Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-10-21

came rushing up edgewise, just grazing m.
head, falling with its whole weight upol
the head OF nv darling child. Another mo
ment beheld him lifeless in the water.
succeeded in getting on the top Of the pad
dle-box, in company with eleven other; one
however, soon left for another place, md
ing that it would not support SO many
Others remained until they were one BY on
relieved BY death. We stood IN water at
temperature OF - Sup TO our knees, an
frequently the sea broke directly over US
We soon separated from our friends on 9th
X err parts of the wreck, and passed the night
each one us expecting every hour woui'
be our last.
At last the wished for morning came, sur
rounding us with dense tog--not living
soul to be seen but cur own party-sevar
men being left. In the course OF the
morning we saw some water casks and oth
er things belonging to our ship, but noth
! ing that we could get to afford US auy re-
/ ief.
Our raft was rapidly settling, as 1t absorb
ed water
About noon Mr.. S. N. Woodruff of New
York, was relieved bs death All the oth'
ers now began to suffer very severely io'
want ofwater. except Mr.. George r. Alien
and myself In that respect we we're very
much favored, although we had not
drop on the raft The day continued foggy
except just at noon, as near as we co"ia
Judge, we had clear horizon for about hall
an hour. and nothing could be seen but va
ter and sky.
Might came on thick and treary, with our
minds made up that neither OF US would
again see the light Of another day. Very
soon three more OF our suffering party were
relieved by death, leaving Mr.. Allen, a
Young man, and myself. Feeling my elf
lgetting exhausted, | now sat down for the
First time, about light o'clock in the even
| ing, on a trunk, which providentiaiy had
| been found on the wreck In this way !
slept little throughout the night, and be-
came somewhat refreshed
About an hour before daylight-now Fri
| day, the 26th--we saw vessels light near
to US. We oil three exerted ourselves to
the utmost of our strength in hail'ng her
until we became quite exhausted. In
about quarter of an hour the light disap-
pearcd 10 the east of US. Soon after day
light bark hove in sight to the northwest,
the fog having lightened little, steering
apparently for US; but in short time she
seemed to have changed her course, and
again we were doomed to disappointment;
vet felt hope that some OF our fellow pas
sengers may 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 east OF us, steering direct
" for us. We now watched her with the
most intense anxiety as she approached
The wind changing, caused her to alter her
course several points. About noon they
fortunately discovered man on raft near
them, und succeeded in saving him by the
second mate jumping over the side, and ma
king rope fast around him, when he was
got on board safely. This man saved Erov-
ed TO be Frenchman, who was pas
senger on board the steamer which we
came in collision with.
He 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 taken on board about p. NJ. The
next VAS Mrs. James Smith, of Mississippi,
second class passenger. The others saved
were five of our firemen. The ship proved
TO be the Cambria, of this port. from Glas.
gov, bound to Montreal, Capt John Russell
who commanded the bark Jesse Stevens,
and was rescued By Capt. Nye of the Pa.
cific OF Capt Russell it would scarcely be
possible to say enough in his praise for the
kind treatment we every one of us have re-
ceived from nim. during the time we have
been Oh board his ship.
| have safely arrived at Quebec, and am
left without penny in the world with
which TO help myself. With sincere graft.
tude to those from whom have received
such unbounded kindness since have been
! providen'ially thrown among them, | am
about to separate to 60 to New York-a
/ home of sorrow.
/ am, very respectfully,
! Your obedient servant,
/ JAMES C. LUcEa