Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-01-20

her who we're washed away. aud the only two
Of this entire company who were successful IN re-
gaining the ship. All the rest sunk into the
Jaws OF death. and were rocked into an eternal
sleep by the roaring, swelling sea. As can on
ly describe the awful situation of these mortais
BY my own experience hope | will be excused
for abiding 10 myself | well remember was
living in my stateroom the after deck, with
travelling companion, Mr.. james Stockweii, when
there came "A shock and sudden crash OF break
ing timber. aud felt myself like rolling top
in the water. with salt brine rushing into my
mouth aud almost binding me. When | arose
to the surface of the ocean narrowing sight was
before me- | was half n mile from the steamer,
and around me was about AN acre oil honting UNI
Der. Immediately by my side came up from the
deep Mr.. Stookwell, who caught Did OF the
snme stick Of timber to which had chung for
safety. The stick began TO sink and seized
hold of another piece, and made the best OF my
way 10 the wrecked steamer. Two or three huge
swells soon los sed me near and grasped II rope
forward of the wheelhouse, to which chung to
refuge, raising aud falling with the pitching yes
sci. While in this situation saw man stand
ing ON the paddle of the wheel who was plnng-
into the ocean at every roll of he steamer; and
who probably persisted. Losing my strength |
dropped from the rope to Which chung, and for
tunatey n friendly wave threw against the
guard of the vessel, which seized hold of and the
next plunge Carrying me still higher on the guard
| was enabled at last to crawl upon tile forward
deck, aud there with my hand broke open state
room window and orept into it half drowned
While in the water, the sight around me was
worse than death itself When rose to the sur
face of the water, saw about forty struggling
for life, and about one half of them had blood
streaming from wounds about their heads. Be
ing blinded by what thought was the salt water,
put my hand 10 my forehead to wi pc away the
brine, when was surprised to find was bleed
ing myself from wound on my brow. tits there
fore, conclusive that most Of those washed away
at the same time wounded by the crashing
tmbers. Besides myself, Mr.. Rankin was the
only one saved of the number who were swept
ilto the ocean
Such was the force of the waves that they
broke in n part of the deck, and killed and injur
ed several, besides deluging the passengers in
the lower cabins, and filling the saloons with wa
ter. Captain Gardiner slept deck, and was
not swept away with the others, but at one time
found "A man by his side with splinter thrust
through his head, which must have killed him in
simultaneously.
After | recovered myself looked around me,
and the only dry place in the steamer was in the
after cabin where the officers with their wives
and children, were slowed away laying rolled III
blankets, as comfortable rs circumstances would
permit. But oh! the scene of confusion no tongue
can tell, no pen describe The storm continued
to rage and we were Mt the mercy of the waves,
without steam or sail. Us wave after wave came
dashing against u.s. Shrek after shrek came from
those who dreaded to look into the grave. Near
ly all gave up all hopes of safety, and many were
patiently waiting to be summoned before the Al
mighty Ruler of the storms. Stout hearts yiel
ded, manly checks turned pale, and there were
those who tried to pray who had never prayed
before. 1t was n scene such as made the blood
eurdle around the heart, and pulsation cense-
The very thoughts of the hours and days of stuff
ering now freeze my blood ns it courses through
my veins. 1t is worthy of remark that in the
hour of our greatest peril, Commander Watkins,
Captain Mellus, Liout. +. X. Murray, and other
gallant officers, constantly revived the sinking
spirits of all on board by repeated assurances of
safety. These heroic men constantly bid the
Responding be of good cheer; and Heaven only
knows how many hearts, fast growing cold, were
kept warm with life's blood by these gallant men,
Sergeant Elijah r Browns Statement
The swedt her decks entirely, and carried
away the cattle and the mems sleeping place on
the upper deck. | was fearful that the women
would get out, and fastened the doors when
they went down below in the second cabin, |
then went forward and was swept overheard, and
at one time was as much AS twenty feet from the
vessel There were several in the water, and
three beside myself were saved by the waves
throwing us back After this all hands com
menced bailing at once. formed the whole reg
iment on board into reliefs, and we continued the
bailing necessarily for six days and six nights
During five days and five nights | never left my
station, until at last my ANGLES became so weak
that could not stand, and then | stood upon my
knees until the Commodore came and pulled me
away. At the worst time of all, and when we
were shipping the most water one of the corpo-
rails gave the alarm of fire. At this alarm all the
inmates of the lower cabin who were employed
in bailing rushed simultaneously for the dooI and
NM an nd II, tl,o | Al
upon table, drew revolver, and threatened to
shoot any man who repeated the alarm. That
quoted them and they went ON with their work
again.
While we were bailing, young lady named
Mariana holland, came up to me and wanted to
take turn at baling, but | refused and told her
tn go back to her berth. She afterwards died.
While the heavy sea was pouring over the
decks the live stock became very unmanageable,
and broke through the partition which divided
them from the men. Cows, hogs and men were
all mingled together, and caused so much confu-
sion that we were obliged to slaughter several
of them
During the storm | was washed overheard
three tunes, and once jumped in after a daguer-
reotype portrait which lost out of my pocket
| lost everything, including 81, $50 in gold, which
was taken from my trunk
Many of the ladies exposed themselves unne-
cessaiily during the whole time, and one of them
while standing upon the main deck, in imminent
danger of being swept away by the surf, | was
forced to carry down below.
The non commissioned officers and men exert
ed themselves to their utmost. In fact, some of
them worked until they dropped down from sheer
fatigue.
During all the time that we were working at
the pumps we could get nothing to eat but bis
cult and cold water.
One curious fact in the affair was, that nearly
all the sailors showed an unconquerabe aversion
to poiuO near "A dead hodV On, o,. ,,,ooa;o,, ~ -,