The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-10-13

daylight or until the sea went down.
The passengers generally turned out, but
1t was with reluctance many OF them
would go below to pass the buckets up
the cabin-hatchway There were about
two feet water in the lower cabin. |
worked until | was completely prostra-
ted, and came on deck, and afterwards
took my turn in pumping and passing a.
long the buckets. | proposed that we
should clear away the ladder and part
of the bulk-head around the hatchway,
and fix lanvards to the buckets and draw
the water up. This was done, which
left several spare buckets, and we formed
another party and went aft to the ladies'
cabin. and there bailed for an hour or so,
( by passing the water up the steps leading
10 the lower cabin. Coming on deck
shortly after, was surprised to see such
a destruction; the sea was making at
times a clean breach over the vessel; the
larboard wheel-house, and nearly all the
bulk-heads forward were gone, and the re-
mainder tottering. got a rope and took
a turn with it round the arch brace, and
held on to prevent myself from being
washed overheard. The boat had settled
down very much on her larboard side
Whilst | was forward Mr.. James Phil
! lips came up to me and said, Captain,
didn't know you with rig on, | have OBJ
served You working about all night, but
did not know il was YOU" | requested
him, if he should reach shore, and should
ever meet any of my friends 10 tell them
that | have worked like a man. and felt
perfectly reconciled to abide the future.
Whilst we were talking, Captain Phil
lips came up, and it was thought if we
could set the foresail it would bring her
on an even keel: after good dt al Of diff
ficulty we got the sail set; she soon right
ed on an even keel. but in few moments
| felt her settling down rapidly on the
starbosrd side; then gave up all as gone;
for felt sure the heavy sea which had
been striking her whilst she was sagged
down to leeward, had opened her ways.
One or two hands came forward and we
lowered down the foresail. then climb
ed up by the pilot house, and was struck
with the perfect destruction of every
thing above deck. | walked aft and found
one of the hands at work, repairing the
only boat we had left-he was cutting
strips of canvass, and with them and his
knife, trying TO caulk her seams. One
or two others came up to assist him; |
examined the boat, and told them that it
was loves labor lost, to try to get her in a
condition TO float, that she might save
one or two, but as all hands would be for
jumping into her, had no doubt she
wonld fill at once.
The passengers now assembled on the
promenade deck. | saw Capt. Phillips
and remarked to him that if | could get
a bottle ! would write a few lines and
cork them up and throw it oyerboard.-
He replied, that's well, for none Of us
will ever be seen again. A bottle was
brought, and on the back Of an old mani
fest wrote something like the following:
Steam vessel New York, total wreck
encountered tremendous gale-all hands
did their duty like men; Sept. Z, 5 o'clock
: A. NJ, and signed my name to it. After
got through, it struck me, that if it was
ever picked up, they might think | was
very much agitated, from the hand-wri-
ting, and | added the following postscript:
81 feel as calm as a summers SUM-" At
ter being properly secured, the bottle
with its contents was thrown overheard.
Several passengers came to me and
asked me what was to be done; | told
them our only chance was to make a raft,
and we fell to work TO tear away the ben
ches, &c. | walked forward and got
hold of the chicken-coop; some Of the
passengers followed me. told them this
might save one or two, as long as ii would
hold together, and advised them to lash it
round securely with rope to prevent it
| from tumbling to pieces. Finding the
t hands cutting away the foremast, went
aft to keep out of the way When | got
, aft, near the boat, Judge Toler asked me
; what was going to do! try the boat or a
; plank! | stated had not vet determined
what | would take, but should keep clear
r of the boat, for | was confident she would
5 not float and all hands would Jump into
5 her the moment she was launched.
l further said that | would hang by the
/ wreck until the last moment, and thought
t ii best in such cases 10 keep cool, and not
] be in hurry TO leave. saw the lead
line lying close by and cut off fathom
/, or so and tied it securely round my waist;
several others did the same. saw Da-
t MEL Phillips preparing to launch the boat;
/: | went up 10 lend hand-iust as we
q were getting ready the crowd rushed &c
the boat, and heavy sea striking US a
e the same moment, the confusion that en-
ii sued, made me think that it was no place
n for me, and | started forward; | felt the
d promenade deck giving way under my
d feet, and sprung to the star-board arch
/ braces and erawled forward of the wheel