Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-01-27

except to work the pumps With infinite
exertion, small sail was rugged 10 .he mizzen-
mast, which assisted little in steadyiug her /:
We had succeeded in stopping some Of the
leaks, and in tightening the vessel to a con-
siderable extent, by throwing over provision
and coal. The ship was also very much re-
liered by cutting off the timber of her guards,
upon which the sea broke heavily, lifting her
decks every time it broke
We had nov Thursday, the 20th,) reached
the sixth day since the storm commenced.
We were about to encounter death in n new
form. A very large portion of the ships
steerage had been filed with cargo, provisions.
military stores, &c. The consequence was
that the portion left for the soldiers was much
crowded. 1t had been expected we should
soon be in fine weather, aud that they could
sleep comfortable in standee berths on deck
When the storm came, that was impossible,
and they were consequently driven below.
Crowded in narrow quarters, exposed 10 cold
and wet, obliged to be fed on an insufficient
diet, in consequence of the loss of the galleys
and the impossibility of cooking for such
numbers, it is no matter of surprise that dis
case soon made its appearance. Add to this
the influence of depressing passions, anxiety
of mind, ftigh, and dependency, and it is no
wonder that they sickened and died. The
disease moro nearly than anything seemed
the form Asiatic choera-commencin with
diarrh@a and terminating in a few hours
Both the army surgeons having left, the
charge of the sick fell upon the surgeon of
the ship. TO add to our distress, nearly all
tha in -:.l
washed overheard or destroyed. The NOR
tality was necessarily great. For several days
II averaged ten deaths day. Men, women
and children fell in indiscriminately before it,
and whole families perished in "a hours. II
was scene Of awful suffering, over which
should rather wish to draw veil, and the
like of which trust merciful God will spare
me from ever Witnessing again.
During Thursday and Friday our ewes
were not gladdened by a single sail. The
hours dragged on most heavily. We had
an abundance of provisions on board, but it
was almost impossible to get them cooked.
The roll Of the ship was SO heavy that the
provisions were thrown from the galley
When we could get cup OF hot tea with
our hard biscuit it was treat; and when a
roasted potato or piece Of fried pork was
added to our bill of fare it became "a sump-
tuous repast We attempted to issue tea 10
the soldiers once day, but a sufficient guam
tity of hot water could not be procured and
we were compell d to abandon it On their
miserable fare of hard biscuit and cold water
it was not to be wondered at that the poor
soldiers sickened and died
l,a ;r,L, 6 Il
ing of Saturday the 3lst, the cheering sound
rang through the vessel that a ship was at
hand. A light was discovered on the bow.
We Immediately commenced firing signal
guns. They were answered by blue lights
from the strange vessel When the morning
dawned we discovered vessel with English
co!ors. She came near enough 10 speak us,
but the wind was. so ight as to render it
quite impossible. We resorted to kind of
telegraphic communication, by writing on
boards in chalk with large letters We sue
ceeded in making her understand our sua-
ton, which, indeed, was sulficien ly obvious.
She promised TO lie by us. This intelligence
cheeled every heart. The weather during
Saturday and Sunday was too rough for 10
attempt TO lower a boat There was too,
another dilemma. The English ship had
but one reliable boat, the long boat. We
had none at all. OF the nine splendid boats
with which we left New York not one re-
mained. Capt. Watkins, not to overcome bv
any difficulty, commenced the construction OF
RATS. They seemed but a frai dependence,
and providentialy they were not needed.
Other means of relief were at hand. On
Monday, the I'd Of January, the sea calmed
so much that towards evening the English
ship lowered her yawl boat, and our second
mate, Mr. Grattan went on board of her.
On Tuesday, the Sd January our hearts
were g laddened by another sail, under Amer
lean cslors. She came near enough to speak
her, and we learned that she was the Ant.
arctic, three days out from New York, bound
for Liverpool She had five good boats. And
afier enduring the agony of suspense for so
many dsys it seemed that the hour of our de
liverance had at last arrived. With the aid
of the Antarctic's boats we could all be con-
Veyed on the English ship. now ascertained
to be Three Bells, Captain Creighton. of Glas-
gov, bound for New York The Bells had
experienced much rough weather, and was
eaky. On Tuesday evening we succeeded
IN putting sergeant and file of soldiers on
board to work the pumps. On Wednesday
morning, the 4th January, the work of dis.
embarking commenced in earnest. The sick,
OF whom there was large humber. and some
in dying condition, were wrapped in blankets,
brought on deck, and lowered carefully into
boats. Casks of water were lowered down
and towed on board the Bells. Bread and
hacon, and other provisions, were sent off.
By evening much Of the work had been ac.
complished. 1t was found necessary, how
ever, in consequence of the shortness of pro-
visions on board the Bells. to divide our num-
bers between the two ships.
Lieutenanis Winder and Chandler, with
about l4o soldiers, embarked on the An:arct-
ic for Liverpool, Captain Watkins also de-
termined to accompany that portion of our
number Thursday morning, the 5th rose
upon us bright and beautiful The sea was
calm, the wind gentle. BY noon the work of
this embarking and re-embaIking was COM
plete Every man, woman and child had left
the ship. Our captain was the last on board
He saw every officer, every sailor, every fire.
f.,a., ot,1 z 4 II