Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-03-12
From the Delaware Gazette.
COurtsIip ON a Fragment of the
PnlaSki

TO US by those who have seen aud 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 unfortu.
naIes who were picked up on the fifth day, ff-
iy miles from land. Ii is stated of this gentle
man that he had been sitting on the deck alone
for half an hour previous to the accident. An
other gentleman who was walking near him al
the time of the explosion was thrown overheard
and himself was precipira,ed nearly over the
side Of the boat and stunned. He recovered
Immediately as he supposed, when he heard
some one remark, get out of The boa,-she is
sinking" He was not acquainted with soil
tary individual on the boat. Under such cir
cumstances, it is very natural TO suppose that
he would feel quite as much concern for him
self as for any one else. He was consequent
ly among the foremost of those who sought the
small boat for safety. and was about 10 step in
TO 1t when he discovered young lady, whom
he recognised as one whose appearance had a,
sundry times during the passage arrested his
attention. Her protector was The gentleman
who was walking on the deck and blown over
board. He sprang towards her TO take her in
10 the email boat, but in the crowd and confusion
he los. sigh. of her, and he supposed she was
with some other friend During his frui.less
search, the small boa. showed off, The wreck
was fast sinking. The night rang with the
prayers and shrieks Of the helpless and drown
ing. He turned away in despair, and ,umblsd
over coil of small rope. Hope. like the ex.
piring spark, Enlightened again. He caugh, up
the rope, lashed together couple of se,tees,
threw upon them piece Of an old sail and a
small empty cask, and thus equipped, launched
upon the element II was all The work of a
moment. He believed death inevitable, and
,ha, effor, was the last grasp at life His ves-
sci 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 slrug-
Cling for life almos, within his grasp. He left
his ark, swan twice his length, seized his OBJ.
ject and returned safely to his craft 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 a passage in the small boat. She
fanced their boat would be unable TO supper
both, and said TO him, "you will have to let me
go TO save yourself" He replied, "we live OF
we die together" Soon after they drifted upor
piece Of the wreck, probably part Of the
same floor or partition torn asunder by the ex
plosion. This, with the aid Of the setees, fas
tened beneath it, proved sufficient TO keep ,heG
out Of the water. About this time one Of tn.
small boats came owardsshem, bu, already
heavily loaded. He mpIofed them 10 take il
the young lady bu, she said no. she could bu
die-he saved her life, and she could not leave
him. They were fairly at sea, without Ih'
least morsel to eat or drink, in scorching eli
mate the young lady in her night clothes, ant
himself with nothing upon him bu, a shirt ant
a thin pair Of pan,aloons, already much torn
lOf the boat which bore them all in quiet ant
safety bu, half hour before, nothing was to b
seen bu, scattering pieces Of the wreck. Th
small boa, was on her way TO the shore, lhei
own craft being light, and lightly loaded, drift
ed from scene ndescrbably heart-rending
and which he still shudders to think Of.
Al dayish, nothing was visible TO them bu
Tho heavens and waste of water. In th
course of the day they came in sight of land
and for time were confident Of reaching IT
bu, during the succeeding night the wln'
changed. and soon after dayligh, next morning
i. vanished again, and with it all their livel.
hopes Of escaping from the dreadful dilemma
On the third day sail hove in sight, but sE
was entirely beyond haiIing distance. Whe
found, they were sadly burned by the sun
starved and exhausted, though still in posse:
tsion of their faculties and able 10 move and tall
! Blu, their pain and suffering was not without il