Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-11-29
COURTSHIP ON A FRAGMENT or
s ,Efis. THE PULASKI. 2 81

Many Interesting as we'll as painful in
clden.s connected with that awful disaster,
are related to Us by those who have seen
and conversed with persons saved ftom
the. wreck. Amongst others. The follow
ing is told Of Mr.. Ridge. from New Or
leans. anc a Miss Onslow, from one of the
Southern States. two Of the unfortunates
who were picked up on the fifth dsv tifty
miles from land. Ills stated Of the gen.
'leMan. that he had been sitting on The
deck alone for half an hour previous TO
The accident. Anosher gentleman who
was walking near him a, the time Of the
explosion was thrown overheard. and him.
self precipila,ed nearly over the side Of
the boat and stunned. He recovered i'm.
media'e'y. as he supposed. when he heard
some one remark, get out the boat-she
IS SINKING He was not acquainted with
solitary individual on the boat. Under
such circumstances, il is natural to sup
pose that he would feel quite as much
concern for himself as for any one else.
tie was consequently among the foremos,
of those who sought the small boa. for
safety; and was about to step into it when
he discosered young lady. whom he
recognized as one whose appearance had
sundry times during the voyage arrested
his attention. Her protector was the
gentleman who was walking on deck and
thrown overheard. He sprang towards
her 10 take her into the small boat. but in
tie crowd and confusion he lost sigh. Of
her and he supposed she was with some
other friend. During his frui'less search
the small boat showed Of. The wreck
was fast sinking. / he nigh. rang with
prayers and shrieks If the helpless and
drowning. He turned away in despair.
aud tumbIed over coil Of small rope
Hope, like the expiring spark, frightened
again. de caugh, up the rope. lashed 10.
ge'her a couple Of setlees. threw them
upon piece Of an old sail and small
empty cask, and thus equipped launched
upon the element. I, was all the work of
a moment. lie believed death inevitable,
and that effort was the las. grasp a, life
HIS vessel bore him up much better than
he expected. and he was cnnsoling him
self with his escape. such as il was, while
others were perishing all around him.
when Ire discovered a female struggling
for life almost within his grasp. He left
his ark. swan but twice his length. seized
his object. and returned safely to HE Graf,
again. which proved sufficient 10 sustain
them both. but with their shoulders and
heads only above the water. The female
was the one for whom he had lost pass
age in the small boat. She fancied their
floa. would be unable to support both.
and said to him, you will have to lie, me
60 10 save YOURSELF He replied. we live
or we die together Soon after. they
drilled upon piece Of a wreck. probably
part Of the same floor or partition torn
asnnder by the explosion. This. with the
aid Of the set,ees. fastened beneath il,
proved sufficient to keep them GU. Of the
water. About this time one Of the small
boats came towards them, but already
heavily loaded. He implored them 10
take in the young lady; bu, she said no.
she could but die,-he had saved her life,
and she could moi. leave him. They. were
fairly at sea. without the least morsel 10
ca, or drink, in a scorching climate; the
young lady in her nigh. clothes. and him
self with nothing upon him but HE shir,
and pair of Thin pan,aloons, already
much torn. OF the boa. which bore them
all in quiet and safety bu. half hour he-
fore, nothing was TO be seen bu, sea,tering
pieces Of the wreck. The small ea. was
on her way 10 The shore. their own craft
being light. drified fast from scene inde.
scribsbly heart-rending, and which he
still shudders 10 think Of
At daylight, nothing was visible 10 them
! but the heavens and a waste Of water. il
the course Of the day they came in sigh
Of land. and for time were confident q
reaching it-bu. during the succeeding
nigh. the wind changed, aud soon after
daylight. next morning i. vanished again
and with j, all their lively hopes Of escap.
ing from the dreadful dilemma. On thu
third day sail hove in sight. but she wa'
entirely beyond haiIing distance. Wher
found. they were sadly burned by the sur
starved and exhausted. though still il
possession Of their faculties. and able 4
move and talk. Blu. their pain and sui
fer,ng was not without its pleasures ant
enjoyment. The romantic part OF 'h'
story Of their expedition is vet to come
and there's no telling how much honge
they would have subsis,ed on the SAM
food that seems to have aided at least il
sustaining them so we'll such an incredible
length Of time. s.,
i The inlepidity he displayed-'he risl
he ran-lhe danger he incurred. and allow
all the magsanimi,y he esinced in sayinl
her life, strangers as they were 10 eacl
other, a. the imminent hazard OF his own
eiici,ed with her, al once. the warmes