The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-11-01

on the same tack she would undoubt
edly see our signals before passing
beyond. My larger signal, too,
continued to drift mo nearer to her
track, and took me almost out of sight
ofmy two companions. When within
about two or three miles Of US, and
about an hour and half after she first
hove in sight, We were relieved by
her backing her sails, altering he,
course, and laying to for while, then
hosting q signal on her spangcr gail
she put about all! bore away, on and
an far in the distance on the opposite
tack until my heart began to fail
again doubling, whethersne was beat,
Ing to windward for US, or had gone
en- her way rejoicing in the discovery
and rescue OF only portion of the
unfortunate wretches wi.hing range of
her. Butagain,rho light and buoy.
ant WAS the joy as she at last put about
and standing directly for us; ON and
ON she advanced Ikea saving angel,
until We could SEQ her noble looking
hull distinctly rise and fall within lit
tie over mile distant from us, when
she backed her sails again, and waited
for some time in prosecution Of her
mission Of mercy, no doubt relieving
some OF our scattering companions
fiom like prccarious state.
Soon she filled away again, and Mt
last laying to close by the two firemcn,
saw her boat lowered with five men
in it, who, picking up the two iircmcn
in their course, came dashing along
direct for my raft, and soon bouncing
alongside, allowed myself to tumble
aboard ofthem, unable physically to
adopt anything Of graceful action,
and morally overpowered with graft.
iude to- God and to those his instru,
men,s. i:remaincd specchlcss until
got on board the ship. Before getting
on board. however, the boat went
away for some distance to windward,
and picked UP the three other ircmen,
who had seen leave the Arctic, but
who had been ever since out Of view.
We all got huddled upon the deck
somehow, although rather awkwardly,
and making my way down to her neat
little cabin, as well as my stiff feet
aud legs would allow, had the pleas
ure OF paying my respects to Captain
John Russell, and found myself on
board the ship Cambria. Of Grecnock,
bound from GLASGOW to Quebec. Capt.
Russell, Rev. Mr.. Walker, of the
Free Church Of Scotland, and his very
kind and attentive lady, Mr.. Suther-
lland, of Caithncsshire in Scotland, Mr..
John McNaught, and several of the
passengers Of the steeragc, paid every
attention that could have desired
Capt. Russell giving inc up the berth
which he had been using himself, and
putting everything on board in requi-
sition that might tend in the least to
relieve aud make US comfortable.
was surprised TO learn that the old
Frenchman, whom we had picked up
from the Vcsta, was our good genius
on this occasion. Being directly in
the track Of the approaching Cambria,
he was picked up by the second
mate OF the Cambria. Mr.. Ross,
jumping overheard with line, and
scizing hold Of the man, they were
both pulled on board, and the rescued
Frenchman, in the best English he
could muster, made Capt. Russell
aware that others were near, who then
went to the masthead and with his
glass made out the other four pieces
of wreck, which we were all on, and
making his long tack to windward,
.came back in the midst OF us, picking
up first. from that halt round piece OF
wreck that saw burst above the sur.
face Mt the time Of the ship going un-
der, Capt. Luce, Mr.. George +. Allen,
Of the Novelty Works, and young
German, a passenger on the Arctic,
by the name of Ferdinand Kaye. They,
along with eight others of those who
went down with the ship, had gained
this piece of wreck, which turned ont
to be segment OF one of the pad, !
boxes, and, singular as it seems, Capt.
Luce, who had stuck by his sinking
ship to the last minute, was thus saTed
q: last on the very boards which rs
commander were his post OF duty;
practically his post of duty saved him.
The same thing, however, had caused
the death OF an interesting son, by
striking or falling on him as it burst
above water.
The eight others, who had gained it
with them, had from time to time per.
ished Oh it, and Mr.. Kaye was on ;hc
point of making the ninth; when the
Cambria hove in sight he had become
almosta lunatic from extreme thirst.
from eating biscuit soaking in sea wa.
ter, md attempted to 1nench it by
blood sucked from veins of his arm
opened with his penkniie, and attempt
ing to drown himself several times. he
had been prevented by Capt. Luce and
M A Han