The North-Carolina standard., 1845-10-01

connected with that awful disaster, are related tc
US by those who have seen and conversed with
persons saved from the wreck. Amongst others
the following is told of Mr.. Ridge, from New
Orleans, and Miss Onslow, from, one Of the
Southern States, two of the unfortunates who were
picked up on the fifth day about fly miles from
land. 1t is stated of the gentleman, that he had
been sitting on the deck alone for half an hour
previous to the accident. Another gentleman who
was walking near him at the time Of the explosion
was thrown overheard, and himself was precipi-
ated nearly over the side ofthe boat and stunned
he recovered Immediately, as he supposed, when
he heard some one remark, " Get out the boat
she is sinking" He was not acquainted with a
solitary individual on the boat. Under such cir
cumstances, it is natural to suppose that he would
feel quite as much concern for himself as for any
one else. He was consequently among the fore
most of those who sought the small boat for safety
and was about to step into it when he discovered
young lady, whom he recognized as one whose
appearance had sundry times during the passage
arrested his attention. ..ss.s
Her protector was the man who was blown
overheard. He sprang towards her, to take her
into the small boat, but in the crowd and confusion
he lost sight of her, and he supposed she was with
some other friend. During his fruitless search,
the small boat showed off The wreck was fast
sinking. The night rang with the prayers and
shrieks Of the helpless and drowning He turned
away in despair, and tumblsd over coil of small
rope. Hope like the expiring spark Frightened
again. He caught up the rope, 1ashed together a
couple Of settees, threw them upon piece of an
old sail and a small empty cask, and thus equip
ped, launched upon the element 1t was all the
work of moment. He believed death inevitable,
and that effort was the last grasp al life. His
vessel bore him up much better than he expected,
and he was consoling himself with his escape
such as it was, while others were perishing all
around him, when he discovered female strug-
Cling for life almost within his graspl He left
his ark-swam but twice his length-seized his
object and returned safely to bis craft again. which
proved sufficient to sustain them both, but with
their heads and shoulders only above the water.
The female was the young lady for whom he had
lost passage in the small boat She fancied their
float would be unable to support both, and said TO
him, /" You will have to let me go to save your
self" He replied, awe live or we die together"
Soon after they drified upon piece of wreck,
probably part Of the same floor or partition torn
asunder by the explosion. This with the aid of
the settees, fastened beneath it. proved sufficient TO
Keep them out of the water. Abou: this time one
of the small boats came towards them, but already
heavily loaded. He implored them to take in the
young lady. But she said, no she could but die
he had saved her life, and she could not leave him.
They were fairly at sea, without the least morsel
to eat or drink, in scorching Climate, the young
lady in her night clothes, and himself with no.
thing upon him but shirt and q thin pair OF pan
falcons, already much torn. Of the boat which
bore them all in quiet and safety but half an
hour before nothing was to be seen but scattering
pieces of the wreck The small boat was on her
way to the shore their own craft being light, and
Lightly loaded, drited fast from scene indescrib-
ably heart-rending, and which he still shudders
10 think Of
At daylight nothing was visible to them but
the heavens and waste of water. In the course
Of the day they came in sight of land, and for a
lime they were confident of reaching t-but dur
ing the succeeding night the wind changed, and
soon after daylight next morning it vanished again,
and with it all their lively hopes of escaping from
heir dreadful dilemma On the third day sail
hove in sight-but she was entiTely beyond hafI-
ing distance. When found, they were sadly burn
ID by the sun-starved and exhausted, though
'tll in possession of their faculties, and able to
move and talk. But their pain and suffering was
,ot without its pleasure and enjoyment. The ro-
nantc part of the story is yet to come, and there's
10 telling how much longer they would have
ubsisted on the same food that seems to have aid
ID at least in sustaining them so well such an in
credible length Of time.
The intrepidity he displayed-the risk he rum
he danger he incurred, and above all the magma
lirity he evinced in saving her life, strangers as
hey were to each other, at the imminent hazard
If his own, elected with her, at once, the warmest
md strongest feelings of gratitude towards him, |
md before the torture of hunger and thirst COM
nenced, kindled that passion which burns no.
where else, as It burns in woman's bosom. On |
he other hand, her good sense, her fortitude and
presence of mind at the most perilous moment and
her readiness to meet and share with
lin the fate which awaited them, excited on his |
,art an attachment which was neither to be dis |
ruised nor deferred. And there, upon the " wa |
ers Wild" amid the terror which surrounded and !
threatened them, in the presence only of allseeing
1od did they pledge their mutual love, and, de- |
lare if their lives were spared. their destiny, !
which misfortune had united, should then be made
s inseparable, as escape from it was now impos-
ible :
After their rescue, he informed her that sense
# duty impelled him to apprise her, that by the
which had befallen them, he had lost
very dollar he possessed on earth amounting to !
bout 25000,) that he was in "poverty to his
cry lips "a beggar amongst strangers, without
he means Of payment for meal of victuals, and
,ainful as was the thought of separation to him,
lie offered to release her from her engagement, ifi
was her choice to leave him. She burst into |
ears at the very thought of separation, and asked
i'm if he thought it was possible for the poverty
f this world to drive them to more dreadful ex-
renity than that which they had suffered thus to-
ether. He assured her of his willingness to en-
ure for her the same trial again--and of the Joy,
lore than he could express, which he felt at find
lg her SO willing to fulfil her engagement, which
is said is soon to be consummated. 1t was not
II then that he vvas made acn1ainted with the l.