Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-01-19
Sbipwreck-Statement Of one OF Inc
Sufferers.

The New York papers give ieFrInie &C
counts of the sutierings endured on ht
coast by the recent shipwrecks, caused by
the late storm, By which some thirty llVes
have been lost. The tirsIis The pilot boa
FIX. Collins. which went ashore on Inc
10Th instant, on Fire Island SnosI, IN
mist or thick vspor, which prevailed re
following statement is made by HE caoln
boy, James Rush:
We struck the shoal about five o clock
a. m. on Thursday morning. II was o','
terly cold. and thick mist, like cloud
rose from the water, so that we could NOT
see the boats length ahead. On looNins
out | saw dull light ahead, that looked
like as if it shone from the jib-boom OF a
large ship. No one OF Us thought II was
the lighthouse, as the lamp oil that point
tevolves every sixty seconds, and ms
seemed through the mist 10 be stationary.
We afterwards learned that the intense
cold had covered the g ass with frost, so
that il looked like isinglass, and the lamp
ceased revolving. | went below a HUE
before 5 O clock, and MIR. Murphy had
charge of the helm, a: which ume IN"
boat was living TO with Ihree'reei man,
sail and lib We soon after struck anu
the boat was thrown on her beam-ends'
with her deck tilted towards the shoTe..
I WAS in the cabin when was called
unon to enter the yawl, but before had
time to get TO The side of the vessel ue
sea raised so that Mr.. Murphy was com
nelIed to cut the Iashings, and the yaw
" as swept towards the shorr, leaving me
ON board with Mr.. Robert B. Mitchell
The other boy WelIan Williams, aud the
coIored cook. About ar hour after the
boat left lhs was about ten o o'clock as
near as can remember,) the cook died.
Billy Williams died about halt an hour al,
forwards, and rolled over 10y tie dead
man S side in doing 50. Mr.. MITCHELL
who vas a large fat man, was seated o"
the same step with me, and dld not ule IoI
an hour and half after the boat ielt. lhey
all died easily, first falling INTO qule'
sleep before expiring. had three Han
mel shirts on and an oiIskln overcoa|
which kept me dry and toIcrabIy warm.
About ii o'clock the tide had fallen. so
that the cabin was fit TO enter. The next
tlde in the afternoon hoated the bed, and
during the whole Of Thursday night and
Friday morning remained III the cabin,
up to my armpIls IN the freezing waIer'-
| did not suffer great deal, considering
vel iiseems to me now like fearful dream.
With the morning my position became
much more dangerous. The tide rose SO
hiGh in The cabin that there Was not lett
room enough for me 10 breathe IN, and |
came near sutlocalng--to prevent winch
| broke the window Of tie sla;e-room to
get fresh air. remained in this way uL-
II! The lide went down, and about II o.
clock forced my way on deck through
he stale-room, as the cabin door was SO
blocked up 10y limbers and floating wood
rs to prevent lis opening. About o.
clock | saw schooner bearing down 10.
wards me, climbed up the CAD to make
signals, and in doing 80 burst my fingers,
which were frost bitten, open. On reach
ing the gaf, waived my hat, but no one
needed it on deck. | then took ny coat
ana shook it violently but the schooner
kept on her way, and noi soul on board
saw or knew of my condition. return
ed 10 the deck, terrified al the prospect De-
lore me as night was approaching and }
could not have survived toe horrors OF an
other night like the last. | got some
loose l!m5ers, with the intention OF ms-
king raft, which tie returning udc would
sweep IN towards shore, and got out on
the sand 10 construct it. By 4ns time
the people on shore saw ne on the wreck
and they launched tie life-boaI and took
me off, after having been on board Tor 81