The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-05-04
Terrible suffering of 4 shipwreeked rres

Terrible Suffering of 4 Shipwreeked rrep
W. have already announced the loss of -,
ship William Layton, Capt Tucker, on r..
passage from New York TO Antwerp. and II.
drowning of three OF the crew. Tiny encou,
tered terrible gale on the Goth Of Frbrparr
and on the 22d became complete wrpek
Lashed 10 her floating and helpless hull. N.
captain and the remainder of the crew pass,d
SIX days and nights without a single dron of
water, and without mouthfUl to eat. pyc..
ing single rat, that was found swimn,,
about the wreck, aud which was fortunaslv
caught and shared among the sufferers. tn.
captain has published thrilling accoup, or
their miraculous escape from death, from wbicb
we take the following:
The first day passed at our lasbngs, and vs
were weak with hunger. The second dav. and
the cravings of hunger made all other suffer.
ingS Insignificant in comparison. The third
day, and our thirst and hunger togtthrr held
us in torures but little short ofthe pains fhrll
itself. Death at this time would havp been 4,
relief. liz the meantime the hatchps Of ihe shin
had burst open and the cargo was foa,ipg
around US, but none oil the provisions within opr
reach
The know ledge that orr ships hold was fIl
Of provisions, and We VI re starving, and unable
to reach it, only added to our suferlngs Still
to aggravate our pains, the potash in the shin
was dissolvIng, and making ley that was eaI
ing into our flesh. Having no water, We zach
took piece of cold lead into our mouths, and
chewing this kept onr mouths moist, and was
found 10 be great relief. AT this period Of our
sufirrings, 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 satisfaction than did the seaman
secure this drowning rat. The rat was SHARED
among The company and never was NOR
ceau received with a better relish.
All that W. had in addition to this raft were
the houis and shoes upon our feet, which were
mostly used up at the time Of onr Frscue. On
the third day Of our suGpring-on the 25th Of
February vessel hovr IN sight and We were
all rlatpd with the prospects OF relief. IN this,
however. we were again disappointed. This
vessel, the name Of which do not now rpmpn-
Der, came within haiIing distance CT Us, and
speaking the captain ] asked him TO send ne
boat. The reply was, he could do nothing for
us and rarng US to our fate, We Were compel
led 10 see this vessel sail from Us.
On The filh and sixth DAYS some of the crew
said they did not feel 50 much the want Ct lood
as they did on third day. This was the feeling
of most if not all OF us. The fourth and fijh
night passed, aud no assistance CANE The
fifth day came, and with il succor- on this day
W. were hailed by the barqur SyIPh, CAPT.
Halox, from Guadaloupe, bound TO 81. Peters,
Newfoundland. This vessel SPOKE US, and
lrarning our situation, promised 10 lay by titr
storm abaird 1t still blew a gale, and ihr
was very heavy. This promise revived Us.
During the night of the fifth day Of onT SUI
fprings--the 9th of February-thr Sy ph drift
ted away from us and next morning was out Of
sight ] cannot describe onr Feelings when ihe
next morning dawned up, and again showedS
mi hinC within our vision but the tpmpeslnoR
ocean. Capt. HelloX, however, upon aScprIai-
ing on the morning of the 2Sth that he had lost
Us, crowded on all the sail his barqup could
carry and commenced the search for US He
was successful and found us after few hours
search, and al 10 o'clock on the morning of th-
2Sih we were taken from our lashing and takpn
on board the SYlPh. When relieved none Of
us were able 10 stand, although all of IS still
retained our senses. One of the Crew, when
taken from his prison Of ropes, lost his toys,
which dropped from him, as hr was lifted from
the ship. The Potash Lye bad eaten the feel u
the sufferer to this effect.