Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-31

Some time during the night heavy gales
sprung up, accompanied by most awful sea,
and the vessel commenced leaking badly again,
and we went to work baiing that night and part
OF the next day, the pumps at this time giving
out again. The men at this time were so ex-
hausted that it required great exertions to keep
them steadily at work. When She morning
came the Kilby was no longer in sipht and we
supposed that she had made for the nearest port,
being short of water and provisions, and it be-
ing unsafe for her to remain any longer by us,
as the sea was running very high. This morn
ing things looked gloomier than ever. having
nothing to eat and being cold and half naked.
During that day, after getting through working
the pumps, we began to get better spirits, and
made ourselves as comfortable as possible
We kept the vessels clear without the aid of
balling. We then cut holes through the deck
tor the purpose OF throwing coal and the other
heavy materials overheard. About two days
after light was seen during the nigbt. and we
commenced firing guns and making signals ev
cry half hour during the night. In the morn.
ing, the British ship Three Bells, Capt Creigh
ton bore up to us; but the sea was running so
high, and the wind blowing so hard, we could
only communicate to each other by means of
writing in large letters, On a board, our condi-
ton and prospects. He replied to us, and said
that they were leaking and short of provisions.
AS he passed US he gave three cheers, which
made us believe he would stick by US, and we
returned them hearty. He went to windward
of u.s. laid to, and remained by US during the
night. The next day. the sea running very high,
and he having only two boats, we made two
RATS, in order to make some efforts to reach his
vessel but we found that o passage on The raft
would be inpracticable. On the third night |
We came very near losing him. On the fourth
day, another sail appeared in sight to windward,
and both bore down to U.s. which proved 10 be
the Antarctic, bound for Liverpool.
Both vessels lay by us during the night, it be-
ing too rough to attempt any passage with the
boats. On the fifth day the rough weather sub
sided, and ne succeeded in transporting all the
passengers all the crew and ships officers, ex-
cept twenty-five or thirty men, including ships
officers and fremen. During that day we sue
ceeded in putting on board the Three Bells some (
provisions and water. kept the men at the
pumps during the night. The next morning
we got of, the remainder of the officers and
crew, including Capt Watkins, and made sail
for this port. The Antarctic sailed for LIVER !
pool.
Previous to falling in with the Three Bells, a |
sort of congestive diarrhoea broke out among |
the men, from eating potted meat and picked |
cabbage. 1t carried off about one hundred of
the passengers who were taken sick, and in
few hours died.
An accident occurred at this time. Corporal !
Smith came to me and said his child was sick, |
and in about an hour after that he sent word to |
me and said he was very sick himself and would
like to see me. went to him and found that
he was about dying; soon after his wife came in
and told me that he and the child were dead. |
[ had her put into a stateroom, and during the
night she was found dead in bed, her only child !
then living lying asleep beside her. She was
followed to the other world soon after by her |
other child.
On our passage to this port in the Three Bells
we lost about thirty passengers, who died of the /
effects of eating picked meat and cabbage
The chief steward of the San Francisco became
insane while on board the Three Bells, and al
though in charge of some of the men, he man
aged to get loose, jumped overheard and was
lost Yours, respectfully,
W. A. WINDER, T. S. Army