The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-01
SHIPwRECK-S LOSS
OF LIFE

of January, ran into an iceburg on the 18th
of February, and was damaged so that it
was abandoned, and the passengers 100 in
number, and the crew numbering %, took
to the boats. One boat which had contain
cd 13 persons, was picked up on 2sth of
February, by the ship Germania, which
arrived at New York, Oh Sunday last; but
one sailor ,cas alire, all tie rest haring died
Of starratiOR. Other boats pulled for the
Gulf Stream, but have not been heard Of
The ship was insured for $4,000, and had
a cargo of 500 tons of merchandise, which
was probably insured in Europe.
The New York Courier, says: On the
10Th she entered a field of ice, but cleared
it. Soon afterwards, however, on the same
day, she encountered an iceberg which stove
a hole i'll her bow, and damaged her to such
an extent that at six o'clock in the evening
she was complete wreck and evidently
sinking. Nothing remained but for those
on board to abandon the wreck as best they
could. Five boats were lowered, four of
which took their loads and left. In the fifth
boat which was the one found by the
Gcrmania, the mate Of the John Rutledge,
Mr.. Atkinson, and several others were just
about entering. when it broke adrift with
the thirteen already in it, leaving the mate
and those with him to go down with the
wreck. Those in the boat now pulled it
! through the water and ice as well as they
/ nj, 10 lint
broken. and amid the snowy and cloudy
weather which followed, they knew not
which way they went. Days passed on,
and one by one of the thirteen in the boat
sank in death, from the combined effects of
cold and starvation, and were thrown over
board until the 28th of February, Mr.. Nye,
with the four latest dead, among whom was
| Mrs. Atkinson, the wife of the mate, were
picked up by the Germania.
Thomas W. Nye, the only survivor out
of IA human beings lost by this shipwreck,
gives the following account of the suffer-
ings of those who were with him in the
small boat:
There were five boats attached to the
ship, which think would not have carried
all on board. As it was, some twenty-five
or thirty were left to go down with the
wreck, of whom all but the mate and car
penter were passengers. The boat that |
was in was the last to shove off.
We soon lost sight of the ship, and found
Ourselves-thirteen in number-upon the
wide ocean, with but about gallon of water,
and six or eight pounds of bread. The
party in the boat consisted of the boatswain
Scotch sailor-five men, four women, and
a little girl, passengers-and myself. One
of the women was the mates wife. The
weather was intensely cold, the boat ship
ped great deal of water, and from the
effects of both, the sufferings that we were
TO encounter were not long delayed. The
two other sailors, Mrs. Atkinson, and myself
were warmly clothed; but the passengers,
with the exception of one lady, were not.
That lady was wrapped up in two blankets.
We had compass in the boat, but Mrs.
Atkinson, in jumping in, broke it. 1t would
have been of little use, the boat was so I'M
steady. We made no effort to reach any
particular point-our only hope being that
we should be seen and picked up by some
passing vessel. Mrs. Atkinson took charge
of the bread and water, and would give but
little out. She and the bOatswain drank
most of the water. Both were soon ex-
haustcd, and then the bitter cold began to
tell upon us. 1t is my opinion that if we
had been well supplied with food and water
most of us could have withstood the cold |
On the third day in the boat a male pas
senger died. He was very thinly dressed
a light coat being his only one. He was
followed the next day by woman, whose
husband survived her for a day or two.
On the fifth day all those on the boat with
me began to drink sea water. warned |
them against it. but they persisted. l got |
very little of the water taken from the ship, |
but l drank no sea water. When my mouth |
became very parched and dry, 1 rInsed it |
out with sea water, but swallowed none. |
Some snow fell one day, which l found |
great relief. After the others be-
gan to drink the sea water they died in
quick succession. On the seventh day the |
last one died, and left me the only living |
being on the boat. The dead who first sue |
cumbed were thrown overheard; but the !
four last were beyond my little remaining |
strength, and for more than two days was
obliged to sit with their distorted bodies |
before me, and with but little hope that q |
better fate would be mine. The last who |
cd was passenger-an English lady of |
slight form, the mother of the little girl
Her daughter preceded her few hours. |
cannot remember the order in which the
others died. The boatswain, the night be-
fore his death, became delirious and furious.
Tie assailed Mrs. Atkinson, bit her severely
on the arm, and scratched her. He threw
the bucket overheard, and attempted to
throw the oars overheard also He assaulted
me with the canteen. and struck me a blow
on the face, the marks of which | still bear.
He died about noon, some hours before