The true Democrat., 1854-11-29

The tide was now at about its full-the wind had died away, and slight breeze sprung up from off shore, which greatly increased our hopes that the swell would go down with the tide, and render it possible for the boats to be launched from shore. As to ourselves, we found we could do-nothing. This steamer, which is employed expressly by the under wri- ters to render assistance to vessels ashore had not the sign of surf-boat on board-nothing but two miserable yawls, both of which would scarcely float the vessels crew, were she sink ing, and one of them could not float herself if put overheard. Not spar, line or life preser- ver-not piece of cork big enough to float a drowning dog. By four and half o'clock the swell had so much subsided that every passen- ger could have been rescued had there been a surf on board, and there was not man, from the fireman to the pilot and captain, who would not have reioiced at the opportunity of snatching the poor sufferers from death had they the means of doing it. By whose neglect Is It that these steamboats are not provided with surf for such dreadful emergencies as this? Still hoping for a movement toward launching the boats from shore, we continued painful spectators of the scene ringing our bell to encourage them and beckoning to them on the shore to launch the boats. When our wheels were put in motion to adjust the posi- ton of the steamer, the passengers, apparently fearing we were about to leave them would rend the air with impIoring cries, while others tollcd the ships bell, the sounds of which were borne to us above the wailings of the surf that swept over the ship We were near enough to distinctly see the women holding their little ones with one hand while the other, beached by the spray, clung with a death grip to the ratlines on which they stood One or two in the mizzen rigging having on but shirt. On the forecastle there stood few moments ago a group of four clinging to the stay but they are now gone-a heavy swell has probably swept them away. Men have been seen to fall from the boom into the surf
 Thus we have looked on, unable to approach the ship. Capt. Reynolds twice hailed them on the shore, and asked them to launch the boats as the surf, to us seemed to be now suf- tclently smooth to do so on the lee side of the ship. Finding that we could do nothno and as the sun went down, seeing the boats hauled back upon the beach, we left to procure life boats, making signals to the wreck that we would return immediately Meantime the Lev5athan also arrived opposite the wreck, but like ourselves, had no boats to render any assis- tance On our way up we soon met the Hec- tor, having in tow wreclling schooner, in charge of Captain Browne, and with him we went back to the wreck. On reaching it, Browne informed us that although he had boats, he had not two men who could pull all oar, and asking if any on board would 90 with him iii the boat, l replied, Here is one," and Mir. llaskiIl volunteered to do the same Captain Reynolds then informed Capt. Browne that he could get men to man his life boat by coming alongside of the AcLWes We then made pre- parations to join Capt. Browne, but to our sur prise he pulled away from us toward the ship, leaving word for the 4c1ljNes to return to the city. Thus a large and powerful boat, with plenty of accommodations for the rescued pas sen9ers, was sent to town, and the Hector. a comparatively slow and unsuitable boat, Is re- taimcd.
 At 9la o'clock, when we left the wreck, the wind was blowing fresh from the westward, and 1t was thought would soon reduce th swell but with the darkness to contend with, and short-handed, 1t must be impossible to take of the passengers; and many more must ineyita- ply perish from exposure during the drearv darkness that has now closed over them.
 ELIAS SMITH.