Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-04-05
From the n. Y. Times, March B.
Terrible Suffering mt Sea. ~

AND RICE FOR FooD.-By the arrival of the
steamer Black Warrior, we have received a
letter from St. Thomas, containing an interest
ing narrative of tue sufferngs Of the officers
and crew of the bark Amelia, which vessel,
until very lately, was supposed to have been
lost at sea. The commander, Lieut.. Reed
Werden, arrived at this port in the Black Var
rior, and Lieut.. Erben, in whose charge the
crew was placed, has arrived at Baltimore in
the bark Amazon.
..,, ST Thomas, w. l.. Feb. 20, 1856.
The bark Amelia arrived at this port on the
1st inst. in distress. The Amelia was seized
by the United States Government a. Port-au-
Prince, having cargo of military stores and
implements on board, which no doubt were in
tended for fillibus,ering expedition. They
lett Port-au-PrInce on the lst Of December,
and had not been at sea many days before the
vessel commenced leaking, and sailing badly.
made very slow progress. On the 24,h Jay
out they experienced a very severe gale, which
nearly destroyed the vessel, tearing the sailstc
ribbons. They attempted 10 make the port of
Charleston or Savannah, but failed in doing
that, and were carried to the eastward. The
gale lasted for ten days, raging with the great
est violence, the vessel continuing to leak very
badly, and it was with the greatest difficulty
that she could be kept afoat by constant pump
ing. They then attempted to make the port Of
New York before another storm should over
take them, but did not have that good luck.
On the night of Jan. 5, when near New
York, expecting next morning to be inside OF
Sandy Hook, the wind, which had been wester-
ly and soulh-westerly for few days previous,
shifted to the north, and from that point all
around the compass. 1t continued blowing a
terrific hurricane for thiry-six hours. During
the whole of that time the officers and men re-
lieved each other at the pumps moment
expecting the vessel TO sink, the water gain
ing all the time on them. Finally, and by
degrees, the gale subsidized and they saw there
was some chance Of escape. Both officers and
men suffered severely. Finding the vessel was
complete wreck, and being out of provisions
and water, all hopes Of making port in the
United States were given up, and they attempt
ed to go into Bermuda, but that was not ac-
complishcd. The greatest anxiety at that time
was to meet vessel that would relieve them
of their hunger and thirst. but every vessel
they met avoided them, giving them as wide u
berth as possble--the Amelia being rather a
suspicious looking craft.
Supposing there might be some provisions in
the hold Of the vessel, an examination tool;
place, when barrel of rice and bread was
found. but in damaged condition They
rats.
They went TO work, and caught the rats,
uhich, with The rice, kept them from starring.
They acre in this condition for fwenty-tro days.
A. daylight Oil the morning Of Jan. %, ves-
sci was discovered, which proved to bc the
English brig Ida. Capt Williams, three days
from St. Johns, Island OF Antigua, bound to
London. He showed Oh blackboard his lon-
gitude, and Lieut.. Werden lailed him. telling
him they were sixty days out, AMI in want of
bread and water or something to eat, that they
would be very thankful for anything, as they
were starving. He replied, he Lad no bread
to spare, Lut would give them some -four. A
boat was sent Oh board, and returned with only
part Of a half barrel of -four, and nothing
else. This, however. they were thankful for,
and, with the rats, and the rice, they Jared
quite well. They then continued on their
course, and on the morning of the 3lst Of Jan
uary came in sigh, of the Island of Sombero,
and passed it; made for the port of St. Thom-
as, where they arrived on the lst Of February,
having been sxty-two days at sea, and most of
the time experiencing the greatest suffering.
Lieut.. Werden handed the vessel over to Ma
jor Helm, the United States Consul, who dis
charged her cargo, and is now shipping it TO
New York. The whole town was alarmed for
fear an explosion would take place, as there
were arms and ammunition ON board sufficient
for an army Of five thousand men. The YES
sci has been pronounced tie most unseawortby
that was ever seen in our harbor, and great
credit is due to the officers, who. after sixty
Two days succeeded in getting her into port.