Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-10-21

Over two hundred men, women and chill.
dcn struggling together amidst pieces OF
The wreck, calling on each other for help,
aud implodng God TO assist lhcm. Such
nm appalling sccno may God preserve me
from ever witnessing again. was in tho
act Of trying 10 save my child, when q
portion Of the paddle box.cumo washing
Iup edgoways, just grazing my head, and
falling with lis whole weight upon the head
Of my darling child
/ In another moment | boheld him life.
less in the water. succeeded in getting
upon the top ofthe paddIo.boX incompany
with eleven others. One, however, soon
after left for another piece, finding it could
not support so many. The others remain.
ed until they were relieved by death. We
stood in water al a temperature Of 45 de-.
grccs, up to our knees, and frequently the
sea broke directly over US. We soon sep.
aratcd from our friends on other parts OF
the wreck, and passed the night, each one
orus expecting every hour to be our last,
The wished for morning came, surrounded
with dense fog, and not q living soul
could be seen but our own party seven
men being left.
la the course Of the morning, we saw
some waler.casks and other things belong.
ing 10 our ship, but nothing that we could
get to afford US any relief. Our raft was
rapidly settling as It absorbed water.--
About noon, S. NJ. Woodruff, Of n. Y,
was relieved by death, and all the others
now began 10 suffer severely from the
want Of water, except George l.. Allen
and myself in that respect we were very
much favored, although we had nota drop
while on the raft. The day continued
foggy, except just at noon, as far as we
could Judge.
We had !hen clear view Of about one
half The horizon, and nothing could be
seen but the water and sky. Night came
on thick and dreary, with our minds made
up that none of US would again see The
light Of another day. Very soon three
more Of our suffering party were relieved
by death. Mr.. Allen, young man, and
myself, were all that were now left, and
we were much exhausted. | now sat
down for the first time, at eight o'clock in
the evening, on trunk, which providen-
tally had been found on the wreck. In
this way slept awhile during the night,
and became somewhat refreshed. About
an hour before daylight, on Friday, the
25lh, we saw vessels light near 10 US.
We all three Of US oxehed ourselves 10 the
utmost Of our ability in haIing until VIC
became quite exhausted. In about a
quarter Of an hour the light disappeared
10 the eastward Of US. Soon aher day.
light bark hove in sight 10 the north.
west. AS the fog laying lightened lit.
tie, she was steering apparently for US,
but in short space of time sho seemed
to have changed her course, and again
we were doomed TO disappointment. Yet
| feel hopes that some Of our fellow suc
orers may have been seen or rescued by
Them.
Shortly after We had given up all hopes
Of being rescued by the bark, a ship was
discovered to the eastward, steering d..
rcclly for us. We now watched her with
the most intense anxiety. AS she ap-
preached us, the wind varying, caused
her 10 change her course several points.
About noon they fortunately discovered a
man on a raft near them, and succeeded
in saving him by the second mate Jumping
over the side and making a rope fast round
him, by which he was got on board safe
ly. This man saved is supposed to be
the Frenchman who was passenger on
board the steamer with which we came in
collision. He informed the captain that
others were on pieces Of the wreck, and
by going aloft he saw US and three others.
We were the first which the boat reached.
We were safely taken on boa I'd abou,
three, P. NJ. The next was Mr.. James
Smith, Of Mississippi, a second class pas.
senger. The others saved were five oI
our firemen. The ship proved 10 be the
Cambria, Of this port, from Glasgow
bound to Montreal, Capt John Russell,
who carfmanded the barque Jessie Ste.
phens, and was so kindly received by
Captain Nye OF the Pacific. OF Captain
John Russell, it could be scarcely possible
10 say enough in his praise, for the kind
treatment we received from him daring
the time we were aboard his ship. His
own comforts were given up in every res,
pect for our relief.
The Rev. Mr.. Walker and lady. and
Mr.. Blank, who were passengers by the
Cambria, have been unceasing in theiI
endeavors 10 promote our comfort. TIC
them, and to all on board, we shall ever
owe debt Of gratitude for their unbound.
ed kindness. From the Frenchman who
was picked up, we learn that the steamer
with which we came in collision, was the
screw steamer Vesta, from ST. Pierre,
bound from, and belonging TO Greenyille,
France. AS near as we could learn, the
Vesta was steering Il. S. f., and was
crossing our course two points, with all
sail set; the wind was west by south al
the time.