The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-10-25

ing SCENE presented ltSeII 10 my N1cW.
Over two hundred men, women and
children, struggling together, amidst
pieces ofwreck of every kind, calling
ON each other for help, aud imploring
God to help hem. Such an appalling
scene may God preserve me from ever
witnessing again.
was in the act of trying to save my
child, when portion of the paddle box
came rushing up edgeways, just grazing
my head, and falling its whole weight
upon the head of my darling child In
another moment I beheld him 1y ing
lifeless on the water.
/ succeeded iu getting on to the top
of the paddle box, in company with eleV-
On others. One, however, soon left for
another piece, finding that it could not
support so many. Others remained till
they were one by one relieved by death
We stood in the water at the temeratare
of forty five degrees, up to our knees,
and frequently the sea broke directly
over US.
We soon separated from our friends
on the other parts of the reck, and pass
ed the night, each one expecting every
hour would be our last. At last the
wished for morning came, surrounded
with a dense fog; not a living soul to
be seen, but our own party, seven DOW
being left.
In the course of the morning, we saw
some water casks and other things be-
longing to our ship, but nothing we
could get to afford us any relief Our
raft was steadily settling, as it absorbed
water About noon, Mr.. S. n. Wood
ruff, of New York was relieved by death.
All the others now began to suffer very
severely for want of water, except Mr..
George T. Allen and myself
In that respect, we were very much
favored, although we had not drop on
the raft. The day continued foggy, ex-
cept just at noon, as near as we could
judge. We had clear horizon for about
half-an- hour, and nothing could be seen
but water and sky. Night came on,
thick and dreary, with our minds made
up that neither of US would live to see
the light of another day, for very soon
three more of our suffering party were
relieved by death, leaving Mr.. Allen, a
young man and myself.
Feeling myself getting exhausted, 1
now sat down for the first time about 8
o'clock in the evening, on trunk, which
Providentailly had been found on the
wreck. In this way [ slept a little
throughout the night, and become some
what refreshed. About an hour before
daylight, now Friday, the 29th, we saw
vessels light near to US. Weall three
of US exerted- ourselves with+th utmost
of our strength in hailing, until we be-
came quite exhausted.
In about quarter of an hour the
light disappeared to the east of u.s.
: oon after daylight a barque hove in
sight to the N W., as the fog having
lightened little, steering apparently
for us, but in a short time she seemed
to have changed her course, and again
we were doomed to disappointment. Yet
[ feel hopes that some of our fellow-suf-
ferers may have been seen and rescued
by them.
Shortly after we had given up all hopes
of being rescued by the barque, ship
was discovered to the east of US, steering
directly for u.s. We now watched her
with the most intense anxiety, as she ap-
preached the wind varying, caused her
to change her course for several points.
About noon they fortunately discover
ed man on the raft near them and sue
ceeded in saving him by the I'd mates
jumping over the side and making the
rope fast around him, by which he was
got on board safely. This man proved
to be passenger on board the steamer
with which we came in collision He
informed the captain that others were
near, on pieces of the wreck, and by go
ing aloft he saw us and three others
We were the first to which the boat
was sent, and ssfely taken on board about
8 p. M. The next was Mr.. Jas. Smith
of Mississippi, second class passenger
u lRed were fve-one our fire
kproved to be the Cam
from Glasgow, bound
pit John Russell, who
barque Jerry SteaUenS
az efved kindly by Capt. Nye
of the Pacific. Of Capt. Russell, i
would be scarcely possible to say enough
in praise for the kind treatment all O
US received from him during the tim'
we have been on board his ship.
His own comforts have been given VI
in every respect for our relief. Rev
Mr.. Walker and lady, and another gen
tleman, who were passengers by th'
Cam6ria, have been unceasing in theil
endeavors to promote our comfort. Tc
them, and to all on board, we shall evel
owe debt of gratitude for their un
bounded kindness to US.
From the Frenchman, who was pickeC
up, learned that the steamer with which
we came in collision was the screw stea
mer HeSta, from St. Pierre, bound iron
and belonging to Greenville, France
We learn the VeStG was steering E. S
E., and was crossing our course tw'
points, all sails set, wind west by south
Her anchors stock, about by inche
square, struck the bow of the Arcta
about eighteen inches above the waite
line.
An immense hole had been made a
the same time by the fuke of the anch
or, about two feet below the water lin
raking fore and aft the plank, and fnaH.
breaking the chains, leaving the stocl
remaining in and through the side of tn
arctic; and it is not unlikely that as s
much of her bows had been crushed IL
some of the heavy pieces of iron runnini
through the ship, may have been d i've
through our side, causing the loss of ou
ship and 1 fear, hundreds of most valr
able lives.
: We have safely arrived at Quebe'
and I am left without penny in tn
world to help myself with but SINGER
gratitude to those from whom l hay
received such unbounded kindness, sinC
[ L I- L -. or,nr,r