Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-10-25
WRECK OF THE WILLIAM PENN

The following is an extract from letter writ
ten BY Mrs. Cole, wife Of Cart. Cole, Of the
William Penn. lately wrecked of Cape Halter
as. The ship grounded on a shoal on the
morning of the 3Oth of ofseptember.
As we were attempting to lower our boats
four men were drowned in the breakers and
in the course Of very little time our three
boats upon which we had placed much depen.
dence, were all capsized anG taken adrih, and
our long boat broken up by the falling of the
masts. Yet there was as much order and de.
corum among that crew as in ordinary duty on
board ship. With cheerfulness they immed.
ately went to work to construct raft, and fur
nished it with provisions &c, as a dernier re-
sort-although all fel: that the final breaking
up of the ship might not take place for twen-
ty.four hours or more. We could distinctly
see many people standing on the shore, looking
on our forlorn condition.
But the day wore away, and the dreariness
Of night came on: when it was dark we show
ed blue lights, which signal we thought we
saw returned from shore, but no kindly hand
offered relief. The breakers now became fear
full about our ship, which shook her like
trembling leaf, and about 9 o'clock in the eve
ming we found our cabin filing and knew the
crisis must be near at hand. Permission was
then given to all that choose, to repair TO the
raft, The first and second mate went forward,
lowered the raft. and seven men with them.
The captain choose to remain still on the
ship, aud repaired to the quarter deck with as
many as liked to remain with him and what
was quite remarkable, out of our number of 20
we were equally divided-eight went with the
officers and eight remained with with the cap
tain and myself. AS we stood there, watching
the final breaking up, no one would have dis
covered the least trepidation or dismay; but
there Was perfect cool deliberation, each watch
ing the pieces as they separated, and the cap
tain constantly directing their attention TO such
as he thought would be safe to venture on and
saying each Of you, elect according to your
Judgement
We took an affectio nate fare we'll of each
other and commended ourselves to the tender
mercies OF compassionate Cod. Just before
the bulwaksl fell in, my husband says-'3Oy"
will any of you assist in saving my wife?'-
One noble sailor standing near him promptly
rephed-'that Sir is what have remained
here for, and am ready to do any thing : just
then came the 6nal crash, and the captain gave
me to this man who with the assistance Of fan
other dragged me on a piece Of the wreck F.:
this s the last 1 know of my husband, his foot
hold gave way and he sank into the waters,
though the sailors saw HIM come up some dis.
talse off, on the mizzen mast.
The breakers were dashing over US terribly,
and washing me off every Few minutes. Two
or three times l sank expecting to rise no more
and resigned my spirit to Him who gave it
but by violent struggles and the aid Of the
men, gained my position once more. Three
of the sailors soon found half of the quar- ter
deck whole and sound. This they soon gain
ed, and threw us rope to come to them, say
ing mot man Of you come on board till Mrs.
Cole is safely here.' My cloths had been near
" all torn and cut of, so that felt the chill Of
the night air whenever the breeze sprang up,
while the water was still washing over us,but