Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-10-23
= TWICE SAVED -
aafrsdve q the French sailorwhe was picked
q up from tho wreck OF the Arctic
! From the Minerve, of Montreall


g From the Minerve, of Montreal
My name is Jassonet Francois; T am from
Cancale, village situated at three leagues
distance from St. -Malo; generally employ
myself every year in fishing at ST. Pierre. +
embarked on board the Vesta. to return home.
when about noon on the 9th as Glanced To-
be on deck, heard the men in charge of the
watch, and who were in the fore ,par. of the
vessel, sing out, "Luf, LuH-there ia a shin
bearing down Upon us' thing, to the best
J OF my opinion, that not moro than half a
minute elapsed before we receive the shock
Our ship struck the Arctic In the starboard
bow, near the wheel; our forecastle was went
away by the blow When we saw this acct
dent, general confusion ensued, and Il man
| ascending from the hold cried out that the
| vessel was filling with water which created a
general panic amongst the passengers and
crew. To lower boat and to precipitate our.
selves into it, to the number of seven or eight,
| was the work Of a minute, and we proceeded
! towards the American vessel, which continued
| Its route towards land.
the American vessel, for orr idea was that our
own would 60 down imm ediately. We rowed
for some time before we couId -.acn tne how
# the vessel, but wave sent as to a distance
again: Te then approached the wheel, and,
owing to some accident which cannot explain,
| the boat was caught in it, and upset. / alone
was able to catch rope, and get on the deck
| of the American vessel, where a general con-
| fusion and panic reigned. I soon learned
mat the vessel was in danger, and cast my
eyes around me to find some means Of safety.
Thee were near me about thirty bottles; I cot
rope and attached them to nv person. but
one of them being broken, I soon saw that it
would not be possible to throw myself into the
sea with them; that is why, finding box near
me, fastened myself on it with strong cords
aud cast myself into the sea. By good luck,
mere happened to be close to the vessel q
floating piece of the wreck, which seized hold
OF, and abandoned myself to the mercy of the
waves In company with me On this raft was
young American of from 20 to % years of
age; this young man died en- the morning of
the 18th from the effects of cold and hunger
The cold had taken such hold of him that it
became impossible for him to utter Single
word. took him in my arms-and supported
his head on my shoulder. When he breathed
bis last sign, he gave me- such violent shock
that he was near upsetting me into the sea.
attached him to the raft with cords, and kept
him for about twenty hours, at the expiration
OF which, finding that he was really dead, and
apprehending the visits of some large sharks,
threw myself into the sea. After being at the
mercy OF the waves for couple of DAYS and
O
18th, towards ton in the morning, perceived
to the west, sail, which seemed to be an.
preaching me- Then, with the small plank
which had served me as an oar, was enabled
TO make some signals, which did not seem to
be noticed by the vessel. continued to swim
for ano Their hour, and then became convinced
that the vessel was coming directly towards
me. This gave me little courage, for my
strength had begun to abandon me-
made fresh signal, and saw that thew
perceived me, for the vessel came straight TO-
wards me. was hoisted on board, and I gave
them to understand as we'll as I could, bv
signs and few words Of English, that there
were to the leeward great number of PEI
sons awaiting. help, and the captain accord
lngly changed his course and steered in that
direction. We picked up eleven persons, who
had got on floating pieces of wreck, as, also,
Captain I.u5s. We then made sail, and pro
ceeded to Quebec It was IN this way that I
escaped the waves which threatened to en-
gulph me every instant. was in the sea
6fty-two hours, without food or drink of any
sort, with the exception of one small sailors
biscuit, which ny companion in misfortune
gave me before he expired.