Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-11-17

luz icHS"ihS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. "sS
decidedly some; ~.
~. Lard Oil has opened \ first class
Coffee House, where he win be happy
TO wait upon his friends with the best
article Of old rye srhislyi Also lamp
oil in small quantities.
"Know Nothing hats made to order
by II. P--d-e."
"WAATED-a cargo OF women and
whisky Com. Of Arrangements.
OF Peter McCabe, q seaman on board
the Arctic, gives the following thrilling
account of his escape on raft. We
clip II from the New York Herald.
rwEsTY-sIx HOURS ON A RAFT.
| remained on the vessel till she
sunk, when went down with her. |
had been employed few minu,es be-
fore with two others, one OF whom was
called "Tom, the storekeeper," in LASH
ing rome casks together, when was
driven away b, the water, which was
now rushing in with fearful impetousity.
Jumping upon the paddle-box, | sprang
on the saloon deck, and in an instant
was engulphed in the surgLg waters,
which soon closed over our heads
Down, down we sank with our noble
vessel into the bosom OF the ocean. aud
the terrible thought took possession OF
my mind that was drowning; that I
should never see my dear friends aud
my home agaiu. | retained my con-
seriousness, however, all the time was
under the water, and il was with feel
ing Of intense JOY that ] found, after
about halt a minute, that wac rapidly
rising towards the surface. II was all
darkness before, and in few seconds |
was on the top of the water, struggling
for life. Being good swimmer, and
having, besides, the support OF life
preserver, | succeeded in reaching a
door, which was floating lew feet from
where rose. looked around me, but
there was no trace of the vessel, except
a few loose timbers and the rats which
were floating about, some with and 9TH
ers without passengers. Finding that
could not retain my hold of the door
with safety, left il, and swan 10 a bar
rel which lay few feet from me; freB
this again swan 20 the large raft, which
had, as ! have said about seventy per-
sons clinging to il. The sea, though
not strong, was rough, and the waves, as
they dashed over il, washed away Por'
ton Of It's living freight. ] shall never
forget the awful scene. There we were
In the midst OF the ocean, without the
slightest hope Of assistance, while eve.
~ minute one or more Of our uniortu.
nate fellow passengers were dropping
into their watery grave from sheer ex'
haustlon. Those who had life p.eser
vers did not sink, but Aoatcd with theil
ghastly faces upwards, reminding those
who still remained alive Of the fate thal
awaited them.
In the midst OF all this, thank Heav-
en-, never lost hope, but retained my
courage to the last. One by one saw
my unfortunate companions drop off
some Of them floated of, and were eat
en- and knawed by fishes, while Others
were washed under the raft, andremain
ed with me till | was rescued. coull
gee their faces in the openings as they
were swayed 10 and fro by the waves
which threatened every moment 10 wasl
me of. Tho rift at one time was SC
crowded that many had to hold Oh b,
one hand. Very few words were Spoken
by any, and .he only sound that wal
heard was the splash Of the waters OF
ka NJ no -
ers, as they tried to recover their breatl
after wave had passed over them
Nearly Ill were submerged TO their arm
pits, while few could with great diff
Guilty, keep their heads above the surface
The women were the first TO go. The,
were unable TO stand the exposure morl
. than three or four hours. They oil Eel
off the raft without word, except on,
, poor girl, who cried out, in intense agony
20, my poor mother and sisters "
When was about eighteen hours OF
the raft, there were not more than three
or four left, One of these gave me wha
appeared to be small map, but whicl
, | understood him to say was sort o
title deed to his properly. In few
: moments after took il. he too unloose,
: his hold, and was rdded TO the numbe
that foated about the raft.
| endeavored to get the paper into m,
pocket, but found this impossible, on &C
count OF my cramped position, SO ! pla
ced IL between my teeth. and held
, there till was overwhelmed by n wave
: when lost my hold Of IT, end 1t wa
washed away. Another, who had a.
y oiled silk coat on, called on ne, TO
n Heavens sake, 10 assist him, as hi
Q strength was rapidly falling, and h
/ must fall off, il not relieved. AS h
was about four or five fee. from me,
/, was di ticult to reach him; but after con
: siderable exertion, succeeded in doin
so, and helped him with one OF my knee
pniilI became quite faint, when | wa
d obliged TO leave him to his fate. Poo
J, fellow, he promised me, 1t ever he 90
G to New York alive, he would reward m
y well. He chung with terrible tenacit
\ to life, but he, too, dropped off in hi
!, turn.
was now left alone on the rsft; nc
: a solitary being was alive, cut OF sever
~; but still my hope continued strong
i The night of the second day was abou
closing on me, and during the Who'll
II time had been in the water, | had NJ
J. eaten Q particle OF anything or drank
n drop. My strength found was abcgir
a ming TO give way, and my sight had b.
come so dim that | could not psrceiy
objects few feet off; even the ghustl
faces Of tho dead, that looked up at m
!. from under the raft, were hardly discern
~ ible. dertermined on making on
d more effort for life raised myself 0
l. my knees upon the raft, aud through III
X dusk Of the evening saw, or ! though
d ! saw avessel. Sly strength seemed
Z revive. and in few minutes heard II
II voices Of persona In boat approachir
: me. Ten minutes more, and ] too wou
:. hnve gone; but Providence had mere
" on me, and after tweny-pix hours e.
" 4 L.. IA.