American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-22
TERRIBLE SUFFERING AT SEA.


The Bark Amelia in Distrsss- Horr;.
Ole Pri0ations ofMe Crev--Iiats and
Rice for Food Iaeenty.t,oo DAYS of
Famine-- Scenes on ShipJoard.
BY the arrival of the steamer Black
Warrior, we have received a letter from
81. Thomas. containing an Interesting
narrative of the suHeriugs of The officers
and crew of the bark Amelia, which
vessel until very iatsly, was supposed
TO have been lost at, sea. The command.
Ger, Lieut.. Reed Warren, arrived at this
port in the Black Warrior. and Lieut..
Erben, In whose charge tina crew was
placed, has arrived at Baltimore i'm the
bark Amason.
-. ST. THoMAs. WI. Feb. 90, Il $50. :.
The bark Amelia arrived at this port
on tho LIST inst in distress. The A.ne-
liza was seized by tho United States Gov
ernment at Port-au Prince. having car
goof military stQres aud Implements on
board, which no doubt were intended
for a filibusta,iag expedition. They
left Port-au,P Prince on tho 18th DAY of
December. and had not been at sea mn
ny days before the vessel commenced
leaking and sailing badly. made very
slow progress. On the gath day out
they experienced very severe gale,
which nearly destroyed The vessel tear
ing the sails to ribbons. They attempt
ed to make the port of Charleston or Sa-
vannah. but failed in doing that, and
were carried to the eastward The
gale lasted for ten days, raging with The
greatest violence, the vessel continuing
to leak very badly. and it was with The
greatest difficulty that she could be kept
afluat by constant pumping. They then
attempted to make the port of New
York before another storm should over-
take them, but did not have that good
luck. e
On the night of January s. when near
New York, expecting the next morning
to be inside of Sandy Hook, the wind,
which had been westerly and southwes.
terry for while pr evious, shiitedto the
moth, and from that point all around
the compass. 1t continued blowing q
terrific hurricane for thirty-six hours
During the whole of that time the Off
GERS and men relieved ecch other at the
Pumps--every moment expecting the
vessel to sink, the water gaining all the
time on them. Finally and by degrees
the gale subsidized, and they saw there
was some chance Of escape. Both Off
GERS and men suffered severely. Find
ing the vessel was comDlete wreck,
and being out Of provisions and water,
all hopes Of making port in the Uni
ted States were given up, and they at
tempted to go to Bermuda, but that was
not accomplished. The greatest anxi-
ETY. at that time was Co meet a vesse |
which would relieve Them Of their hun
ger and thirst but every vessel they
met avoided them, giving them as wide
berth as possibe-tho Amelia being
rather a suspicious looking craft.
Surprising there might be some pro-
vision in the hold of the vessel, an ex-
animation took place, when barrel Of
rice and bread was found but in dam,
aged condition. They then discovered
the hold was sDayming Nth rats.
Thep went TO work and caught the
rats, Which aoitA Tie rice kept them from
starring. They Vere IN this condition
far twenty-t,oo days AT daylight on
tho morning of Jan. % vessel was dis
covered, which proved to be the Eng
lish brig Ida, Capt Williams, three
days from ST. Johns, Island Of Anil gu n,
bound to London. He showed on
blackboard his longitude, and Lieut..
Wedlen hailed him, telling him they
were sixty days out, and in want OF
bread and water, or something to eat,
and they would be thankful for anything
for they were starving. He replied he
had no bread to spare, but would give
them some -four. A boat was sent on
board, and returned with only part ETA
hayf barrel Of -four, and nothing else
This however, they were thankful for
aud, with the rats and the rice they ia
rod quite we'll.
They then continued their course, and
on the morning of the 3lst of January
came in sight of the Island Of Som bero
and passed 1t; made for the port Of St.
Thomas, where they arrived on the Isl
of February. having been sixty.two days
at sea- and most of the time experience
ing the greatest suffering. Lieut. We'd
don handed the vessel over to Mai.
Helm, the U. S. Consul, who discharg-
cd her cargo and is now shipping it TO
N. York. The whole town was alarm.
ed for fear an explosion would take
place, as there were arms and ammuni-
ton on board sufficient for an army of
FIVE thousand men. The vessel has
been pronounced the most unseawoItby
that was ever seen in our harbor, and
great credit is due to the officers, who
after sixty.two days lordships, sue
ceeded in oett;no her into mort.