The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-11-01

|
of'he sinking ship, watching operations
there and keeping myself from being
driitcd out Of sight So us to have what
company there might be loft on RATS
like my own, after our douned vessel
had sunk beneath the surface. In this
position / saW Mrce different small
rgt's like mg opn leare tie slip, one Of
them Oith three and another miM t,ro
cf tie Jireneen standing erect on item,
the third with the old Frcnchman We
had already picked up, and one of
the mess boys Of the ship sittin. on it.
These three RATS all drifiel close by
mo, SO near that was hailed by one
and aRothcr OF them, with the request
for us all us. to keep near together, to
which assented, but told them that
We had all better try aud keep by the
ship till she went down. At this time
! noticed that the large boat which
lad been on the quarter deck was in
the water and was being Jrieyhtsd prct
yJuity to all appearance wiM severul
.temales unda good uunsJcr Of males,
and that tho raft of spars was at the
same time being lashcd together and
several getting on it. noticed, also,
y compile of large empty water casks
lashed together with five mon on
them, apparently passengers, leave the
ship, md drifting towards me; while
within about fifty yards they capsiycd
with the force OF Il heavy swell, giving
their living freight an almost imme
diatc water grave. Three of them, |
noticed ressailcd the top side of the
casks only to be immediately turned
over again, and tho casks separating
saw no more Of them. My heart sick
i'c:'.d q: SO in:c!; of ;;is';cili,tp death,
and still almost longcd To l,ava been
ono them, for ut tlic same instant, and
rs near rs I can judge at about / :,
the ship began to disappear, stern fore
most; she entered Under the surfncc,
her bow risinga little as she, SLOWLY
wcnt unoer, and | distinctly heard the
gurg!ns an. rushing SOUND OF tho WA
ter filling her cabins from stern to
stem IS shrr went under, taking, ]
should think, from thirty seconds 10 q
ml.ll,c in disappearing, with y largo
number of'pcopic still upon her dock.
Thus went down the noble Arctic,
leaving nothing behind but mixture
OF fragments otthc wreck and strllg-
Cling human beings, saw ene !ar"e
halt round fragment burst above tho
surface and several of the sLruoy Cling
fellow .mortals get OH it. This and
tho iatt ofspars. with several on it, aud
the boat full Of people, was all that |
could distinctly make out rs being
left i'll the neighborhood Of where the
ship went down TO windward; and
the tllrco small RATS to ceward, along
With my own, were loft to pass the
night, nuw beginning. to close in upon
and hide away from sight. Iwish !
could remove from my memory this
dreadful day--buL such night of cx-
tremc melancholy, despair, and utter
loneliness, hope shall never again
experience. had, it is true, become
E.miliarizcd with death. and felt ss if|
it WQpIA he great relief to 20 jlnmodi-
ately like tho rest; and for thia end |, I
with somewhat of satisfaction, thought |
Of q phial Of laudanum in my pocket
previously intended for better use
but, oh how unprcpared was to sec |
my God, and, for my tinily's sake. |
how necessary felt it was for me |
still to live while lQnger, else ! would |
hayc nmptrI that phial or rol led over
the side o'my planl: most willingly. |
The night was cold and chilly. The |
,ionsc log vas saturating my already |
wet clothing. WAS standing To tic |
ankles in li,e water, with the waves |
ever now and then washing me up
above the knees no hope in my mind |
Of being driltcd to the land, and in y |
part of the ocean where it is expected |
y thick: Toy continually hqngs over
the suri;1cc, prpcIudins the hopo Of any
chance vessel, ia passing near us, be-
lnG aware Of our situatiou-all circum-
STANCES seemed TO SLY, it is j. ques.
lion Of how long the physical frame
can endure this pcrishiny state, or how
long before u more bostcrous sea
turns over or separates the slightly
fastened rlankS. Thus rejecting,
offered up to Him who rue,h the
winds and the wayes-to Him nv
heartfelt prayers.
Relieved; and consoled by this my !
last petition, was somewhat calmly |
rcsisning 'qJscltLa await my time as |
long as my strength and power Of en-
durancc could hold out, when discov.
cred close by me u large square has
ket lined with tim, fioating lightly by
me-one of tho stewards JisI, baskets
it proved to bc---and, padding up. TO
it got it on board, aud with the help
OF small piece ofropc had round
my shoulders, llsbcd it pretty firmly
OH top OF the plank. thus not only ten
IL. ,.,l. Z. c. :