The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-11-03
5Hiseellameons.
] U nty-si1 Boufs on a Raft
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

cued from the raft and brought to New York
publishes a letter, in which, after stating that
he remained on the Arctic until the water
reached the main deck, and the vessel com
menced sinking, says -
LEFT the door, and got upon the. raft
which had been partially constructed from
the spars we took from the vessel. A crea,
many persons were trying to get on the raft
Some were clinging to it with one hand
and although it was already crowded, Others
Were striving to get foothold Among
the number who were upon il saw four la.
dies. Their names l did not know. Alto.
gether, there were seyenty-six persons on the
raft. The sea, though not strong, was rough
and the waves, as they washed over it. wash
ed away portion Of its living freight. !
shall never forget the awful scene. There
we were, In the midst of the ocean, without
the slightest hope of assistance, while every
minute one or more of our unfortunate fei-
low passengers were dropping into their wa,
terry grave from sheer exhaustion. Those
who had life-preservers did not sink, but
tioated with their ghastly faces upward, re-
minding those who still remained alive of the
fate that awaited them. .
In the midst of all this, thank Heaven I
never lost hope, but retained my courage ID
the last. One by one saw my unfortunate
companions drop off; some of them foated,
and were eaten and gnawed by fishes, while
others were washed under the raft, and re-
mained with me till was rescued. Icould
see their faces in the openings as they were
swayed to and fro by the waves, which
fhrpatnf1aI
lhe raft at one hme was was SO crowded
that many had to hold on by one hand
Very few words were spoken by any, and
the only sound that we heard was the splash
of the waters or the heavy breathing Of the
poor sufferers as they tried to recover their
breath after wave had passed over them
Nearly all were submerged to their arm pits,
while few could with great difficulty keep
their heads over the surface. The women
were the first to go. They were unable to
stand the exposure more than three or four
hours. They all fell off the raft without a
word, except one poor girl, who cried out in
intense agony, "Oh, my poor mother and
sisters p - .'..'t......
When was about eighteen hours on the
raft there We're not more than three or four
left. One of these gave me what appeared
to be small map, but which / understood
him to say was sort of title deed TO his
property. In a few moments after / took
it he too, unloosed his hold, and was added
to the number that fioated about the raft.
endeayored to get the paper into nv
pocket, but found this impossible, on account
of my crampled position, so 1 placed it be-
tween my teeth, and held itthere till / was
overwhelmed by a wave, when l lost my
hold Of it, and it was washed away. Anot6.
er who had an oiled silk coat on, called on
me, for Heavens sake, to assist him, as his
strength was rapidly falling, and he must
fall if not relieved. AS he was about four or
five feet from Inc it was difficult to reach him;
but after considerable exertions, succeeded
in doing so, and helped him with one of nv
knees until became quite faint, when was
obliged oleaye him to fate. Poor fellow I!
he promised noe, if he ever got to New York
alive, he would reward me well. He clung
with terrible tenacity to life; but he, too,
dEeppe3 .G in his turn. s, u <sv
was now left alone on the raft not a
solitary being was alive out of seventy; but
still my hope continued strong. The night
of the second day was about closing on me,
and during the whole time had been in the
water had not eaten particle of anything
or drank drop. My strength, found was
beginning to give way and my sight had be-
come SO dim that could not perceive OBJ
jects few feet off; even the ghastly face
Of the dead that looked up at ME from under
the raft, were hardly discernable. deter
mined on making one more effort for life l !
raised myself on my knees upon the raft,
and though the dusk of the evening I saw,
or thought l saw vessel. My strength
seemed TO revive, and in few miutes heard
the voices Of persons in boat approaching.
Ten minutes more, and ], too, would have
gone; but Providence had mercy on. me,
and after twenty-six hours exposure, was,
BY its mercy, preserved from watsry grave
Mr. McCabe is lying in low condition in
New York, and seems at times partially de- |
ranged. Since taken from ths rsfk l6ixsl
ruptous have taken placs On bic, limbs
which, IS vel . hk hands snd sfpS asst