Butte record., 1856-05-10
Narrowing Calamity.
Wreck Of the ship John Rutledge and
Supposed loss of 135 Persons.

supposed loss ot l35 Persons.
The arrival Of the ship Germania
at New York, from Hayre, on Sunday
last, brings US melancholy tiding
of disaster and death a5 sea-
On the 20th Of February the Germa-
MIA fell II with boat, in which vas
found one man alive, who sat perfect
ly helpless among the bodies Of 1oar
dead companions. Tie name Of tie
survivor was Thomas w. Nye. Of New
Bedford. He was Immediately convey
ed on beard tho Garnania, where eve
rything was done Fer his relief and
comfort, and IL IS nov slowly recover
ing. The whole stcry oc tals fearful
calamity IS Sc well told in tie follow
ing statelue- has 30 give it
without faaAer explanation:
'The slip John Rutledge, Captain
Alezander Kelly, sailed from Liver
pool on tie 10TH January, for New
York. Size vas loaded quite deem,
and had on board an assorted cargo,
including large quantity O. iron
She had IZ0 passengers ii the steer
age. Tie 5ttsers and crew numbered
20 maa. The name Of the first mate
vas Atkinson, ard he was from Phila-
delphia
We encountered most tempestuous
weather, and lost man from the jib-
boom. VI e also lost a passenger, who
was washed overheard by d sea. On the
18th Of February, at noon, IN long.
&c deg. Sc min. West, lat. "A deg.
81 min, We encountered field ice, and
making our way through it struck one
or two heagy pieces projecting some
four or i've feet out Of water. ri lie
weather vas iazy, and we could not
see fer ahead The vind was aft, snd
the ship being surrounded closely by
field ice, would not steer we'll. u
could not keep clear Of the heavy
masses of ice. At last, early the next
morning the ship struck heavily upon
an iceberg, and started plsnks from
her forefoot. The pumps were sound
ed, and it was found that the ship was
leaking at fearful rate. Two pumps
were set going, and the crew and pas
sengers divivided into gangs Of twelve
each to work them. A quantity Of
salt and crates of crockery in great
number, were hoisted ont Of the hold
and thrown overheard. By this means
the leak was got at, and some pillows
and clothing stuffed into it. But they
seemed Of little or no good, and it soon
became evident that the ship was fill
ing rapidly. Preparations were then
made to abandon her and take to the
boats. There were FIVE boats attach
ed to the ship which I think would not
have carried all on board. As it was,
some twenty-five or thirty were left to
90 down with the wreck, Of whom
all but the mate and carpenter were
passengers.
The boat that | was in was the last
to shove off. 1t was the intention Of
the mate and carpenter to have joined
us, but went to sound the pumps, and
while doing so our beat broke adrift.
Indeed, had We lain along side few
minutes longer We should have been
svamped.
We soon lost sight Of the ship, and
found ourselyes-thirtecn in number
upon the wide ocean, with but about
a gallon of water, and six or eight
pounds Of bread. The party in tie
boat consisted Of the boatswain, a
Scotch sailor, FIVE men, four women
and Q Ettle girl, passengers, and my
self. One Of the women was the
mates wife. The weather was in
tensely cold; the boat shipped a great
deal of water, and from the effects of
both, the suferings that we were to
encounter were not long delayed. The
two other sailors, Mrs. Atkinson and
myself, were warmly clothed; but the
passengers, excepting one lady,
were not. That lady was wrapped
up in two blankets
We had a compass in the boat, but
Mrs. Atkinson, in jumping in, broke
1t. 1t would have been Of little use,
the beat was so unsteady. We made
no effort to reach any particular point
our only hope being that we should be
blcked 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 exhausted, and then the bitter
cold began to tell upon US. It IS my
opinion that if We had been well sup
Piled with food and water, most Of us
could have withstood the cold.
On the third day in the boat, male
/ passenger 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. We this day