The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-23
ROMANCE IN sInPwREcK.

Hlalg lHlHlthlhk a. Nfi ~ pathlul inrir
dents connected with the explosion and wreck
Of the Pulaski steamer, which occurred some
ten or fithen years agol ae related by those
who were saved from destruction Amongst
others, The following Is told Of Mr. Ridge, from
New Orleans, aud Misa Onslow, ifom some
Of the Southern States, two Of The unfortu-
nate who were picked up on the Glh day, a.
bout 6ny miles from lalid. II stated Of the
gentleman, that he had been sitting on the
deck alono, for half an b0ar previous 10 the
accident Another gentlenan, WHO was walk.
ing near him AZ the uinc y Gao explosion, was
thrown overheard, and he himself was procip-
itatod noavly over the side OF the boat and
stunned. lie recovered Immediately, as he
supposed, when lac heard some one remark-
Get out the boat-sbe Is sinking He was
not acquainted with solitary individual IN
the boat Under such circumstance, Il was
natural TO suppose he would be- NJ much con
cerned for himself as ior any one else. lie
was consequently among the foremost Of hose
who sought the small boat for safety, and was
about to step into-it when be discovered n
u
appearance had sundry times during the pas
sage arrested his attention. Her protector
was the gentleman who was walking on deck
and blown overheard. He sprang towards
her TO take her into the snall boat, but in the
crowd and confusion he lost sight of her, and
he supposed she was with some other friend.
During his fruitc-s search, the small boat
showed of. The night rang with the prayers
and shricks Of the helpless aud drowning
lie turned away in despair, aud tuml vi over
coil Of small rope, Hope, like the aspiring
spark frightened again. He caught up the
.ropc-lashGd together a couple of settecs-7-
threw upon them a piece Of old sail and a
small empty cask, and thus equipped, launch
ed upon the element
IL was all the work of moment. He be-
loved dcaCh inevitable, and lhaI eIIorI MAJ
his last grasp for life. ~, vessel bore him
up much better than he expected and he
WINS conrolng hiIn-el with hi- escape, such es
It NASHVILLE others were pcrishing all around
him, when he discovered female struggling
for life almost within his grasp, He len his
ark-swam but twice his length-scized his
object, and returned safely 10 his crall again,
which proved sufficient to sustain them both
but with their heads and shoulders only above
the water.
The icmalc was the young lady for whom
hc had lost passage in the small boat, She
hncicd their boat would be unable TO support
them both, and said You will have 20 Let me
90 10 save YOURSELF lie rcplicd--'v.'e live,
or we die together.
Soon after they driocd upon piece Of the
wreck, probably part Of the same floor or
'fe5ftition, torn a'esunior by the eXPTosion.%s'
This by the aid ofthe settecs fastened beneath
It, proved sufficient 10 keep them out of the
water. About this time, one Of the small
boats came towards them, but already hcav-
Ty Io0dcd. Tic mipI0rcd Them 10 take in the
young lady. But she said no, she could not
leave him. They were fairly at sea, without
the least morsol to eat or drink, in IA scorch-
ing climate.
or the boat that bore them all in quiet and
safety but half hour before, nothing was 10
be seen but scattered pieces of wreck The
small boats were on their way towards the
shorc-their own eral being light and light
ly loaded driled far away from a scene indis-
cribably heart 'rending, and which he still
shdders to think Of
At daylight nothing was visible TO them but
the heavens and the waste of waters. In the
course Of the day they can Ie in sight Of land,
and for time were eon6d dent of reaching it,
but during the succeeding night the wind
changed, and soon after daylight the next
morning it vanished again, and with all thbir
lively hopes of escaping their dreadful die IN
ma On the third day a sail hove in sight,
but she was entirely beyond hailing distanEe.
When found, they were sadly burned by the
sun-starYed- and exhausted though still in
possession of their faculties, and able TO meiuo
and talk. But their pain and suffering was
not without its pleasure and enjoyment. The
romantic part oftheir story is yet 10 come and |
there is no telling how much longer they
would have subsisted on the same food that
seems TO have aided in sustaining them SC |
well such length of time
The intrepidity he displayed-the risk he |
danger he Incurred, and above all K
the magnanimity he evinced in saving her
life, strangers as they were to each other, at
the imminent hazard of his own, elected from
her at once the warmed aud strongest feel
ng of gratitude toward him, and, before the
ortures Of hunger and thirst commenced,
Sindled that passion which burns nowhere
Use as il burns in womans bosom
On the other hand, her good sense, her
ortItudc, and presence OF mind at the most
'orifous moment, and particularly her -readi-
less to meet and share with him the fate
Which awaited them, excited ON his part an
ttachment which was neithor tOrss disguised
or deferred. Aud there upon the waters /
lid, amid the terrors which surrounded, and d
he fate which threatened them, in the pres $
nee of an all-seeing God, did they pledge i
ieir mutual love, and declare If their lives q
ere spared, Che destiny which misfortune
a Il 4 L. a.