Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-10-27
WHOLE NO. 81.
ROMANCE IN snIpwREcK.

!
wreck of the Pulaski steamer, (which oc-
CURED some ten or fiften years agol are
related by those who were saved from
destruction. Among others. the follow
ing is told OF a Mr. Ridge. of New Orleans.
\ aud Miss onslow from some of the Sou
theru States. two of the unfortuna,es pick.
ed up on the ffth day. about fifly miles
from land 1t is stated OF lbe ,renilemsn.
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. wa.
thrown overheard, and himself WAS pro.
cipitatod nearly over the side of the boat
and stunned. He recovered Immediately.
rs he supposed. when he heard some one
remark" Get out the boat--she is sink.
ing" ta
! He was not acquainted with solitary
! individual in the boat. Under these cir
cumstances. it was natural 10 suppose he
would feel quite as much concern for him
self rs for any one else. He was conse-.
quently among the first of those who
sought the small boat for safety. aud was
about to step into it, when he discovered
young lady. whom he recognized as one
whose appearance had sundry times du-
ring the passage arrested his attention.
Her protector was the gentleman who
was walking on deck and blown over
board. He sprang toward her to take her
into the small boat but in the crowd and
confusion he lost sight of her, and he sup
posed she was with some other friend
During his fruiiless search. the small boat
showed off. The night rang with the
prayers and 'shrieks of the helpless and
drowning. lie turned away in despair
and tumbled over coil of small rope
Hope. like the aspiring spark, frightened
again. He caught up the rope-Iaslied
together II couple of scttces--ihrew upon
them piece OF AN old sail. and small
empty cask. and thus equipped, launched
upon the element.
1t was ali the work of moment He
elieved death inevitable, and that effort
was his last grasp for life. ii vessel bore
him up much better than he expected.
and he was consoling himself with his es-
cape such as it was, while others were
perishing all around him. when lie disco
vered female struggling for life, almost
within.his grasp. He left his ark--swam
but twice his lcngth--seized his object.
and returned safely to his craft again,
which proved sufficient for them both.
but with their heads aud shoulders only
above the water. The female was the
young lady for whom he had lost pas.
sage in the small boat. She fanced their
float would be una le TO support them
both, and said 'G
You will have to let me go to save
yourself
He replied
We live or we die together"
Soon after they drifted upon piece Of
the wreck, probably part OF the same
floor or partition. torn asunder By the cx-
plosion. This. with the aid Of the settees
fastened beneath il. proved sufficient 70
keep them out OF the water. About this
time one Of the small boats came towards
them, but already heavily laden. He i'm
plorcd them TO take in the young lady.
But she said no. she could not leave him.
They were fiirly at sea, without the least
morsel TO eat or drink, in a screening cli-
mate. OF the boat which bore them AL
in quic. and safety but half hour before.
nothing was 10 be seen but scattered pie
ces OF the wreck. The small boats were
ON their way IN the shore--their own
craft being light. and lightly loaded. drif.
ed far away from n scene >indescribably
heart. ending. and which be still shad-
ders 10 think of.
AT daylight nothing was visible TO them
but tie heavens and waste OF waters. In
the course of the day they cErne ia siglit
of land. and for time were confident OF
reaching it but during the succeeding
night the wind changed, and soon after
daylight next morning it vanished again,
with all their lively hopes Of escaping
their dreadful dilemma. On the third
day sail hove in sight. but she was en-
tircly beyond haiIing distance.
When found, they were sadly burned
! by the sun-stsrSed and exhausted.
though still IN possession oftheir faculties,
and able to move and talk. But their
pain and suffering was not without its
pleasure aud enjoyment.
The romantic part Of the story Of their
expedition, is yet 70 come, and there Is no
1 telling how much longer they would have
subsisied on the same food that seems 70
have aided in sustaining so well such
! length Of time.
The intrepidity he displaycd--ibe risk
/ he raE--ihe dangers be incurred--and
above all. the magnsnimity he eyince5 in
saving her life stranger. As they we're
( 10 each other, ~ the imminent haz-
zard Of his own. elected from her Al once
the wsrmest and strongest feelings Of gra-
tiiude toward him, and. before the tor
lures Of hunger commenced, kindled that
/ passion which burns nowhere else as it
I burns in woman's bosom On the other
hand, her good sense. her fOrtitBde. and
presence OF mind al the most perilons mo.
/, ment. and particularly her readiness 20
meet and share with him the fate that
awaited them. excited on his part an at
Lachment which was neither TO be diegui'