The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-11-18
Ri C II M 0 ND, VA;
SATURDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 49, 1s,
WRECK OF THE NEW Fra

Louisa Haeier, one of the passengers saved from
the New Era, has made statement relative to the
loss OF that vessel She states that the whole voy-
age was ful of misery, sickness and want that
'orty two died during the passage; that the pas
sengers suffered much from the want Of proper food
and fresh water, which was said to be the faalt of
the first mate aud that the conduct of the doctor
towards the sick persons under his charge was
characterized by extreme brutality. The state--
ment continues:
When retired TO rest Sunday night. the
was very rough, the sky clouded aud full of lem
PEST; on Monday morning, at the hour when the
COOK usually summoned the passengers to come and
receive their allowance of coffee-that is, between
nVe and six oclock-the ship struck; did not at
first know what it was that caused the ship to ca
reen so violently but some of the seameD, actuated
by charitable motives, called cut from the main
hatch, and warned US that the vessel was ahore,
and that we must come on deck it we wished to be
saved. At that fearful announcement--scarcelyh half
understood by the wretched passengers-a few men
and women sprang from their bertbs and rushed
upon deck, without waiting to put on any clothes
the next moment heard the water washing the
deck and experienced series OF violent shocks.
from the ship striking the bottom. 1t was at this
time as | afterwards understood that the houses
were washed overheard, and many persons drown
ed. At the first alarm | endeayored to reach my
trunk, which was near the berth | occupied, in
order to secure two hundred dollars which had
placed there. | need offer no excuse for this
rice, as it might be called it instinct of self
possession which dictated the movement, for knew
that if saved by Providence, ! would be thrown
upon strange land and that being without friends,
it was necessary should have money for protec-
ton. | succeeded in finding the purse which con-
tanned my only possession, and secured it to my
person.
In the meantime the vessel had been beating
fearfuily upon the beach, aDd heard loud cries Of
despair proceeding from the deck hurried up
the steps, but the very moment had emerged
from the steerage an Immense wave bUrst over the
deck, and carried me with it into the As was
thus hurried overheard, however, had presence
OF mind sufficiently to enable me to seize rope
that lay upon the plaDks near me, and clung tena
ciously to 1t. As the waves cast me back towards
the ship, broken spar tOated near me; disengag
ed my right hand from the rope, and clung with
uny around this gift Of divine Providence. My
purse was then driven forth by the waves, and it
was during this terrible episode OF my nisiortunes
that my body was bruised by being thrown violent
ly against the aide of the ship For more than one
hour was in this situation. every on board Of
the vessel being too much filled with his own dan
ger to notice me and not the least part OF my an
guish was it that while thus numbed with cold and
| wounded was compelled to listen to the loud, loud
| cries OF terror which burst from the despairing
| crowd vino thronged the rigging of each OF the
masts. 1t was then raining, the wind was high, and
| the sea running 10 immense channels.
| Suddenly the rope by which had been secured
| to the ship parted, and drifted away, shrieking
| lcudy Ter assistance l became almost unconscious
| with terror | felt the huge waves breaking over
| me, and though from the natural instinct of self
preservation, clung yet more closely to the spar,
it seemed to me that my hold was gradually relax
| ing, and must inevitably perish. How good was
Providence to me in the midst of that frighiful
| lamity The consequence Of what seemed to me
certain destruction, in reality constituted my safety
| for the tide, being the flood, carried to the
| shore, where was rescued by generous seaman
at the risk of his own life LOUISA HAEIFR
Many Incidents are related by the New York pa
pers, such as usually attend terrible cala.nities-
| We copy the following from the Herald:
There is at the house of Mr. Allen, near the beach
a young woman of delicate and refined appear
ance whose brief history is full of melancholy in
terest. Her name is Amelia Donce; she is native
of Prussia, and having about year previous mar
ried against the wishes OF her family, now sough
home in the United States. She was rescued
among the first Tuesday morning, and about
two hours subsequently, gave birth to son. Boil
m ther and child were saved but unfortunately th
husband was lost on the wreck. This unbapp.
lady fully corroborates the statements made b.
the other passengers with regard to the suffer NJ
which they underwent during the passage.