The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-01
The Terrible shipwreck.

liam and Mary, wrecked on the Sd May,
among the Bahamas, have given to the
New York papers further particulars than
we have yet had. with many incidents OF
a most tragic and exciting character.
The ship was sig tuus burden, was
built in Bowdoinham last year, and was
owned by John Harvard, OF that place.
She was insured in Boston for $25 900.
She left Liverpool on the Oath March, with
s08 passengers. About eighty of the pas
sengers were Germans, who were going
out in company. with the intention OF set.
Ting on a large tract Of land which had
been bought in Illinois. The remainder
were composed of Irish. English and
Scotch-the Irish forming the largest pro.
portion. One Of the sailors is OF the opin-
ion that some of the passengers may have
formed a raft aud saved themselves upon
it, or by floating upon some fragments Of
the vessel.
or the rescued passengers not more
than three or four were women, and these
flung themselves precipitately over the side
of the sinking vessel into the boat. Sew
cral were severely hurt in jumping into the
boat, and some leaped into the water in
their efforts TO escape. One Of the sailors.
named John Best. says that the boat in
which he was so crowded that they were
seriously debating the propriety Of draw
ing lots to see who should go overheard.
as it was feared that the Boat would be
swamped. The poor fellow was standing
on the side Of the vessel Just as the rope
which held the boat was about to be cut,
and asked the mate if he should jump; but
receiving no encouragement from him. he
was about giving himself up for lost, when
he thought that by rendering some service
he might be allowed to get into the boat
Knowing that they were in want Of a sail.
he took one Of the ships skysails and
handed it to those in the boat, who. al.
though the boat was already overcrowded.
could not refuse him a chance for his life.
The rope was cut by another sailor, named
Ridley, who Immediately after jumped into
the water and was taken on board.
Thirteen Of the passengers, mostly Ger
man children. died on the passage before
being wrecked. They will leave 1876 as
the number left, and as twenty-five per-
sons were picked up a few days after the
wreck, by a British bark, bound from New
Orleans, doubtless those who escaped with
the long boat, the number lost, including
three of the crew, will be reduced to one
hundred and serenty.Mree! With this re.
duction, the wreck of the William and
Mary has involved a greater mortality
than any other Of the many terrible dramas
OF the last six weeks.
One Of the crew gave the following in
teresting detail:
/ do not remember seeing the passen-
gers more cheerful than they were this
evening. | conyersed with a number rel
alive 10 their intentions on their arrival,
the friends they expected to meet, and
their prospects,. AT 8 P. NJ. / bid them
good night, and in obedience TO the com
mand OF the mate went aloft and helped TO
full the mainsail. After executing a few
other orders, it being my lookout. went
forward and relieved it, as near as can
remember, about halfpast 8. When
stepped on the f~orecastle heard the mate
order the lead to be carried forward. The
man had just picked it up and got forward
with it when she struck. Orders were CIV
en- immediately to brace the yards round,
which was done as soon as possible, but
without effect. By this time the passen.
gers were ali on deck. running and screech-
ing 1--WE are lost! we are lost" and crowd
ing the deck, so that it was almost impos-
sible to get from one part of the ship to the
other1
Pie captain ordered the boats to be
CLEARED and launched. The two life-boats
Nxere launched first, and four men got into
the starboard boat, taking with them two
cans Of water,a compass and some bread.
They remained in the boat all night. and
with the greatest difficulty kept her from
being stove. The larboard boat was safe
|ly launched, and but about half an hour
aaer. was stove under the quarter. This
was caused by the decks being so crowd
ed aft that the boat could not be dropped
astern. The boat at the cranes was so
filed by the passengers that they bent the
cranes down TO the water. This boat was
stove also. The long boat was still re-
naming on the after-house, unfit to be
launched without caulking, Part Of the
crew were ordered, however, TO get that
ready, and the remainder to lay forward
and net ready TO cut away the mast. The