The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-11-27
vivid nnd Thrilling Narrative OF
the loss Of the Ship LyOnnniso.

STATEMENT OF Mr.. LAeuIERE, SECOND NATE
OF LELYoNSAIsE.
> We ieft New York on Saturday, Novem-
Der !, at IL o'clock. All went on pleasant
ly until IL o'clock on Tuesday night, Nov.
4, So miles to the northward Of the light on
Nantucket Shoals, when, just Immediately
after the passengers and many Of the crew
had retired. leaving the watch on deck,
three. masted vessel was observed bearing
down Iuponlus.
We did all in our power to avoid a collis
sion with her, by ringing our bells and blow
ing the steam whistle to warn her Of our vi
cinity; but before we could head off, she
struck us amidships, tearing out an entire
square of the plate iron. The water rushed
in with great force, and although every eff
Fort was made to stop the hole, by plugging
il with mattresses, quilts, pillows, &C., it was
discovered that the water was gaining upon
us very rapidly.
Half an hour had hardly elapsed ere the
fires in the furnaces were quenched. The
stem pumps, having previously become
choked with coal, were of little service in
! freeing the ship. All on board were seized
with panic, and it was with difficulty that
the captain could calm the fears of the pas
senqers, and induce the crew to bale the
/ ship. lie finally succeeded in mastering
the crew together, and with the aid of the
/ passengers, who formed in bailing parties,
riggcd cable in the hold, and by this means
was able to reach the water.
The passengers and crew worked heroic.
ally, until worn out, and finding the wafer
/ gaining on them rapidly, at an early hour
the following morning "wednesday they
/, commenced constructing raft, and byr4 o.
clock, p. M, it was finished.
At this time the vessel was sinking rap.
idly. By o'clock, five boats (he ships
} complcment) were launched and quickly
f filed with passengers. The captain gave
directions to those in the boats to steer to
) the Northward. The boats, however, were
unprovided with compasses and badly pro-
{ yisioned, the water in the ship having spoil
, ed; the bread and other provisions could not
| be obtginqd from the storeroom on account
! of the storm, Hardly had two of the boats
left the steamship, than they went dewn.
! and those who were on board endeavored to
t reach the raft, which was crowded with
f about fifty persons. Many in their efforts
F, to preserve their lives in this death struggle,
!, sank to rise no more. OF the forty five or
. fifty persons in these boats, at least two,
e thirds were drowned.
y had proceeded some little distance to-
c wards these unfortunate sufferers and with
e nv boat tried to reach them, but not having
d any oars or even any thing that would serve
as paddle, was obliged to leave them to
II their fate. Night coming on, lost sight of
e the other two boats and the raft By the
}. dim light which the moon afforded, saw the
ID steamship some distance off, but gradually
J. lost sirht Of her. | left the captain on
h board the vessel, and as to his fate have no
IS knowledge. A few of the crew remained
n by him,
Is | forgot to mention that the vessel that
s. came in collision with us, although appa'
2. rently uninjured, made no effort to render us
g. assistance, or even to ascertain what injury
I'd we sustained, but steered away. Little do |
le know, however, but she, too, has sunk into
re the depths of the mighty deep, and all on
es board perished.-
th On Tuesday morning the weather began
b. to show unfavorable signs, and at mid day
1t it commenced showing, haling and raining
s. violently. Judge Of our pitiable condition
SIS in an open boat, leaking at the rate of eigh
H. barrels per hour, keeping us continually
bailing. We suffered severely, the storm
,ia increasing in violence, and next day dawn
re fore. Our scaLty supply of eatabes, which
lis had consisted only of preserves, were great
ce y diminished We had no water, and il
"a was pitinbc to hear the cries of my pool
eft companionr; they were such as would max
ID the stoutest heart quail. The next day ou
to suffcrngs were augmented by the renewa
tie of the storm, which pelted upon us pitt
or lessIy.
IL, Io L.
re- those in the boat. To imagine the agon
It's, Of an old gentleman of sixty years strug
or Cling with death in its most narrowing as
lal pect will fail to realize its scene. He die
. before njghtrall. Many began to think tha
we they would soon follow him TO eternity
his During the night seaman and myself foun
re- it difficult to keep our companions aive.-
to By dint of much exertion, however, we sue
es- ceed5d Several however, including my
in self, were severely frost bitten.
lis We we're now entirely out Of provisions
my with star 2ation staring us in our faces. War
bic of water compelled US to drink sea-water, br
sed this. of course, only increased our thirst.-
atty We now made up our minds that we wer
yet indeed lost. 1t is impossible to descrb
gle our frjghtiul condition; no water, foo
md clothes frozen to our backs, feet wet on
by frozen, and strength exhausted with balm
hat out the boat. ,-..,,
ng' Saturday morning we discovered a sal
ore oh! how glad were our hearts at this sis
|se. nal! but many of my poor companions WEI
too helpless to see even this coming succo
On making signals to her by the raising
'ui hands and a handkerchief, she bore dow
for US. She proved to be the bark Ellis
j.. Captain Nordenholst, from Baltimore fl
,gs. rs Bremen, who took us on board. and in II
'ie Wv: kindest manner did all in his power to o
r: l'! eviatc our sufferings and make US as cor
e'l' Portable as he could under the circumsta
Iut' ces. We continued to suffer severely fro
ih', . the effects of our prvations and exposur
.N .ne Captain Nordenhost found it inconyenie
,'!ns to accommodate SO large a number, ai
ne nc wished to transfer us to some vessel bou
aaNr to the United States. He siPnaed
,ntly t:l American ship, supposed to be bound
.ta u'u some eastern port, but she paid no attent
'ai to the signal
| 10. On Monday morning last, having be-
.ney two days on board the bark, we spoke 1
ny Hamburg bark Elise, Captain Neilsc
.P,e y &c bound from Hamburg to New York, W
- ~ sent boat alongside.
J Upon hearing Of our misfortuncs, and
aho ,ho certaining our wish to proceed to New Yol
'"' he kindly offered US passage in his vess