The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-27
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
TERRIBLE TALE OF A SHIpWRECK.
Suffering and Death at Sea.

We have given a brief account of the wrecking
OF the ship John Ru,ledge, aud the probable loss
OF her crew and passengers. The New York pa.
pers Of Tuesday, contain the statement of Mr.. Nye
the only survivor:
At shortly before 10 A. NJ, on the morning of the
2Oth OF February, the vessel, despite continued
watchtulness, into an iceberg The vessel
came IN contact with the iceberg under her bow
stsrooard SIDE. The conclusion was severe and II
was feared, from the severity of the shock that a
large hole must have been made ia the bow of the
ship. 1t was directly found that water was com.
ing IN The portion of the cargo occupying this
part OF the ship was removed and the pumps set
Immediately TO work. Quilts and mattresses
were brought IN requisition to stop the leak but
they were only partially available. At 2 A. NJ
the water was found to make such fast headway
that the captain divided the passengers and crew
into watches of twelve each, to work at the pumps
They went to work and labored incessantly bnt
could not keep ahead of the water. Capt Kelly
then directed portions of the cargo to be thrown
overheard with view to tighten the vessel and
see If that might not save her. 1t was found
eventually that nothing could prevent her going
down.
The captain at length at about p NJ an.
nounced that they must leave the vessel, and or
dcred the life and long boats TO be got in readiness
Mr. Nye states that the captain, though firm up to
TINS moment and using every encouragement to
the men at the pumps to work, in hopes that they
might yet save the ship at the final moment of ut
terlng this command, showed marked emotion at
the thought of thus abandoning the vessel under
ms charge Every thing and every person on
board, up to this moment, was under excellent dis
tlpllne. Passengers and crew had worked untir-
ingiy and uncomplaningly at the pumps. When
II was seen, though that the vessel must lie absn-
doned, and the fact was announced terror sprang
among all the ship IS company. Up to this moment
all had worked in hopes of saving the vessel
Now. this was given up, and each turned to look
out for himself The small boats were ut once
lowered There were FIVE attached to the vessel
- two were life boats, aud the remainder ordinary
long boats The life boats were some twenty
four feet IN length, and the long boats about two
feet longer. Captain Kelly gave directions as TO
the disposition OF the boats The directions, how
ever, were of but little avail, owing to additional
excitement now arising among the passengers and
crew, from the sudden gain which it was seen was
fast being made by water upon the ship after the
aoondonment OF her pumps. Il was momentarly
exl ected that the ship would go down.
The utmost confusion, as might be supposed,
prevailed. Mr.. Nye says he never witnessed such
a spectacle, such d mad hurrying and contest fos
the boats, and determination OF each to get
place for himself regardless of all consideration
tor others He hopes, he says, to be spared the sad
repetition of such sight. In the struggle and
confusion he can only recollcct the boats
quickly filled. He recollects being told to get into
the first mates boat which he did The captains
boat was outside this one. They were both un.
der mizen chain on the starboard side Mr.. At
knson, the first mate and the carpenter of the ship
were ABOUT BeIIlDg INTO tue nfSL mate D0at, wlen
the captain told them to go first and look at the
pumps.
Mr. Atkinson and the carpenter turned to do so
when the captain gave orders to let go the rope
they woald be stove in at once. Unfortunately
both boats were let go adrift at the same instant
a very heavy was rolling at the time, and
bore the boats away. In moment the mate and
carpenter came running aft MY God, they have
left us" cried the mate. This, adds MIR. Nye, was
the last that was heard of either of the first
INF ha hoory yOl1.,
made it impossible to get back to the ship Be.
sides, it was expected that the vessel would go
down every moment, and it was feared that unless
the boats were got quickly out of the way the
suction caused by the sinking of the vessel would
draw them likewise under the water.
The other small boats, meanwhile had by this
time got considerably away from the vessel The
small boats, Mr.. Nye states, filled as follows:
The boat of the captain contained besides him
self cabin passenger, Uhe only cabin passenger
on boardD the stewardess and her son, eleven
years old, the mother of the stewardess, boy
aged fifteen, whom the captain brought from Liv-
erpool, and three children belonging to passengers
OF the ship.
The second boat was occupied by about fifty
passengers.
A third boat was likewise filled with passengers
This and the previous boat took the entire passen
gers, with the exception Of those in the first mates
boat.
fourth boat contained the men belonging to the
ships crew, some ten in number
The fifth boat, from which Mr Nye was rescued
contained, besides himself Mrs Atkinson, the first
mates wife, sailor belonging TO the ship, the
boatswan and nine passengers The three boats
occupied by the and passengers went in a
northwestery direction from the ship The boat
laden by the Captain, and tie one il which Mr..
Nye was, took southerly course but did not keep
together only about half hour Mr. Nye saw
neither the captains any of the boats after this.
AS to what was placed in the boats Mr.. Nye gives
no dennlte account, except OF the one occupied by
himself In all he knows were placed some food
ana water and clothing, but how little or how much
he could not state
OF the thirteen persons in the last boat there
were four women, one little girl five male passen-
gers, Mr.. Nye Scotch sailor and the boaiswaip
an 1rlshman, whose wife resides in New York
For the subsistence of these people there was on
ly one gallon OF water and six or eight pounds of
bread The mate had placed compass in the
boat, but LIS wife i'll leaping from the ship had bro
ken it. Cast thus Ieplessly upon the open sea
among the logs and mists of the Banks of New
toundland, and surrounded by drift and berg ice
their prospect could hardly have been more gloomy
Soon after the boat broke adrift night came on
how itpassed may be imagined. From what we
could learn, but little was said by any one, and
probably all OF them soon came TO a realizing sense
OF their dreadful situation, for as soon as Mrs At
knson entered the boat she seized the vessel con-
tanning the water, and being large robust wo-
man, fought off all who attempted to obtain
drink oft. Nye got only two or three swallows;
What disposition was made of the bread does not
appear. The probability is that there was no
ganization whatever among the little party, but
every one looked out for himee elf
Having no compass, nor sign by which to steer,
they did not exert themselves, other than to keep
the boat before the sea. The sailors were warmly
clothed, was also Mrs. Atkinson; but The pas
sengers, for the most part were scantily attired,
aud suffered keeny from the cold. Day after day
only dawned to raise their spirits anew with hopes
of succor, which the long and dreary nights turned
TO the bitterness Of despair. Thus time passed
until the third day, when one Of the little band a
man whose clothes were qaits too thin to shield
him from the bleak weather, sank under the com
oined effects of cold and hunger, and his body
was committed to the deep. Then woman died
in the arms Of her husband and little daughter,
and her corpse was also silently dropped into the
sea. The fourth day came, and with 1t the same
angry sea, the same lcaden sky-no rey Of hope
anywhere Visible.
The cold was intense that it almost froZe the
marrow, and not drop of water could be obtain
ed, while only small quantity of food remained
Human nature could not bear up much longer
against this exposure and privation when, just as
they were about to give up ali hope, the wind lull
ed, and lol brig hove In sight. "Sbe was not
very far of" and they pulled for her with might
and main Siguais were also made. For some
time they seemed to gain upon her, but she
did not see them, and the wind freshening sue