American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1857-10-15

seen IN the northeast Standing Tor the Ii
South. They seizAd their bars and pull 4
ed for the vessel. fore-and aft schooner, Ii
and when nearest her, she was not more i
than two miles distant But the distance I
began to increase. and ID two or three 4
hours FROM the time theYywere overioyed 4
by her appearance. she wis out oi their
sight. and once more their spirits, FOR az,
moment so buoyaDt. relaxed, and for
time feeling OF dispair followed.
Daylight on Monday morning showed
nothing to encourage hope. But fot the
first time in over eight days their thirst
for water was tn be Stacked. A brisk show
er of rain began to fall. and while the pail
and pan were used to catch few spoon
fuls. they opened their mouths for the
few scattered drops that chanced to fall
upon their parched and swollen tongues.
They caught in the pail and pan about
quart Of water. but so great were their
physical sufprings that the water afforded
them no immediate relief. But another
and greater rope was row TO be realized
;han their desire for water. Har]ly had
they drank the last drop which had Tins
been showered upon them, when tie
shower passed over them, and few miles
distant they saw brig steering directly
toward them, before light breeze. Soon
her topsais were unfurled and set, and
she came toward them more rapidly
Grant and Dawson took the oars ard com
menced TO row. They were all weakened
from suffering. and il is doubtful whether
T. cir efforts were Of much avail in moving
the boat. But it was a struggle for life
last Effort to save their lves-if they fail
ed now nothing hut despair was left them.
But they were seen-a hail from the brig
was waited over the waves 10 their ears:
they pulled more manfully and with re-
newed vigor toward their savior. In q
moment the boat was near the vessels side
a line was thrown out and caught by the
emaciated survivors in the boat. which
was quickly along side, and in kA mo-
ments bowlines were about their forms,
and they were upon the deck, ,tight days
and twenty hours after the sinking Of the
steamer. a;
DATsoN's STATEMENT.
When day broke on Sunday morning
he saw what he imag ned to, be boat a
short distance off, and he at once swan to.
5 wards it. As he nesred it. lie found it to
. he the raft which he had assisted To- launch
. before the steamer went down.. He found
on it eleven men. among whom were Al
sxander Grant. his fellow survivor. Geo.
s Buddington, third assistant engineer, and
e colored man, Rich.rd Gilbert, the engi
e neer's mess boy. Mr.. Dawson asked tha
!. he might also get on the raft, but they rs
s fused him. as it was already several inch
II es under water, from the weight Of th'
;. eleven who were support d on it. The!
b consented however 10 let him take hold o
% tfe iopss lashed TO the raft. and. with hi
:. pieces Of board under his arms he foatet
10 thus in the water. Soon after reaching
D, the raft, they discovered the Norwegian
t, bark at distance Of four or 6v,
le miles. but too far off TO signal her. Sh,
lie continued in sight until about9 O'clock
s. when she disappeared entirely. Durin
le Sunday, as near as Mr.. Dawson is able
ID recollect,, two Of the persons on the RAJ
Is sank down exhausted, drowned and float
be ed off into the sea, This Ishtened III
It. raft sufficiently to enable it 10 bear Nj
q. Dawson, who go. upon the raft with th
4; others. During the day several Of th
in passengers sustained with life preserve'
st Aoa,ed past them and were hailed. Th
ht most usupl question was. whether the
d, had anything to eat or drink, and the ar
n. swer was always negative. During SUI
day night nothing of importance transpi
ce ed further than an occasional conyersalio
nd turning upon their probabilities Of rescue
nd Their sufferngs for the want OF water
lot came here intolerable and continued TO il
he crease. On Tuesday night the fcIrl
since the wreck-the colored man, Gi
for bert, began to grow despondent, and ii
I'm feeling soon increased to such an exte
me that he became deranged. Mr.. Budding
he ton also was similarly affected The
in would talk about going down into the m
he room or the pantry TO get snme wafer
Tas food. Gilbert insisted that the stewa
em had told him heshould have some wat
'at, if he came down. Some Of them M
i'm Dawson, thinks, drank salt water in III,
mt, desperate thirst. Some be stopped VIII
,sd they were in the act. During Wednesd
ma several died syme BY lying down in I
wo water and drowning, and others by fall
md off into the sea On Wednesday evenin
,ol- Buddington's and Gilbert's mental deran
ali ment became uncontrolabe, and thou
A.. Grsnt and Dawson did all they could,
las. soothe them, their efforts were ineifectd
de- and soon after dark they swan from
ere raft, fancying in their frenzy that tn
- were soon to obtain relief. 1t was the |
sri- lief death. =
hey II was on Wednesday, Mr.. DAVIS
ken thinks. that dog fish weighing seve
ght pounds jumped or the raft and was secl
ed. His skin and meat ,weresso tou
,em that they copld hardly c,it or eat it, a
to they satis6edjt Themselves by msstica'inI
new small Quantity os it, The next day il '
.lief more Iender,,, and it was coon eaten.
hev Thursday morning only Grant apd d.
,av- son we're left on the raft. but soon 81
nix, they Aoated near passenger who '
AXE supporting himself on a,plank. He sw
en-. tollhe raft. and the, two assisted him
,eri, board His christian name was Fra
With and he had largs ring on his finger m
ked F. B. Frank however was exha'