joy they found it filled with mo-
lasses. Every man took hearty draught,
and found great relief
On the evening of that day they drank
their last drop of water, and they were yet
many hundred miles from land. Death
seemed nearer than ever But God still
watched over them with paternal care The
next day they had rain squat and turbu-
lent sea, which made them very uncomior-
table; but they caught 80 gallons Of water,
and revived again. And here, says The cap
tain, IL is impossible to describe the effects
Of protracted thirst on individuals During
the rain, some of the men were so complete
~ blind to,heir future comfort, as 10 spend
their whole time in quenching present thirst;
they had said ifthey could get one dranght
OF water, they would willingly die; and that
one draught they seemed determined TO have.
They would drink ill they vomited, then
lurn TO again and sup up the water until
hey were unable to do any thing but lie
Town and beg for more drink Those who
ienied themselves and drank but little at a
line. held out longest. One after another
gave out till but two we're left to catch wa
er. The effects ofdrinking so much ope-
aied like physic, and increased the inward
hrst and fever. rrri 4.
On the 2lst of March they caught fifteen
gallons more, and Malore dove again aud /
nabled them to get up four barrels of beef {
lie was the only man that could dive, and
o his intrepidity and Gods goodness they
'tse their lives. 4
h'he condition Of the wretched men as TO I
God and water was improved but new J,
Hague arose, grievous TO be borne. In con {
eqnence of sleeping on the hard boards, II
heir flesh became tender, and much chafed, /
md owing to living on salt provisions, and =
lelng constantly wet with sea water they {