Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-01-26

we could only communicate by means
of writing questions and answers with
chalk in large letters upon board
In reply to our request to lay by us he
said he was short of provisions and
leaking badly. He wore ship and
passed us; as he did so himself and
crew gave us three hearty cheers as an
assurance that he would not desert US;
be assured we replied to these demon
strations no less heartily. He drew
ahead and laid his vessel to and re-
manned by US during the night. On
the next day the sea still running very
high, and We having no boats and he
only two, we made two RATS for convey
ing the passengers on board his ship,
but found that they could not live in the
sea that was then running. On the
third night came near losing him. On
the fourth day another sail appeared to
windward of US, close by the Three
Bells, and the latter signalised her
Both bore down for us. The second
ship proved to be the Antarctic, bound
for Liverpool. Both laid by US that
night, as it was too rough to do any
thing more than getting off few Of
the men. On the fifth day, being fine,
we transported all of the officers, pas
sengers and crew, with the exception of
the ships officers, engineers, and fire.
men, numbering some 25 or 80 men,
We also succeeded in getting some pro-
visions and water conveyed on board OF
the Three Bells. We kept the men at
the pumps during the day and night
and discovered and stopped her Leak
The next morning we got of all the
remainder Of those who were on the
San Francisco, and made sail for New
York, and the Antarctic sailed for
Liverpool.
Previous to falling in with the Three
Bells, a sort of congestive diarrhea
broke out among the men on board the
San Francisco, owing to exposure to
wet and cold, overwork and an undue
Indulgence in the potted meats, picked
cabbage, &c. Those who were seized
by this disease, died, in a few hours
after the attack. Corporal Smith, of
Company G, came to me and said his
child was sick; the doctor visited it,
and an hour after the man himself sent
for me, as he was dying; l went to him
and ascertained that such was the case.
Soon after / was informed by his wife
that her husband and child were dead.
l had her brought into the cabin and
put into state room with her child and
sister. During the night the mother
was found dead, and she was followed
soon after by the other child. The
sister still survives. Many cases occur
red, and many robust persons were
seized in one hour and dead the next.
About thirty persons died upon the
Three Bells. JUS
This ship brought home 1856 men, as
follows: Companies G, IA; A. 18; d,
25; L, 10; B, Ia; /, IL; H, 12; X,
13; and 8 musicians. The Antarctic
carried off Lieuts. c. S. Winder, and j.
G. Chandler, together with 175 non
commissioned officers, women, musi-
clans and privates.
/ cannot accord too much praise to
Captain Creighton, and his officers for
their bravery and uniform kindness to
US unfortunates. They are indeed our
saviors, and nothing can possibly repay
them for their self-saerifcing humanity,
save the warm glow of satisfaction that
accompanies conduct SO
eminently humane and philanthropic.
When we arrived in port we had
Just half a days allowance of water
and the continuance of yesterdays fog
would have placed US in desperate
situation. For several days previous
we were put upon short allowance of
water so that you see we escaped one
peril, but came near suffering another
not much less appalling.
| would desire to speak, in terms of
iting commentator Of worthy man
who eminently distinguished himself on
board the San Francisco; mean Ser
yeant Brown, who for FIVE nights, du-
ing the most terrific period of the
storm, labored increasingly in keeping
he ship clear of water, and by his
energy and self-sacri6cing devotion did
more to keep his fellow soldiers to their
luty than almost any other man on
board.
Here our notes close rather abrupt
Y, owing to the interference of Major
WISE, who commanded Lieut.. Winder
o desist from giving us further infor-
nation.
STATEMENT OF An OFFICER ON BOARD.
The passengers from the Three Bells
we're landed in state of great exhaus-
ion; many Of them had no sound sleep :
or fortnight. Il
The San Francisco was overloaded, 8
md had a bad list. She could not be
propelled over eight knots. Her en- Z
,ine pr wed to be inadequate and finally
ave out in the air-pump at a most critl-
al point.
The conduct of Capt. Watkins is 6
extolled to the utmost t
Ie went to England in the Antarctic, b
nth about a25 others. The Antarctic, il
-as well provided with water and pro-