Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-13

& Three more saved from the Central America,
was the announcement that made by the ship
news reporterat O'Clock yesterday morning, ashe
stepped from the Staten Island ferry -boat st White
Hall; and his words were echoed from one to an
other until nearly all in the lower part of the city
were on the 91si ViUe to know who were the fortu-
nate survivors, and the particulars of the rescue
Within an hour the following brief statement of
details posted on the buIIetin-boards at the of
fees of the daily journals:
The Bremen bark Laura, Capt Wilmssen, from
Bremen A days, with merchandise and 24O pas
sengers to h. KoOp, arrived this morning Her
captain reports: Sept. o. lat, 40 81, Ion. 90 W.,
at p. M, spoke to the British brig Mary, OF
Greenock, Capt Shearer, from Cardenas tor Queens
town, aDd took from her J. Tice, second engineer,
of New York; Alexander Grant, fireman, of New
York; and 6. w. Dawson, passenger, of New York,
all from the steamship Central America. They
had been picked up at sea while in boat by the
Mary, on the 2lst of September The Laura brought
them to this port.
NARRATIVE OF Mr.. TlCE.
Within half hour before the Central America
sank it became evident to all on board that their
efforts at baing and pumping were unavailing, and
Mr.. Tice, with others, betook himself to the deck.
Captain HerndOn was then on the hurricane deck,
and he saw him but a few moments before the
steamer sank. Mr.. Tice at once looked about him
to secure some means of saving his life, after the
catastrophe should occur. He found board OF an
inch and half in thickness and about ten feet long,
and with it he took his stand on the hurricane deck,
near the stern of the steamer. He had been there
but few moments when the stern began to sink
rapidly and as the deck sank near to the surface,
he sprang with his board into the water-struck
vigorously out from the sinking vessel, and when
about forty feet distant, he saw the waves closing
over the bow He was sufficiently remote from the
steamer when she sank SO that he was not carried
under. In a moment the boiling surface of the sea
filed with the debris Of the wreck, and grasp
ing for them scores of human beings, stlI
hoping that they might yet be rescued from an I'M
pending fate.
Resting his chest across the centre of the board,
Mr.. Tice swan to the leeward, and though near to
others who struggling in the waves, they were
sustained pieces OF wreck and dlo not
attempt to share his board with him. Soon after
the steamer sank he discovered the lights OF
vessel in the distance which he supposed to belong
either to the bark Marine or the schooner (the I'll
Dorado which they had spoken short time be-
fore the catastrophe They were to the leeWaru OF
him, and he continued swimming in that direction,
in hopes to reach the vessel, but with the dsap-
pearance of the lights about 81 or 10 o'clock, he
ceased his efforts. An hour two later he again
discovered lights, and this time much nearer him.
| In few moments he was able to distinguish the
hull of a vessel bearing directly toward him. His
| hopes were raised, and he was confident that he
would soon be discovered and rescued. But when
only quarter of mile distant from him, the yes
sel-a bark (the Norwegian bark ELEM ALTERED
her course, and kept of, and subsequently, her hull
and lights disappeared, while she was apparently
sailing off in fine breeze. During the remainder
! of the night be encountered seven persons, who
| like himself were drifting about on fragments OF
the wreck boards, and in some instances he hall
ed them. In one case, the gentleman, passenger,
told Mr. Tice his name, which he Is now unable TO
remember. Another said that he had seen the
purser of the steamer but short time before
! floating on q board, and the belief was expressed
| that he was yet alive. heavy sea continued TO
| roll during the night and following day.
Sunday morning dawned upon Mr.. Tice with lit
| tie to encourage him in hope. The bark became
visible, but she standing of, and by II O'Clock
had sunk below the horizon. The day, however,
fine the shone brightly, but before meridi-
| an the heat became powerful. But dependency
part of his nature. Despite the dreaTy
prospect of his rescue, he resolved to struggle for
hie Sunday night came, and for another ten hours
he buffetted by the still heavy waves amid the
daSness. But his fatigue too much for him
to overcome, and often during the night bis head
would drop on his breast while in an involuntary
doze, and he would suddenly awaken with his hands
instinctiVely grasping the plank, which alone bore
his hopes for the future. But, besides his suffering
from exposure to the waves and heat, thirst and
hunger added their influence to render his situation
the more desperate The gnawlngs of hunger were
severe, but his thirst terrible. His position
a fearful realization of the words:
water, water, all around,
But not drop to drink"
Monday morning dawned without the presence
of anything to cheer his hopes. Occasionally frag-
ments of the wreck, drifting in the Gulf Stream.
would be lifted by the waves into view; and anon an
inflated life preserver would dance over the summit
of a wave amid the white caps, and IN moment
disappear. The sun set while be was yet tossing
on the waves, but with a spirit unbroken-which
was yet to suffer trials than he had yet
perienced-he still chung to his plank throughout
the night little expecting that the dawn of the NOR
Z e nHFIH hHVF.v
him above the until Providence should snatch
him from the very jaws of death.
About 9io'cOck on Tuesday morning, after floating
with his plank for sixty-one hours, he deserted
boat at the distance oftwo three miles and with
out knowing certainly what it was, further than
that it seemed to affor! better of sustain
ing himself than his plank, changed his position
rested his body the end of the plank, and swan
in the direction Of the object. The wind in the
meantime had become light, and the sea smoother,
and he able to make some progress in his swim
ming. Between u and l o'clock be reached tie
object be sOught-one OF the wooden life boats Of
the Central America, half filled with water He
grasped side, aud in a moment bad raised himself
over the guard In it he found three oars, pan,
a pail, and three old coats. With the pail he
baied out the boat. One of the coats he fastened
on car a signal aud then placed the up
right in the bow of the boat. He scanned the hoTi
zon, but not sail was to be SEEN His thirst, too
was increasing but he resisted the temptation of
weaker minds, TO drink of the salt water, know
ing its fatal cOBseque noes. AS the pieces of the
wreck dIiited past he watched them.closely to see
if they would afford him any relief. For
ment bis hopes rallied. A iew-yards distant he
thought he discovered a wicker flask floating on
the swell He sculled TO it, secured il, only how
ever, to be disappointed-ioF the cork had become
loosened and, in place of anything slake his iu-
rous thirst few spoOufuls of salt water Night
came upon the wanderer, and, exhausted, he fell
into an unquiet sleep, which continued until near
morning.
With the dawn of Wednesday, Mr.. Tice saw only
sea aud sky, and all day he had to encounter the
ragngs of hunger and thirst and the discomforts of
a hot sun, and the night only afforded him the re-
lief OF a disturbed doze.
But Thursday il it afforded no relief for bodily
suffering, relieved bis mind from the mOnotony OF
his position. About nine o'clock he discovered
something 10 the distance. lie took an oar and
sculled ia that direction, and he approached it
be saw il was piece OF wreck, on which were two
men. When within mile Of them, one jumped
overheard and swan to the boat and about IL
o'clock Mr.. Tice helped him in. de proved 70 be
Alexander Grant; OF the firemen OF the steamer
who bad been nearly i've days floating about on a
| piece of the hurricane deck. The two men then
! rowed TO the piece OF the wreck aud took on board
George w. Dawson, a colored man who was pas
senger from California by the Sonora and Central
| America. They left the dead body Of passenger
| on the piece of deck as they departed. That day
aud night they drilted along by the wind and
current. After having briefly related their expe-
rieUces since the sinking OF tue vessel, they tel
into silence, only occasionally b.oken BY sugges-
/ tiOn which some one might make as TO the pros
/ pect of their rescue.
| Friday and Saturday brought wish them no hopes
4 Of succor. They had ceased % hunger, bat their
| desire for water knew no bounds But with q
/ ~