The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-10-21

ueck DOat, ana De1Ore the snip went GOWN,
pulled away with about Is persons. We
had succeeded in getting the fall and main
yard, and two top gallant yards overheard,
and such other small spars and materials as
we could collect, when was fully convinc-
ed that the ship must 90 down in short
time-not a moment was TO be lost IN get
ting the spars ashed together to form a
raft, to do which it became necessary to get
the life boat into the water.
This being accomplished, saw Mr.. Do
rian, Sd office of the boat, taking care 10
keep the oars on board, to prevent them
from leaving the ship, hoping still to get
most OF the women and children in the boat
at least. They had made considerable pro-
gress in collecting the spars, when an alarm
was given that the ship was sinking, and
the boat was showed off without oars, or
anything to help them with, and when the
ship sank, the boat had got an eighth of a
mile to leeward, and in an instant, about a
quarter to five p. NJ, the ship went down
carrying every soul on board with her. |
soon found myself on the surface, after d
brief struggle, with my own helpless child in
my arms. | again found myself impelled
downward to a great depth, and before |
reached the surface a second time, had near
ly persisted, and lost the hold of my child
AS | struggled to the surface of the water, a
most awful and heart-rending scene present.
ed itself 10 my view. Over 200 men, wo
men and children, struggling together,
amidst 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. /
was in the act of trying to save my child,
when a portion of the paddle box came up
edgewise, just grazing my head, and falling its
whole weight upon the head of my darling
child. In another moment ! beheld him
lying lileless in the water. | succeeded in
getting on TO the top Of the paddle box, in
company with eleven others; one however,
soon left for another piece, finding that it
could not support so many The others re-
NAMED till they were, one by one, relieved
by death. We stood in water at tempera-
ture of 45, up to our knees, and frequently
the sea broke directly over us. We soon
separated from our friends on the other parts
of the wreck, and passed the night, each one
of US expecting every hour would be our
last. At last the wished for morning came.
surrounded with dense fog, 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, be-
longing to our ship, but nothing that we
could get, or afford us any relief. Our raf;
was steadily settling, as II absorbed water
About noon Mr. S. NJ. Woodruff. Of n. Y.
was relieved by death all the Others now be-
gan TO suffer very severely for water, except
Mr.. George Allen, and myself. In that re-
spect we were very much favored, although
we had not drop on the raft; the day con-
tinued foggy. except just at noon. as near as
we could Judge. we had clear horizon, for
about half an hour, and nothing could be
seen bu. water and sky. Night came on.
dark and dreary, with our minds made up
that neither of US would live to see the light
of another day, for very soon three more OF
our suffering party were relieved by death
| leaving Mr.. Allen, young man and myself
Feeling myself getting exhausted, now sat
down for the first time, at s o'clock in the
evening on trunk which had been found
on the wreck. In this way ! slept a little
throughout the night, and became somewhat
refreshed
About an hour before daylight. now Fri
! day the 29th, we saw vessel light near us
we all exerted ourselves to the utmost of oul
strength in hoiling until we became exhaust
! ed. In about quarter of an hour the ligh
! disappeared TO the east of us.
| Soon after daylight bark hove in sigh