American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-09-19

ing TOu0u ar uctlOn lnuL
ensued, and yuls Of the dy-
ing, heard ., VI the boat, as it was fall
ing, give one toll 1t was the most solemn
sound that ever upon my ear. thought it
the death knell many, perhaps to all. least
my eyes 10 the northward and discovered dark
and dreadful looking clouds tumbling up rapid
y above the horizon, threatening to sweep the
ocean with the bosom of destructon--I was OH
the brace for moment, only, when | felt it
giving way. In looking round calmly and
collected, as every moment appeared my last,
nearly every act of my life rushed through my
mind; felt perfectly reconced to my condi-
ton and was cheerlully looking upon every
breath as my last! ] said to myself, loud
enough to be heard if any one had been pre-
sent, "Fearless let him be, whose trust is in his
God" Discovering the pilot house floating
about, thought my best chance was to try and
reach it, watched favorable moment as the
floating mass came up with the surge of the
boat, | lowered myself down and made spring
10 reach piece Of the wreck, the moment
struck it, it turned, and | suppose must have
gone down at least six feet. 1t is surp ising
how rapidly one can think at moment when
he feels himself done with time. AS | was
rising to the surface thought to myselfdrown-
ing is pretty easy death, but to be TANNED,
mangl led and crushed here amidst this mass Of
iron and timber is horrible. When reached
the surface with great difficulty reached the
pilot-house, which, discovered, | made ra-
pid sem-circle TO and fro, and Judged the til
Ter rope was still fast; in reaching over and ex-
aiming, discovered it to be the case. Hav-
ing small penknife in my pocket, got it out
with great difficulty and succeeding IN cutting
the rope. then foated clear of the mass and
swung down and caught hold of the wheel,
when the whole upper part Of the house tum-
bled off picked up piece of plank and
showed myself out from the wreck as far as
possible. As we had very heavy sea running,
dashed myself TO the wheel to prevent being
washed off. A piece of the promenade deck
floating by me, hauled it towards me with a
strip of moulding which was floating by me in
my reach, and lashed it TO my raft so as to
make it more buoyant, for found the wheel
was so heavy as to water log my raft. At this
time, black dog that was floating on a piece
of the wreck discovered me, left his raft and
swan for me. gave him hearty reception
and assisted him Oh board. He appeared very
grateful and affectionate and would stay no
place bat in my lap, tried to make him lay
down, but he implored me with such beseech-
ing looks, that thought would let him alone,
and although he was but a dog, those lines in
Pope's prayer came forcibly to my mind, and
repeated them loudly,
eThat mercy to others show,
That mercy show to mes
The wheel, afterwards found, was too heavy
TO keep afoat, and cut my lashing adrift and
got or the piece Ct deck; the moment did So,
the wheel capsized and sunk. After floating
for few hours, found piece of the deck of
the boat floating near me. | managed by u.s.
ing piece ofplank for an oar, to sheer near
enough, as thought, to make it; | made the
effort, and as ] stepped near the edge of my
raft to make spring, the plank under me sunk,
and ] went overheard. | had my lanyard in
my hand, and asSI came up, struck out for
my new raft, and threw the lanyard over one
of the spikes and crawled up, decorating my
leg with one Of the numerous spikes with which
it was lined. 1t may seem strange, but | found
the singing sensation produced by the salt wa
ter in my fresh wound, gave me rather plea
surable excitement. In examining my raft,
which at once named New Providence,
found myselfquite happy, for felt az if had
something under foot that would ride out the
gale. A squat of wind and rain soon SET in,
which was followed by heavy sea, which We
| ry frequently made a clean break over me-
| Sometime after it subsidized in measure,' dis
covered a large raft, containing ten or twelve
persons | took a wide plank that had on my
raft, and by bracing one end Of it, with my feet
against the beam, and bracing the other part
with nv head and hands, | found it answered
very we'll as sail, as it was blowing very fresh.
could tack about by arranging my plank; ac-
cordingly, Istood up towards the large raft
conlanl captain Phillips and numerous 9th
ers; their raft was composed of the greater part
Of the pl menade deck, abaft the wheels.
inquired low they were getting along, and was
answert very badly, captain. i saw Judge
Toler king very wishfully towards my raft,
and ed him if he would not come en- board.
Heano Mr. Stakes answered in the affirma-
( tive, an after some time, got them on board.
| NV do passenger left me at this time and
swan board of the other raft; black pig
tried T. ,oard me fIom Capt. Phillips raft, but
finding a difficult matter to get OIL board, he
| put ba :. now showed off | found two addi-
tional lssengers made my raft pretty well wa
| ter log ed, and the sea frequently made a clear
breach ver US, but we dashed our ropes and
held O firmly. The constant breaking OF the
sea ov US through the day had one good eff
feet, il. 5nabed the pores OF our skin to absorb
water, which prevented the least feeling OF
thirst, nd when found my head and shout
ders g.lting dry, i would dip up as much wa
ter v h my hands as could, and wet them
well, nd advised the others to do the same to
prove thirst. frequently through the day,
carefu " surveyed the horizon by sweeping nay
eyes gently along, in hope to discover SAD.
/ mentioned to my companions, that | had
thought great deal through the day about the
awful position was in, not knowing bat eve
ry moment would be my last, yet could not
really feel it, for tried to famlliarze myself to
death, and appearing before my Maker. Yet
had not been able to diyest myself of the firm
belief that we uld be picked up, or drift on
shore. Judge Toler and Mr.. Stakes both stat
ed that to be their own feeling, and we all re-
GREETED that il was the case.
| told them the first thing we would see in
the shape of relief, would be smoke on Shore