Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-01-28

" b. formed by old ocean when Ia-hed by
such a tempest. struck orr vessel amid
ships, completely submrrging the wheel
houses, and washing them with all their
inmates, within an instant. at least halt q
mile distant. into the loamiug sea. Ny
sci. and MIR, Rankin were among the
namber who were washed away, and the
only TWO OF this entire company who were
successful in remaining the ship. Al the
rest sunk into the laws Of death ard were
rocked INTO an eternal sleep by the roaring
swelling sea. As can only describe the
awful situation of these morals by my
own cvnnrioncp. hoDe | will ne eyruseI
r,r aunding to mvseIf ! we'll remember
was Ivirg IN nv sta,oroom an the after
deck Win travelling comoanion, Mr.
Limos S,ocl-woII wbrn ,baro came .
shocI, and sudden crash of hrrgbiuJ fjm-
her. and I felt myself roIIing like a ton in
The wafer. with salt brine ru>hing INTO nv
,,orrh and almost bIindinr me.
When arose to the surface the ocean
narrowing SIGHT was before me. was
half a mile from the steamer. and around
me was about an acre of 1oatng timber.
ImmediaIely by NV side came up from the
deep Mr.. Slnrkwell. who rauoht hold Of
the same suck of timber to which had
cIlng for safety. The suck BEGAN 10
,iak and | seized hold of another piece.
and made the best Of NV way to the
wrecked steamer. Two or three huge
sVrlls soon tossed me near the ship. and
| grasprd rome forward OF the wheel
house, to which clung for refuge, raising
and falling win the pitching vessel
While in lhrs situation saw n man stand
ing on the paddle OF the wheel who was
plunged into the ocean at every roll Of the
steamer and who probably PerI>hed.-
Losing my strength, | dropped from the
rope 10 "mch chung, and fortunately a
friendly wave threw me against the guard
of The vessel, which lscized hold Of, and
the next plunge carrying ne still higher
on The guard, | was enabled at last to
crawl upon the forward deck, and there
with my hand broke open stale room
window and crept into i, half drowned.
W hIie in tire water, the sighl agound me
was worse than death itself. When |
arose 10 The surface ot the water, | saw
about forty struggling for life, and about
one ball Of them bad blood streaming
from wounds about their heads. Brlng
blinded b, what thorghr Was the SAL
water, pat my hand to NV forehead Ia
wipe away rlc brine v hen ! Wa sur
prl>ed 10 h.d vas bleeding myself from
a wound on my brow. Il is. therefore.
conclusive that most of those WASHED .
,way we're at the same tine wounded bv
he crashing nmbcrs. Besides myse,l .
Mr.. Rankin was the only one saved OF
he number who were swept into the
ocean.
Such was the force Of the waves that
hey broke in part of the deck and Killed
md injured several. besides drIucinu thc
passengers in the lower cabins. and FILING
he saloon with water. Can't. Gardiner
lepl on deck. and was not swept away
yi,h the Others, but at one time found
man by his side with 4 splinter thrus,
brougb Il, head, which musl have Killed
,im in,,,n,aneonsIv
After recovered nvsoIrI lookod ,rourd
ne. and tbe onIv drv nIace in the steamer
vas the after cabin wbere tho ,Gice-s
ci,b their wives anJ cbIJron ,yero .,owoI
,w,v IvirI roIIsJ IN bIanCe's .s con,.
}u, obr the score oc cor,nsion 40 ,on"ne
an ,eID no nen descr,he Tb. s,o,n,
.on,inurd to race. and we were At the
o[,ho - ,,.,
wave after u,vo c.mo o Jasb;nn r ", .a,ins, 2I.,
= shr;ol ,Gor sLr;ol. o,mo g., ,l,,a ,',.
Who dreaded ,o IooL int, the Y, rr,yo 70 49,
Yearly All rave mn hones of sofe,r .rJ
we're 1a,iepIIv awa;,iog 70 be summoned