The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-20
Twcnty-six hours Om a RATA Thrill
ling Narrative.

Peter McCabe, of Ireland, who was rescued
from The raft and brought TO New \ ork, publishes
a letter, ia which, after stating that he renamed
ON the Arctic until The water reached The main
deck, and The vessel commenced sinking, says:-
left the door, aud got upon the raft " hlch had
been partially constructed from the spars We took
from the vessel. A great many persons were try
ing 10 get on Tho raft. Some clingIng 10 II
with one hand and, although it was already CROWD
ed others striving 10 get 4 loOthuld. Among
the number who were upon II | saw four ladies'
Their names did not know. Altogether. there
were SeUeniy.SiE 1,crSOaS on the raft. The sea-
though not strong, rough, and The waves, as
they dashed over ii, washed away portion OF lis
living freight. shall never tDrgel ihe awful
sc+ne. There were, in the midst oil the ocean,
without the slightest hope of assistance, whilst
every minute ono or more oil our unfortunate
fellow passengers were dropping INTO Their watery
grave from sheer exhaustion. Those who had
life prcsrryors did not sink, bat fOncd with their
ghasrly faces upwards reminding those who still
remained alive OF the fate that awaited them.
In The midst of oil this, thanks 10 Heaven, |
never LOST hope, but retained my courage to the
Isri. One by one | saw my unfortunate conlPan-
ions drop off; some o! them foated OF, and were
and guawed by FISHES, while others were
washed under the raft, and remained with me I'LL
! ras rescued. ! could see their faces in the
openings as they were swayed TO and fro by the
ns off. The rnft at one time vas so crowded that
MANY had 10 hold by one hand. Very few
words were spoken by any, and the only sound
that we hoard was The splash Oi The walters, or The
heavy breathing of the poor sufferers, as they
tired recover their breath after wave had passed
over them. Nearly all were submerged to their
arm. pits, bile few could with great difficulty
keep their heads above the surface. The women
we're the first 20 60. They we're unable 10 stand
tl,e lhan Or hOuTa
oil fell off the rait without word, except one poor
girl, who cried out in intense agony, "Oh, my
poor mother and sisters"
When ] was about elghteen hours on The raft
there were not more than three or four ieli. Ono
of these gave me what appeared 10 be small mnP.
but " hich understood him 10 say vas sort OF
title deed to his property. la few moments after
took il, he too unloosed his hold, and was added
20 the number that hoated about the raft.
endrsvored 10 get the paper into my pocket,
but found this impossible, OH account Of my cramp.
ed position, so placed it between my teeth, and
held it there till was overwhelmed by wave,
when lost my hold Of it, and it washed
away. Another, who had oiled silk coat on.
called on me- for Heavens sake, TO assist him, az
his strength WAS rapidly failing, and he must fall
of If not relieved. AS he about four or five
feet from me-, it difficult 10 reach him, but
alter considerable excrIions succeeded in doing
so. and helped him with one of my knees until
became quite faint, when | was obliged 10 leave
him 10 fate. Poor fellow. he promised me, if he
ever got To- New York alive he would reward me
we'll. He chung with terrible tenacity 10 life, but
he, too, dropped off in his turn.
| was now left alone on the raft; not a solitary
being alive. out of seventy; but still my hope
continued strong. The right OF The second day
wns about closing me, and during the whole
time | had been 10 the water had not eaten a
particle of anything or drank drop. My strength,
found, was beginning to give way, and my sight
had become SO dim that could not perceive OBJ
jecIs few feet off; the CHASTITY faces Of the
dead, that looked up al under the raft were
hardly discerniblc. determined on making one
more effort for life; raised myself my knees
upon the raft, and through the dusk OF The evening
l saw, or thought saw vessel. My strength
seemed 10 revive, and in few minutes heard the
voices of persons in boat approaching me- Ten
minutes more and too would have gone; but
Providence had mercy on me, and after twenty
six hours exposure | was by its mercy preserved
from a watery grave.
Mr. McCabe is lying in low condition in New
York, and seems, at times, partially deranged.
Since taken from the raft, large eruptions have
taken place his Limbs which, well as his
hands and arms are very much swollen, from The
effects, as is supposed, Of being immersed in the
water SO long.