Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-10-28

seen but water and sky. Night cam on thick
and dreary, with our minds made up that neith-
er Of us would again see the light of another
day. Very soon three more OF our suffering
party were relieved by death, leaving Mr.. Allen,
q young man and myself. Feeling myself get
ting exhausted, l now sat down for the first
time, about 8 o'clock in the evening, on q trunk,
which providentially had been found on the
wreck. In this way ! slept a little throughout
the night, and became somewhat refreshed.
About an hour before daylight-now Friday,
the 29th-we saw a vessels light near to US.
We all three of us exerted ourselves to the ut
most of our strength in hailing her her, until
we bacame quite exhausted. In about a quar-
ter of an hour the light disappeared to the east
Of US. Soon after daylight a barque hove in
sight to the northwest, the fog having tighten.
ed q little-steering apparently for US; but in a
short time she seemed to have changed her
course, and again we were doomed to disap-
pointment; yet felt hopes that SOM Of our
fellow sufferers may have been seen and res
cued by them.
Shortly after we had given up all hopes of
being rescued by the barque, a ship was dis
covered to the east of us, steering directly for
US. We now watched her with the most in-
tense anxiety as she approached. The wind
changing, caused her to alter her course seve-
raj points. About noon they fortunately dis
covered a man on a raft near them, and succee-
ded in saving him by the second mate jumping
over the side, and making a rope fast round
him, when he was got on board safely. This
man proved to be a Frenchman, who was a
passenger on board the steamer which We came
in collision with.
He informed the Captain that others were
near ON pieces of the wreck; and, going aloft,
he saw us and three Others. We were the
first to which the boat was SEM, and safely TAX
James Smith, of Mississippi, second class pas
senger. The others saved were FIVE Of our
fremen. The ship proved to be the Cambria,
Of this port, from Glasgow. bound to Montreal,
Captain John Russell, who commanded the
barque Jesse Stevens, and was rescued by
Captain Nye, of the Pacific. OF Capt. Russell,
il would scarcely be possible to say enough in
his praise for the kind treatment we every one
of US have received from him during the time
we have been on board his ship. His own
comforts he gave up in every respect for our
relief. The Rev. Mr.. WnIker and lady, and
another gentleman. who were passengers by
the CamhFiA. have been nnceasino ID. ztheiF sp-
70 profnoss20ur comf6rt: To them
and to all on board, we shall ever owe a debt
of gratitude for their unbounded kindness to
US.
From the Frenchman who was picked up,
we learned that the steamer with, which we
in collision was the screwsteamer Vesia,
from st. Pierre, bound for and belonging to
Grenville, France. As near as we could learn,
the Vesta was steering east southeast, and was
our course two points, with all sails
set, wind west by south. Her anchor stock,
about seven by four inches square, was dri-
ven through the bows of the Arctic, about
cen or eighteen inches above the water
the same instant, by the fuke of the anchor,
about two feet below the water line, raking
fore and AFT the plank. and finally breaking the |
chains, leaving the stock remaining in and |
the side Of the Arctic, or it is not un- !
that, as SO much Of her bows had been |
crushed in, some Of the heavy l%ongitudina, |
pieces Of iron running through the ship may
rave been driven through our side, causing the
oss OF our ship, and. | fear, hundreds of most
lives. I'd fst
l have safely arrived at Quebec, and ] am
without a penny in the world with which |
help myself. With sincere gratitude to those
rom whom / have received such unbounded
since have been providetiaIly thrown
them. am about to separate to 60 to
New York; home of sorrow.
! learned from the Doctor, al quarantine, last
that tie Vesta had reached ST. Johns
several passengers from the Arctic, but
'ould not learn the particulars. As coon as
can get on shore | shall make arrangements
Q leave for New York with the least possible
leiay. : | take the steamer for Montreal this
Ifte rnoon..
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
JAMESC LUCE.