The true Democrat., 1854-11-01

ren as soon as the fires were out and the enoines stopped. My attention was then directed to the other quarter boat which I found broken down but hanging to the tackle A rush was made for her also, and some dozen or fifteen oot Into her and cut the tackle It was soon ont of sight. 'N'
 1n the meantime, l found that not seaman was left on board nor carpenter; and without any tools to assist us built raft as our only nope, and the only officer left was MT. Doran the od officer, who aided me, with the assist ance ot many of the passengers, who deserve great praise for their coolness and energy in aoing all in their power, up to the very moment before the ship sunk
 The chief engineer with part of his assist ants, had taken our smallest deck boat, and be- lore the ship went down pulled away with about fifteen persons. We had succeeded in getting the fall and main yard and two top gal lant yards overheard, and such other small spars and materials aswe could collect, when was full ly convinced that the ship must go down in ve- ly short time. Not moment was to be lost In getting the spars lashed together to form 1att-to do which, it became necessary to get the lie boat-our only remaining boat-into the water
 This being accomplished, saw Mr. Doran, chief engineer of the boat, taking care to keep the oars on board to prevent them from leaving the ship hoping still to get most of the women and children in this boat, at least. They had made considerable progress in collecting the spars, when an alarm was given that the ship was sinking, and the boat was showed off with out oars or anything to help themselves with, and when the ship sank, the boat had got, pro- bably, the eighth of mile to leeward, and in an instant, about Ii to o'clock, P. M the ship went down, carrying every soul on board with her. soon found myself on the surface, after brief struggle, with my own helpless child in my arms.
 l again found myself impelled downwards to great depth. and before I reached the sur face second time had nearly perished, and lost the hold of my child. As 1 struggled to the surface of the water, most awful and heart rending scene presented itself to my view.
 Over two hundred men, women, and child ren, struggling together amid pieces of wreck of every kind, calling on each other for help and imploring God to help them. Such an appalling scene may God preserve me from witnessing again.
 l was in the act of trying to save my child, when portion of the paddle-box came rush. ing up edgeways, just grazing my head, and falling its whole weight upon the head of my darling child. In another moment beheld him lying lifeless on the water
 l succeeded in getting on the top of the pad dle-box in company with eleven others One, however, soon left for another piece, finding that it could not support so many. Others re- mained till they were one by one relieved by death. We stood in water at the temperature of 45, up to our knees, and frequently the sea broke directly over us.
 We soon seperated from our friends on the other part of the wreck, and passed the night, each one of Us expecting every hour would be our last. Atlast the wished for morning came, surrounded with dense log; not living soul to be seen but our own party, seven now being left
 In the course of the morning we saw some water casks and other things belonging to our ship, but nothing that we could get to afford us any relief. Our raft was steadily sinking as it absorbed water. About noon, MT. s. M. Wood ruff, of New York, was relieved by death All the others now began to suffer very severely for the want of water, except MT. George F. Allen and myself.
 In that respect we were very much favored, although we had not drop on the raft. The day continued foggy, except just at noon, as near as we could judge. We had a clear hor- zon for about half an hour, and nothing could be seen but water and sky Night come on thick and dreary, with our minds made up that neither of us would live to see the light of an- other day, for very soon three more of our suf- fering party were relieved by death, leaving Mir. Allen, young man and myself.
 Feeling myself getting exhausted, l now sat down for the first time about 8 o'clock in the evening on trunk, which providentially had been on the wreck. In this way l slept little throughout the night, and became somewhat refreshed. About an hour before daylight now Friday, 29th, we saw a vessels light near us. We all three of us exerted ourselves with the utmost of our strength in hollowing until we became quite exhausted.
 In about quarter of an hour the light dis appeared to the east of us. Soon after day light barque hove in sight to N. w., as the fog having frightened little, steering apparent ly for us, but in short time she seemed to have changed her course, and again we were doomed to disappointment. Yet 1 feel hopes that some of Our fellow sufferers may have been seen and rescued by them.
 Shortly after we had given up all hopes of being rescued by the barque, 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 varying caused her to change her course sever- al points.
 About noon they fortunately discovered a man on the raft near them, and succeeded in saving him by the second mate jumping over the side and making a rope fast arounde him, by which he was got on board safely. This man proved to he passenger on board the steamer with which we came in collision He informed the captain that others were near, on pieces of wreck, and on going aloft he saw us and three others.
 We were the first to which the boat was sent, and safely taken aboard about F. M The next was MT. Jas Smith, of Mississippi, sec ond class passenger. The others saved were fve-one our fireman. The ship proved to be the Combria, bound for Montreal, Capt. John Russel, who commanded the bark Jerry Ste- vens and was received kindly by Capt. Nye of the Pacific Of Capt. Russell, it would scarce ly be possible to say enough of praise for the kind treatment all of us have received from him during the time we have been on board his ship.
 From the Frenchman who was picked up, I Al AAl. -.ll Il.