Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-11-02

Narrative of the French Sailor who WGeal
cd up from the Wreck Of Tho Arctic.


ed up from the Wreck of the Arctic. |
My name is Jassonet Francoise am
from Caucalo, village situate 3 leagues
distance from ST. Malo; | generally cm.
ploy myself every year in fishing at 81,
Pierre. embarked on board the Vesta
to return homo; when about noon on the
9th, chanced TO be on deck, | heard the
men in charge Of the watch, and who were
in the fore part of the vessel, sing out
"Luf, lua, there is a ship bearing down
upon u.s." think, to the best of my opin.
ion, that not more than half a minute
elapsed belore VIC receivud the shock. Our
ship struck the Arctic in the starboard
bow, near he wheel; our iorecaslle was
swept away by the blow. When we saw
this accident, q general confusion ensued
and man ascending from the hold cried
out that the vessel was filling with water,
which created a general panic among the
passengers and crew. To lower a boat,
and precipilate ourselves into it to the
number OF seven or eight, was the work
Of minute, and we proceeded towards
the American vessel (which continued its
route towards land. Our intention was TO
save ourselves on board the American YES.
sci, for our idea was, that our own would
60 down Immediately. We rowed for
some time before we could reach the bow
Of the vessel, but wave sent US to a dis.
tance again. We ;hen approac he'd the
wheel, and, owing to some accident which
| cannot explain, the boat was caught in
it and upset. alone was able 10 reach
rope, and got on the deck Of the Ameri.
can vessel, where general confusion and
panic reigned.
| soon learned that the vessel was in
danger, and | cast my eyes around me to
find some means of safety. There were
near me about thirty bottles; got rope
and attached them 10 my person, but one
Of them being broken soon saw that it
would not be possible to throw myselrin
the sea with them; that is why, finding a
box near me, fastened myself on it with
strong cords and cast myself into the sea.
By good luck there happened to be close
TO tho vessel floating piece Of the wreck,
which | seized hold OF, and abandoned
myself 10 the mercy Of the waves. In
company with me on this raft was a young
American Of from twenty 10 twenty-five
years Of age; this young man died on the
on the morning Of the 2Slb, from the CT.
iects Of cold and hunger. The, cold hat
taken such a hold Of him that it became
impossible for him TO utter single word
.. ! took him in my arms and supported bis
head on my shoulder. When he breath.
ed his last sigh he gave me such violent
shock that he was near upsetting me inC
the sea. attached him TO the raft witt
cords, and | kept him for about twenty
hours, at the expiration Of which time
finding that he was really dead, and pp.
pretending the visit orsome large sharks
| threw myself into the sea. After being
at the mercy Of the waves for a couple o.
days and nights, that is 10 say lilly.twc
hours, on the Goth, towards ten in the
morning, | perceived TO the west sail
which seemed TO be approaching me ther
with the small plank which served me as
an oar, | was enabled 10 make some sig.
mails, which did not seem 10 be noticed by
the vessel, continued 10 swim for anolh
er hour, and then became convinced tha
the vessel was steering directly toward:
me. This gave me a little courage, fol
my strength had began to abandon me-
made fresh signal, and saw that they
perceived me, for the vessel came straigh
towards me. | was hoiStcd on board, ant
! gave them TO understand, as well as
could, by signs and few words of Eng
, lish, that there were TO the leeward grea
number Of persons awaiting help, and tn,
r captain accordingly changed his cours
and steered in that direction. We picket
up eleven persons, who had got on float
ing pieces Of wreck, as also Captain Luce
We then made sail, and proceeded to Que
, bee. 1t was in this way that | escape
the waves, which threatened to engulp'
me every instant. | was in the sea fifty
two hours, without food or drink Of an
sort, with the exception of one small sal
lor's biscuit, which my companion in mis-
fortune gave me before he expired.