The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1855-04-28
Terrible suffering Of a shipwree1ed Crew.


We have already announced the loss of the
ship William Layton, Capt. Tucker OH the
passage from. New York to Antwerp, and the
drowning of three of the crew. She encoun-
tered q terrible gale on the Goth of February
and the 22d became complete wreck
Lashed to her floating and helpless hull the
captain and the remainder of the crew passed
six days and nights without single drop of
water and without mouthful to eat, except
ing :i single rat that was found swimming about
the wreck, and which was fortunately caught
and shared among the sufferers The captain
has published a thrilling account of their mira
cu!ous escape from death, from which we take
the following:
The first day past at our lashings, and we
were weak with hunger. The second day, and
the gnawings of hunger made all other suffer-
ings insignificant in comparison. The third
dav and our thirst and hunger together held
in tortures but little short of the pains of
hell itself. Death at this time would have
been relief. In the meantime the matches Of
the ship had burst open aud 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 unable
to reach it, only added to sufferings Still
to aggravate our pains, the potash i'll the ship
was dissolving, and making Il ley that was eat
ing into our flesh Having water, we each
took piece of cold lead into our mouths, and
by chewing this kept our mouths moist, and
was found to he great relief. At this period
of suffcrings, rat swimming
about and coming near enough to one of the
sailors, it captured. Never did a hunter
secure his game with greater satisfaction than
did the seaman secure this drowning rat. The
rat was shared among the company; and never
was a moroccan received with better relish
All that we had in addition to this rat were
the boots and shoes upon our feet, which were
mostly used up at the time of rescue. On
the third day of our sufering-on the 25th of
February-a vessel hove in sight and We were
all cated with the prospects Of relief In this,
however, we were again disappointed. This
| vessel, the name of which do not now remenl-
ber, came within hailing distance of u.s. and
speaking the captain | asked him to send me a
boat. The reply was, he could do nothing for
us; and leaving to our fate we were compel
led to see this vessel sail away from u.s.
On the fifth and sixth days some of the crew
said they did not feel SO much the want of food
as they did on the third day. This was the
feeling of most if not all of us. The fourth
dav and night passed, and no assistance came
The fifth day came, and with it succor-om
this day hailed 10y the barcue Sylph
Capt Uallox from Guatlaloupe, bound to ST.
Peters, Newfoundland This vessel spoke US,
and learning our situaton promised to lay by
until the storm abated. 1t still blew a gale
and the very heavy. This promise re-
vived us.
During the night of the fifth day of our suf-
ferinys-the 21th of February-the Sylph, drift
cd away from and the next morning was out
of sight. / cannot describe our feelings when
the next morning dawned up and again showed
us nothing within our vision but the tempest
Gus ocean. Capt. Hallox, however, upon as
certaining on the morning of the 2sth that he
had lost us, crowded on all the sail his barque
could carry and commenced the search for us.
He successful and found after few
hours search, and at 10 O'Clock the morning
of the 2Sth taken from lashing
and taken on board the Sylph- When relieved
| none of us were able to stand, although all of
| us still retained our senses. One of the crew
when taken from his prison of ropes his toes
dropped from him he was lifted from the
ship The potash ley had eaten the feet OF
| the sufferer to this effect.