Washington sentinel., 1854-03-12
Loss Of the Bona Dea.

Loss Of the Bona Dea.
The following are some further particulars OF
the terrible experience of the shipwrecked crew
OF the Bona Dea. When the ship struck on
Monday, January 25, at at night, she lay on
her broadside for some time. The crew sue
ceeded in cutting away the main and mizen
shrouds, and the masts going she righted.
But everything had been washed out Of the
cabin and steerage. They had not a single thing
left-not morsel of bread or drop of water.
They managed to get an old sail over the stump
of the mze,rmasts and lash themselves there,
although they expected every moment that the
poop would go to pieces, as two Of the main
beams of it were gone. They remained in that
situation all that day and night. On Thurs
day, January 26, the men continued to keep up
their spirits. They broke down the ceiling in the
cabin in the hopes of finding some crumbs Of
bread or something else, but in vain none were
to be found. Itwas then the third day that they
had not tasted food or water. Towards night
some of the men complained of thirst, bnsre-
mained quite reasonable and manageable
The next day it was still blowing q gale, and
heavy seas lashed the deck. At daylight they
saw barque running to the eastward, not
more than three miles from the wreck. The
The morning was rather hazy, and they either
did not or would not take notice OF the wreck,
as she passed by without offering them assist
ance. They felt this sore disappointment;
but they cheered one another up with the hopes
of soon falling in with another They were
unable to restrain themselves from drinking
salt water. In the course Of the day rat was
caught and divided equally among them.
On Saturday the ship was still under
water, and the gale blowing as furiously as
ever. Saw from the poop that the stem and
cutwater were torn away, and the covering
board on each side were started. The fore
castle head was gone with some of the guard
irons of the forerigging, and several butts out
side started. They drank large quantities Of
salt water during the day, besides chewing
lead and bits Of rope. Sunday, the wind and
sea as heavy as ever. Saw two ships not more
than three miles from them. Strange as it may
appear neither OF them took any notice of their
awful position; they passed so close that they
distinguished all the sails, spars, &c. The
horrors of starvation now broke upon them,
ana the thirst was almost maddening. They
at night discovered kitten, which had crawled
out from below; it was instantly killed and
greediy devoured. Symptoms of insanity pre-
sented.itsell among some OF the men. They
were still without water, and all in very ex-
hausted state their legs and feet began to
swell very much. Monday-The weather
nothing abated. Drinking immense quantities
Of salt water. Tuesdav.-Still blowing almost
hurricane. Most of them now began to des.
pair; some were delirious, and others COM
menced talking about sacrificing one Of the
number to save the rest from being starved to
death. The men proposed that they should
draw lots to decide who it should be. At five
o'clock in the evening, saw a large ship stand
ing to the NV. on the larboard tack, and at
six saw her tack to the SW. They now made
sure that the wreck was seen, and that their
suferings were nearly at an end. A sharp
lookout was kept, expecting to be relieved in
the morning, but, alas they were doomed to
disappointment; the ship was out of sight.
Wednesday, February 1.-The men again
appeared to be in dying state, offered him
self to save the rest. Mr.. MLeod interfered,
and cheered them up with the prospect Of be-
ing soon relieved No water Thursday
The weather moderating. The men were now
become unmanageable. The were determined
to have the dying man sacrificed. The poor
fellow had offered to do the deed himself and
he cut his arm in two places to bleed to death,
but no blood came. The men afterwards sur
rounded him, and one of them cut his throat.
Mr.. M'Leod snys tho scene that followed was
most horrible; too horrible to detail. Friday
Many Of the men frantically mad, and crawling
ABOUT the deck In shocking state the re-
mainder nearly PROSTATE, and unable to move.
Weather moderate Saturday, Feb. 4, Twelfth
day without food or water. MIR M'Leod and
two men we're the only portion Of the crewwho
were able to get about. The whole of the re.
mainder were perfectly PROSTATE, and among
them four quite deranged. All, in fact, were
fast sinking, and could not possibly have sur
vived another day, the immense quantity Of
salt water they drank increasing their suffer
ings to a frightful degree. At about o'clock
a vessel was observed through the haze. Their
situation had been observed, and the vessel
was running down to the wreck, and in about
an hour she hove to and sent boat to them.
The vessel proved to be the Cuba, Of Sunder-
land, bound to Swansea from Coquimbo, Cap.
tain f. G. Organ, master.
BY the Cuba the poor men were relieved, as
already reported d.-London Daily NeUs.