The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-11-01

on the same tack she would undoubt.
edly see our signals before passing
beyond. My larger signai, too,
continued to drift mo nearer to her
track, aud took me almost out of sight
ofmy two companions. When within
about two or three miles Of US, and
about an hour and half after she first
hove in sight, we were relieved by
her backing her sails, altering her
course, and laying to for a while, then
hosting signal on her spangcr gall
she put about an! bore away, on and
mi far in the distance on the opposite
tack until my heart began to fail
again.doub,ing, whethersne was beat
Ing to windward for US, or had gone
on her way rejoicing in tho discovery
md rescue OF only portion of the
unfortunate wretches wi;hing range Of
her. Butagain,rhow light and buoy.
mt was the joy as she at last put about
and standing directly for us; on and
ON she advanced Ikea saving angel,
until We could SEQ her noble looking
hull distinctly rise and fall within lit
tie over mile distant from us, when
she backed her sails again, and waited
for some time in prosecution Of her
mission Of mercy, no doubt, relieving
some Of our scattering companions
fom like precarious state.
Soon she filled away again, and Mt
last laying TO close by the two iiremcn,
saw her boat lowered with five men
in it, who, picking up the two tiremcn
in their course, came dashing along
direct for my raft, and soon bouncing
alongside, | allowed myseIfto to tumble
aboard ofthem, unable physically to
adopt anything of graceful action,
and morally overpowered with gra,i.
tude to- God md to those his instru
nents.. i:remaincd specchless until
got on board the ship. Before getting
on board, however, the boat went
AWAY for some distance to windward,
and picked up the three other iircmen,
who had seen leave the Arctic, but
who had been ever since out of view.
We all got huddled upon the deck
somehow, although rather awkwardly,
and making my way down to her neat
little cabin, as well rs my stiff feet
aud legs would allow, had the pleas
ure OF paying my respects to Captain
John Russell, and found myself on
board the ship Cambria. of Grccnock,
bound from GLASGOW to Quebec. Capt.
Russell, Rev. Mr.. Walker Of the
Free Church Of Scotland, and his very
kind and attentive lady, Mr. Suthcr-
:land, Of Caithnesshire in Scotland, Mr..
John McNaught, and several of the
passengers OF the steerage, paid every
attention that | could have desired
Capt. Russell giving inc up the berth
which he had been using himself, and
putting everything on board in requi-
'sision that might tend in the least to
relieve and make us comfortable.
was surprised to learn that the old
Frenchman, whom we had picked up
from the Vesta, was our good genius /
on this occasion. Being directly in
the track of the approaching Cambria,
he was picked up by the second
mate OF the Cambria. Mr.. Ross,
jumping overheard with line, and
scizng hold Of the man, they were
both pulled on board, and the rescued
Frenchman, in the best English he
could muster, made Capt. Russell
aware that others were near, who then
went to the masthead and with his
glass made out the other four pieces
of wreck, which we were all on, and
making his long tack to windwarl,
came back in the midst ius, picking
up first, from that half round piece OF
wreck that saw burst above the sur.
face Mt the time Of the ship going un-
der, Capt. Luce, Mr.. George +. Allen,
of the Novelty Works, and u young
German, n passenger on the Arctic,
by the name Of Ferdinand Kaye. They,
along with eight others of those who
went down with the ship, had gained
this piece of wreck, which turned out
to be segment OF one of the pad, |
boxes, and, singular as it seems, Capt.
Luce, who had stuck BY his sinking
ship to the last minute, was thus saved
at last on the very boards which as
commander were his post of duty
practically his post of duty saved him.
The same thing, however, had caused
the death OF an interesting son, by
striking or falling on him as it burst
above water.
The eight others, who had gained it
with them, had from time to time per. |
ished on it, and Mr.. Kaye was on ,hc
point of making the ninth; when the
Cambria hove i'll sight he had become
almosta o lunatic FROM extreme thirst
from eating biscuit soaking in sea wa.
ter, and attempted to Iucnch it by
blood sucked from veins of his arm
opened with his penkniie, and attempt.
ing to drown himself several times, he
had been prevented by Capt. Luce and
Mr. Allen, until longer endurance