Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-01-15
Thrilling Narrative.

Thrilling Narrative.
Weare indebted to friend, says the New York
Times, for the following interesting extracts from
private letter from lady who went out as pass
enger in the steamship Pacific, on her last trip TO
LiverpoOl:
STEAMSHIP PACIFIC, in the Channel,
December 10, 1852.
We have had a very long passage, and very
rough and boiSerouS one, with some instances con-
nected with it, which will make us remember 1t as
long rs we live. After leaving New York, and
getting opposite Quarantine, we were Obliged TO
cast anchor and remain there till Sunday murning
(2Sth of Noyember) ate, A. NJ, us there was not
sufficient water to carry the bar From Sun
day until Thursday, ed Decembe[we had very
pleasant weather and 4 smooth sea. No one
thought of being sick, and we enjoyed ourselves
very much sitting on the upper deck.
Still our steamer did not make very rapid pro-
gress, owing to bad coal and very heavy cargo,
principally wheat. We have small number oil
passengers, and for the most part pleasant people
On Thursday morning We found the weather had
changed decidedly for the worse, the wind blow
ing gale and the ship rolling ieariully. AS
soon as | attempted tC rise became very sea
sick, and most of the passengers were i'll the same
condition.
There were only ska breakfast.
From that time until SundaG | was obliged to
keep my berth, and suffered very much III many
ways.
The gale increased all through Thursday, and
on Friday morning it was terrific.
Then occurred scene which shall never for
re In the first place, my husband came into the
StaterOom, on his return from euktaSt and III
formed me that poor sailor had fallen from the
rigging, in the night, and broken his leg. de was
quite SenseleSS, and with little hope of recovery
and that the head stewart, that morning, had
narrow escape from being washed overheard.
Shortly after he came in again, and said there
wreck in sight, and that it was the most aw-
full scene he ever witnessed. The vessel was en-
tirely diSmaSted, the washing completely over it,
while the crew-he could count nine-were on
the deck, waving 10 them, and CRYING 10 those on
board the steamer for assistance. The bark was so
near part of her name could be read; but the sea
was running mounteins high, and tn captain and
others feared it would be impossible to render any
assistance. They, however, as soon as possible,
sent out rockets with ropes attached, but they did
not reach iii, ship.
The poor sailors then cried out "Send us your
life-boat," which from the first thought to be
improbable.
The third officer in command then offered to go
in life boat and three of the sailors volunteered
to 70 with him. OF course there was great danger
in approaching too near the wreck, and although
the wind was blowing such tremendous gale'
they kept backing the steamer against heavy sea
to keep her in line with the wreck.
Then the life boat got ready, and those brave
men went in her to the rescue, if possible these
unfortunate creatures. Husband went on deck,
and stood there clnging tn the ropes, watching the
whole scene. Some of the time the whole oil the
wreck entirely hid from view by the high
waves, and the little boat was lost tU sight the
most Of the time. They had great dific lty in get
ting along 81 Ie the wreck, fearing the life-boat
would be stove to EieCeS Then when they did and
the waves took the boat up to the side OF the
wreck the poor creatures let 80 their hold, one by
one, and dropped into the beat. There were six
teen souls in all, but no passengers The bark
was the Jennie Dawson, oflrving, Scotland, bound
from Quebec to Belfast, laden with lumber. The
poor creatures had been in the situation IN which
and 1Iu
washing over them all the time. Two OF three
of them were becoming quite inSensiblt, and had
t. be pushed over into the boat.
never shall forget the sensations oil Joy ielt
when gentleman came down into the ladies'
loon, and, frommy berth, heard him say, "they
are ell saved"
That was after they had all been got on board
the steamer The officer said the life-boat had two
OF three blows while alongside Of the wreck. and
he thought thatif they had received anothtr, they
would all have persisted. The fife-boat had filed
with water, returning 10 the steamer, and as soon
as all were board, the boat was stove all TO
pieces. The officers description of the scene,
when he was in the .ife-boat, between the steam
er and the wreck, both of them at times entirely
hidden from his view, and then again. he them
madly plunging in the waves, appearing as though
they would crush the fra boat, as very thrilling
can give you but faint idea of the excite
ment on board the steamer, produced by this ship
wreck. The passengers called meeting on Mon
day TO testify their sense of the noble daring and
courage of the officers and sailors who saved these
men, by some suitable acknowledgement
They have raised the handsome sum of five hun
Ilred dollars, which, considering the small number
of passengers, was quite handsome. This is to be
putin!o the Savings Eank, in New York, subject
TO their order for either principal or interest. On
Monday evening we had the rescued captain in the
saloon. He is young man of about Is years of
age, and he gave us an account of the disaster,
aud toldus that young as he was, this was the
third time he had been shipwEecked. He certainly
was not born to he drowned. The steamer was de-
which commenced on Thursday morning, con
tinued with little or no abatement until Tuesday
morning.