Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-03-02

of it up to some of those behind, and bv
this means great many were enabled
to come on shore. To attempt to paint
the heart-rending scene on board the
ship would be impossible-wives cling.
ing to their husbands, children to theil
parents, women rushing wildly about
the deck uttering the most heart-rend,
ing cries, many offering all they pos.
sessed to persons to get them on shore.
Among some of the earliest who at
tempted to get on shore were some
young Irish women. Most of them
lost their hold of the rope and fell into
the sea. The doctor of the ship, a
most noble fellow, struggled hard to
save his wife and child; he had sue
ceeded in getting about half way tc
shore on rope-holding his child by
its clothes in his teeth-but Just then
the ship lurched outward by which the
rope was dragged from the hands Of
those who held it on the lower rocks,
and was held only by those above, thus
running him high in the air, SO that the
brave fellow could not drop on the rock
Word was now given to lower the rope
gently, but those who held it above, lei
it go by the run, and the poor fellow,
with his child, was buried in the waves;
but in a short time he again appeared
above the water, battling manfully with
the waves and the portions of the wreck
that now foated about him. He al
length swan to ladder that hung by a
rope alongside the ship, and got upon it
After he had been there minute or two
woman fioated close to him. He i'm.
mediately took hold of her and dragged
her on the ladder, tenderly parted the
hair from her face, and appeared to bC
encouraging her, but in another minute
she was washed from his hold, and sanl
almost Immediately. He then got w
again in the ship, and tried to get hi:
wife on shore, but they both perished
He deserved better fatel
The scene was now truly awful. The
most desperate struggles for life were
made by the wretched passengers; great
numbers of women jumped overheard
in the vain hope of reaching land; and
the ropes were crowded by hundreds,
who, in their eagerness, terror, and con-
fusion, frustrated each others efforts for
self-preservation. Many of the women
would get half way, and then become
unable to proceed further, and after
clinging to the rope for a short time
would be forced from then. hold by those
who came after them.
Three women only out of 200 were
saved. One of these had got a part of
the way across when her legs fell, and
she hung some time by her two hands
over the foaming waves; her husband
then came on the rope, and managed to
assist her to the shore. Two men came
on shore with children tied to their
backs; but of the whole who fell into
the water, not above five were saved.
l saw one fine girl, who, after falling
from one rope, managed to get hold Of
which was hanging from the
side of the ship, and which she held on
to for more than quarter of an hour,
the sea every moment dashing her against
the side of the ship, but it was impossi-
Die for us to lend her any assistance.
Some one got spar out, by which
several got on shore; but it soon broke,
and now might be seen hundreds hang
ing to the bulwarks of the ship, each
struggling to get on shore. l saw one
woman hanging on the middle of the
rope for some time by her two hands,
but those pushing to get on shore soon
sent her to her doom. The ships stern
now began to sink; the ship made
Iurch, and all the ropes snapped asun-
der. The scene now was most harrow
ing, Every wave washed off scores at
a time; we could see them struggle for
a moment, then, tossing their arms, sink
to rise no more. At length the whole
ship sunk under water. There was
fearful struggle for moment, and all,
except two, who were In the rigging,
were gone.
Inc coast guard now came up, put all
hey could do was to attempt to save the
two who were in the rigging. They
to get line to one of them by
two lines, at the end of each
Of which was a piece Of wood, to a
single line, and guiding it from the rock
10 the spot where the poor fellow was,
20 that he could reach it. They then
dragged him ashore. There was one
ine young man left in the top, but they
could not reach him, and when he saw
hem going away, his cries were heart
rending. About 2 O'Clock the next
the coast guard managed to
reach him, after he had been in the top
IA hours. You many fancy the fellows
10y at his deliverence.
~ There was a spec::s.op Of re-