New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-17

wss at the mercy of the gale which still ragged with
| great fury, and threatrned to overwhelm as every
minute. Our frst step was to construct dredge.
This composed Of two boat-oars, with some pieces
! of wooden grating and other stuff. We made these
materials az fast together "a possible and running
rope through II, threw our bows ana let II drag
at the end of ten tathoms of rope. Tins rope was Sc
cured to the boat and kept her head 10 the sea- break
| irg the force Of the waves BY this means We were
enabled 20 ride out the storm in safety. About two
hours after We left the ship heavy struck Is hal
filing the boat and carrying one OF our oars overcosrd
| We thought that il was all up with us then. Our
mate sung out "It's all right boys; sn is wei.
We drited along another hour and q half, when we
shpped another, o- ing second oar, leaving only one
oar 10 the boat. We ashed the last that il coG'd
not b. washed of. The wind then begsn to modersse
very fast and the to absde. After that we shpped
no heavy seas; we kept drifting with our heac
to the ses all through Sunday, until toward sundowR
we sew n vessel coming toward us. What course she
was going conld not tell, a. had neither stars,
compass sun to steer by. AZ had no oars, we
paddled toward her With some hickory erooms and
pieces Of wood which lay in the bottom of th boat II
rns slow work and she went on without seeing us, al
though al shouted at the top OF our ungs 70 attract
her attention. We fe much depressed at our i'll luck,
but instead Of perhing during the night as we expect
ed the weather proved extremely fine, and we passed
a comparatively comfortable night, lying down
upon each other TO keep warm. This, as may
be supposed was not very easy as we were urenched
TO the skin, and the weather was extremely cold we
laid down and baed by turns thus passed the sght,
and the next morning at o'clock one of our number
perceived foreeBd-aft schooner shout three or four
miles from US; padded toward her with our brooms
az fast possible rom the time we sighted her unit
3 in the afternoon-nOw nearing as the breeze dled
away and then dropping astern as 1t freshened agan
AT one time got to her that we could see the
men on her deck, and we hosted shirt upon our
single oar but they did not observe it, and soon paseed
out of sight before stiff breeze; hopes fell as the
wind rose, and we began TO think that we should
never be picked up.
On Monday the mate told US that he had no further
Ill. . &Inxa AAfip rad
to take his turn at bailing with the rest The crew
unanimously elected him to the command, with the
provso that he might bale or not as he pleased, ana
lie took his turn with the rest lie told US that our
store of provision very limited and be hoped we
would exercise moderation in partaking OF It, This
we readily assented to- We had no meal time; as we
had no water each took bite of biscuit when he tet
hungry. Some of US were very thirsty; Others did
not suffer so much from thirst. We had drank no
fresh water from the Saturday night previous and one
of our comrades so tormented by his burning
thirst that he drank twice of salt water on Monday.
The salt water only increased hs thrst' ana ne SUI
Between 3 and o'clock in the afternoon OF Monday
the 9TH the mate discovered ship about eight miles
IN leeward of U.S. The sight gladdened us so much
that we gave three hearty cheers and padded toward
her with our broOms and broken wood. The wlnd
fell calm and we pulled for her with will, hosting
red shirt on our single oar to attract her attention.
When we got within a couple of miles OF her little
breeze sprung up and to our great dlsmay she began
10 make away from us. After padding away for III
teen minutes longer gave up the chase, supposng
that it would only end the other had terminated, IN
disappointment. The wind died away again, and our
homes were once more revived and we made after her
once MORE getting this time so near to her that we
could plainly distinguish persons walking about her
deck, when the wind again lreshened. One OF our
men said: "We, boys hoist up the shirt again, per,
" adventure they will see it this time We did
80. and they saw and brought the ship
10 We paddled up to her and found that she was the
ship Naples, Capt. Loveh, of Bath, Me-, from Leghorn
with marble for this port When went alongside the
crew got us on board took out bread and brooms,
and whatever else was in her. We were all TOO weak
and exhausted to get on board without assistance
They tried to hoist our trsy boat on board, but her
thwats came of her and she broke In two as soon
as she left the water. The crew used us a. well as we
could wish for taking of our wet clothing and supply
ing us with dry. After furnishing us with food and
drink they put us into their berth5 ana covered us up
warm and comfortable. Their kindness to US more par
tculary a. they were short OF provisions themselves
we shall never forget and we desire to return them
our sincere thanks for their goodness TO us IN the DAY
of our misfortune and distress. We arrived IN New
York Yesterday all well having recovered from the
effects of exposure, after an absence OF twelve
days-three of which spent the St. Dennis, two
in open boat at sea, and the other seven ON the
ship Naples.
STATEMENT OF ANDREW RACKLIFF.
lam a seaman, belonging to Bristol Me-; shipped
on board the packet shipSt. Dennis Capt FolanSbee,
for Havre, on Friday the 4tb Of January Our Off
GERS and crew. all told, numbered "a, including four
boys. Saturday afternoon, when well off from the
land and running about eight knots, gale sprung up
and we closereefe topsals and rcefed the courses
and furled them turned in at l2 o'clock, and before
daylight we were called up to fur the mzzentopsail.
At this time the wind was blowing very heavy. We
went down below and soon after the mantopsal sheet
was parted and we were called deck to take it in.
While on deck the foretopsal sheet parted and we
wer. unable to take it in. Previous to this we were
called out to lash the water casks that had broken
loose from the lee side OF the deck ana and were
| being dashed about the deck. The sea
| was breaking over the main deck and we
were unable TO secure them. Myself and my watch
| were called on deck again about O'Clock on Sunday
morning, and the mizzenmast had Deen cut away ana
they were engaged cutting away the mainmast When
the mainmast fell she carried away the oretopsail
ward and fore topping ht and stove the ifeboat and
| iolyboat, and damaged the longboat shghty; the
mzzenmast stove the sernboat and the longboat was
| the only one left. The mate was injured about the
head by the rigging when the manmast was cut away
At daylight the gale and storm were terrhc the worst
ever experienced in twelve years; and every sea
was breaking over and sweeping everything before
us. About o'clock on Sunday morning the three
cabin passengers were called up from the caDln ana
placed in the whee-house. The mate called all
hands and ordered the ongboat to be launched which
we did, myself Petty, and james Mulhgan.
| went down and baed her out; while we at work
sea broke the ship and filled the boat, ana an,
other man sent over to assist u.s. Pety was ealed
TO the ship by the captain TO get something ana ou
not return again; shortly after Petty left we were
haulng her along to the quarter to take on board pro-
visions when another sea broke over the ship and
filed the longboat the second time; Joseph Levers,
who deck, then cried out to the captain that
the boat swamped The captain wrung his hands
and said, If speaking to himself, Our time Is
short Joseph Levers then asked Us if we would take
him him in if be Would Jump overheard. We told him to
come He jumped over and swan about ten fath.
oms to ur, and pulled him in. The captain ana nIst
and third mates came To the side of the ship, and the
matrs tired 10 per,uade him TO get into the small
-. L.. IL b M fnnlish-