The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-10-25

could not support so many. Others re
b. maincd until they were, one by one re
E licved by death We stood in water, o
+, temperature Of forty five degrees, up t
: our kncos, and frequently the sea brok
, directly over us. We soon separate,
!, from our friends on other parts of th,
, wreck. and passed the night, each one o
, us expecting every hour would be ou
, last.
At last Tie wished for morning came
surf oundcd with dense fog-not liv
ing soul to be seen but our own party
seven men being left. In the course o
the morning we saw somo water cask
and other things belonging to our ship
but nothing that we could get to ffort
us any relief.
Our raft was rapidly settling, as il
absorbed water.
About noon Mr. S. NJ. Woodruff, Of
New York, was relieved by death. All
the others now began 10 suffer very
severely for want Of water, except MIR
George T. Allen and myself In that
respect We were very much favored, al.
though we had not drop on the raft.
The day continued foggy, except just at
noon as near as we could judge, we had
n clear horizon fo- about half an hour.
and nothing could be seen but water and
sky. Night came on thick and dreary,
with our minds made up that neither Of
US would again see tue light of another
day. Very soon three more Of our suf-
fering party were relieved by death,
leaving, Mr.. Allen, a young man, and
myself. Feeling myself getting exhaust
ed, now sat down for the first time, a.
bout eight o'clock in the evening, on q
trunk, which providentially had been
found on the wreck. In this way slept
little throughout the night, and be-
came somewhat refreshed.
About on hour before daylight--now
/ Friday. the 20th-we saw vessels light
near to US. We all three of US excrtcd
ourselves to the utmost of our strength
in hailing her, until We became quite ex-
haustcd. In about quarter Of an hour
the light disappeared to the east of us.
Soon after daylight bark hove in sight
to the northwest, the fog having tighten
cd little, steering apparently for us ;
but IN a short time she seemed to have
changed her course, aud again We were
doomed to disappointment ; yet felt
hopes that some of our fellow sufferers
might have been seen and rescued by
them.
Shortly after we had given up all hopes
Of being rescued by the bark. ship was
discovered to the cast Of us, steering
directly for US We now watched her
with the most intense anxiety as she np'
preached The wind changing, caused
her to alter her course several points
About noon they fortunately discovered
a man on raft near..tbcm,and succeeded
in saving him 6y the second mate jump
ing over the side, and making a rope
fast around him. when he was got on
board safely. This man saved proved
to be Frenchman, who was passenger
on board the steamer which we came in
collision with. lie informed the captain
that others were near on pieces Of the
wreck and, going aloft, he saw US and
three others. We were the first to
which the boat was sent, and safely TAX
en- on board about three p. IN. The
next was Mr.. James Smith, of Mississip-
pi, second class passenger. The others
saved were five of our fremen. The
ship proved to be the Cambria. of this
port, from Glasgow, bound to Montreal,
Captain john Russell. rho command.
cd the bark Jesse Stcrins, and ,cas res
cncd By Captain Nyc, of Tic Pacific.
OF Captain Russell it would scarcely be
possible to say enough in his praise for
the kind treatment we, every one of US,
have received from him. during the time
We have been on board his ship. His
own comforts he gave up in every res
pect for our relief Tho Rev Mr. Walk
cr and lady. and another gentleman who
were passengers by the Cambria, have
been unceasing in their cndcavors to
promote our comfort To them, and to
all on board, we shall ever owe debt of
gratitude for their uubouuded kindness
to us.
From the Frenchman who was picked
up, we learned that the steamer with
which we came in collision was the screw
steamer Vesta. from ST. Pierre, bound
for and belonging to Greenvillc, France.
As near as we could learn, the Vcsta
was steering east southeast, and was
crossing our course two points, with all
sails set, wind ives, by south Her
anchor stock, about seven by four inches
square, was driven through the bows Of
tho Arctic, about eighteen inches above
the water line, and an immense hole had
been made, at the same instant, by the
fluke of the anchor about tive feet below
the water line, raking fore and aft the
plank, and finally breaking the chains,
leaving the stock remaining in and
through the side of the Arctic or it is
not unlikely that, as so much of her bows
had been crushed in, that some of the
heavy longitudinal pieces of iron run.
mag through the ship may have been
driven through our side, causing the loss
of our ship, and, fear. hundreds of most
valuable lives.
have safely arrived at Quebec, and
| am left without a penny in the world
with which to help myself With sin
cere gratitude to those from whom I
have received such unbounded kindness
since have been providentially thrown
amongst then, | am about to separate
to 60 to New York--a home of sorrow
| learned from the doctor, at quaran
tine, last evening, that the Vesta had
reached st Johns with several passen
gers from the Arctic, but could not learn
the particulars. As soon as | can gel
on shore | shall make arrangements tc
leave for Now York with tho least pos
sible delay.