Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-01-27

fought fields; Maj. Taylor and wife; Capt.
Field, and Lieut. Smith. The sea was covered
with drownigD men. The roar of the tenn
pest smcthered the "bubblng cry Of strong
swimmers in their agony" In a few mo,
ments they sunk TO rise no moro till the sea
gives up her dead. Two of all the crowd
succeeded in regainging the sbip-Mr. Kan
kin, an army sutter and Mr., merchant,
of Rio Janeiro.
A few moments had elapsed when reach.
ed the saloon II was filed with water to
the depth Of nearly two feet. The females
and children, mostly in their night clothes, and
wet to the skin, were scattered on planks
some wailing and sobbing; some apparently
stupi6ed; and some calmly awaiting what
seemed their inevitable fate. All supposed
the last hour had arrived, and in a few mo-
ments they would meet their Maker face to
face.
Then rose from sea 10 sky the wild farewsll-
Then shrieked the timid and stood still the brave -
Happy those, who in this awful moment, fell
that their peace was made, and nothing left
but calm resignation to their Makers hand
But Death is the King of Terrors, and when
he meets us in the midst of life, with our
bones full of marrow and our limbs full of sap
human nature clings 10 life, and even the in
stnct of the dumb animal shrinks from death
The dream Of poor Clarence came over me
and thought-"Alas! it is fearful thing tc
die"
Another sea like that which struck us, and
our fate had been that of the President-not
a soul would have survived to tell the tale
But it pleased merciful and all-wise Plovi-
dencc, TO say to the sea, "Htherto shalt thou
come ard no further. and here shall thy proud
waves be stayed" 1t is proverbial that
drowning men catch at straws, and instinctiv-
ely did many of US lash ourselves to life pre-.
servers, though in the raging pillows of that
angry sea, five hundred miles from the near
est shore, one would have been but little bet
ter dependence than the other.
After the first burst of dismay was over
hope began to revive in our bosoms The
hull was still staunch and strong, and some
passing vessel might rescue us from the wreck
Something whispered, "you are safe, and af-
ter committing myself and those most dear
to me to the Father of Mercies, l felt at
peace.
Ascending the companion way, from the
saloon to the main deck, | seated myself at the
head OF the staircase and surveyed the scene.
The steamer was, in all her upper works, a
perfect'wreck. Foremost, smoke stack, the
greater part of The promenade deck, the sa
loon, and all the state rooms on the main deck
all were gone. The main deck was stove,
and the water rushing in at every sea we
shipped. On the opposite side of the com
panon way lay manged and bleeding corps
of a soldier, who was killed instantly by the
falling of the deck A few feet further lay Il
man groaning and near death from injuries re-
ceived at the same time. The sea was run
ming mountains high, and every billow that
came with its curling crest towards us, seem
ed about to pour into our shattered deck and
sink US. 1t was not so to be. We were in
imminent danger of laundering; but our gal
liant and undaunted commander, Captain
Watkins, whose exertions during all that fear
ful night had been almost superhuman, di-
rectcd all his energies to save us. TO light
en- the ship and stop the leakes were the first
objects. To break open the hatches and
commence discharging cargo, was the work
of a moment. Soldiers and sailors all lent a
helping hand, and as each man knew he work
ed for his life, and all worked with a will
Stancheons were placed under the broken
deck, and it was partially forced back to its
place. Itwas found that the water gained
upon US rapidly. The steam pump had be-
come obstructed. Fifty soldiers were detail
ed to commence baing. All day and al!
night the work went on without intermSsion.
Still, with every roll the ship took in large
quantities of water, and we gained little upon
the leak. Sunday morning. the 25th, the day
Of the nativity of our blessed Saviour, at last
dawncd upon us. The sky lighted up lit
tie; there was short gleam of sunshine, and
the sea Gained little. A sail or two were
seen in the distance, but none approached US.
The work of baiiing and pumping went on,
and we gained on the leak Monday, the
26th, the gale continued with little abate
ment. All night Sunday the tempest roared
round our devoted ship. The waves thun-
dred against our sides and stern, like cannon
at the gates of beleaguered city. Sleep
was out Of the question. For three nights we
had had none. We discovered a sail not far
off On approaching us she proved to be "A
brig. we spoke her. She reported herself
short of provisions, and after supplying her
self with barrels of beef and pork we had
thrown overheard she went on her way. On
Sunday, the 9th, discovered another sail
bearing down upon us. She proved to be
the bark Kilby, of and for Boston, from New
Orleans, loaded with cotton, thirty-fve days
out By authority of Col. Gates. command.
ing the detachment, she was chartered for
government TO convey the troops to the near
est accessible port. Tuesday was TOO rough
to disembark any part of the command but on
Wednesday, the 2sth. Colonel Gates, and
family, Major Merchant and family, Col. Burk,
Captains Fremont and Judd. with their fam.
lilies, Drs. Satterlee and Wirts, with some 9th.
ers whose names are not recollected, were
safely embarked on board the Kilby. Some
forty or fifty soldiers and some soldiers wives
also embarked-'n all nearly one hundred
persons Night came on, and put stop to
any further operations. 1t had been agreed
that the bark should lie By us till all on board
the steamer was disembarked, but it came on
to blow heavily in the night, and in the NOR
ming she disappeared and we saw her no
more. Thus all the hopes ofescaps we bas-
ed upon the Kilby were doomed TO disap-