Eastern times., 1855-04-26
Dreadful suferings at Sea.

The captain and crew of the ship VIM.
Laytin, disabled at sea, recently arrived at
Boston, after having been six days without
water OF food, except a rat which one of the
seamen caught The Captain, who has since
arrived at New York, has published a narra-
tive of the affair.
The VIM. Laytin, 1t appears, was new
and staunch vessel, built at Williamsburg, and
which sailed from New York for Antwerp
with a rich cargo on the 10th of February last.
On the Goth tremendous gale commenced,
which lasted for whole week. Capt. Tuck
er says -
We all kept up our spirits, relying upon
the strength Of our vessel to weather the storm
and come off safe at last In these eXpecta-
tions we were all doomed 10 the most painful
disappointment. On the 22d of February,
Thursday during the fury of the tempest.
the ship suddenly and Unexpectedly sunk for
ward until,her decks were about level with the
water, and perhaps little under water, and
then fell over upon her beam ends Our last
and only resort, at this most trying Juncture of
affairs, was to cut away the masts, which was
done as soon as possible. All three masts
were cut from the deck, and in five minutes
after clearing the hull it righted again. De-
prived of all sail, and no longer able to keep
the vessel hove to, head to the wind and sea,
she foated a helpless hull, swept fore and aft
with almost every wave. In about five min
utes after the ship rose from her beam ends,
she shipped q tremendous sea that carried
overheard the poop deck, midship house, all
our boats, and four of our ships company
being three of the crew and the stewardess.
Nothing now remained above the matches but
the verandah deck, in which the remainder of
the company took shelter, each one feeling
that he might be compelled soon TO follow
those already gone. For our better security,
we each of US lashe6 ourselves to the wreck,
with whatever of the rigging or ships ropes
we could get hold Of. This alone saved us
from being swept away. In this condition.
tied toaihe wreck and constantly drenched and
almost smothered with preaching seas, we re-
mained six long days and nights, each minute
of which was almost an eternity of agony.
We were unable TO loosen ourselves or Stir
about the ship for fear of being carried over
board We waited but waited in vain, for a
lnll in the sea or tempest. The first day past
at our lashing, aud we were weak with
hunger. The second day, and the cravings
of hunger made all other suffering insignificant
in comparison. The third day, and our thirst
and hunger together held US in tortures but
little short of the pains of hell itself. Death
at this time would have been a relIet. In the
meantime the hatches of the ship had burst
open, and the cargo was floating around us,
but none of the provisions within our reach.
The knowledge that our ships hold was
full of provisions, and we were starving and
4 l. .l,I T..
ings. Still, to aggravate our pains, the pot
ash in the ship was dissolved and making a
lev that was eating into our flesh. Having no
water, we each took piece Of cold lead into
our mouth, and chewing this kept our mouths
moist, and was found 10 be \ urna' -Ai'-f A.
.AIs t,vtrUu vi our suffering, rat was seen
swimming about, and coming near enough to
one of the sailors, it was captured. Never
did hunter secure his game with greater sat
istaction than did the seaman secure this
drowning rat. The rat was shared among the
company and never was moroccan received
with better relish. All that we had in addi-
ton 10 this rat were the boots and shoes upon
our feet, which were mostly used up at the
time of our rescue On the third day of suffer-
ing-on the 25th of February-a vessel hove in
sight and we were all elated with the prospects
of relief. In this however, we were again
disappointed.
This vessel, the name of which | do not
now remember. came within hailing distance
of us, and speaking the captain | asked him to
send me boat. The reply was, he could do
nothing for us and leaving us 10 our fate, we
were compelled to see this vessel pass away
from us During all this time the weather
was cold enough TO make ice. What was
most remarkable, after the third day our
hunger seemed 10 abate.
Or the fifth and sixth day some of the crew
said they did not feel so much the want of food
I as they did on the third day. This was the
/ feeling of most if not all of us. The fourth
! day and night passed, and no assistance came.
/ The fifth day came and with it succor-on this
/ day we were hailed BY the bark Sylph, Capt.
1 Hellox from Guadaloupe, bound to st. Pc
/ tiers, Newfoundland.
This vessel stood by them nobly, and on the
/ following day, as the weather permitted
boarding the hulk, released them from theil
lashngs, and took them on board the Sylph
where they were treated with every kindness
:. Capt. Heliox took US to ST. Peters, New.
/ foundland, where we arrived on the 9th o.
March. Here portion of the saved (eghteer
in alD were placed in the hospital, and il
a week or ten days were fully relieved from
all the pains of shpwreck. From ST. Peters
we reached Boston, in the schooner Amands
Powers"