The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-09-21

vessel so that when the hull sunk they would float
ofL but they were dragged down, and came up In
fragments and doubtless many were stunned and
drowned by 6eing struck with the pieces of the
wreck, whilst to others, they were the ultimate
means of safety An occasional flash of lightning
showed TO each other a sea of struggling forms,
and all cheered and encouraged each other. AT
arst we were all In mass together appearing AT a
glance like a crowd Of cattle swimming, but soou
the waves separated us; and at each succeeding
lash Of lightning We discovered that we were be-
ing separated and scattered over wider area until
We soon each found ourselves apparently alone Oh
the ocean.
Ii was dreary and desolate night, the waves
flashing over US and the running with great
Iury, the sharp wind chilling the blood i'll oul
VEINS. After being hour IN the water | saw
zone OF my fellow sufferers. Three-fourths had
doubtless sunk from exhaustion aud the balance
we're drifting over the ocean hoping against hope
'Or relief At about l o'clock in the morning. 4
saw sail, and at o'clock on sunday morning al
ter being six hours dashing about had the gratif-
catiou OF hndiug myself on the deck of the Norw =
Sian bark Ellen, Captain A. johnson, from BalIzt,
honduras, bound to Falmouth, England Here /
found about twenty of my fellow Passengers, and
)ur joy at again meeting with thankiulness It,
providence for miraculous delivery, caused
the chilled blood To course through our veins
Inc bark continued to cruise about, and ever,
hour We had the qualification of hauling on board
1thers OF our suffering friends. The night was
'"th ana the sea running too high to send out n
'5at ana all that could be done WAS to throw out
ppes ana cruise around in the direction OF the
'ce' that would occasionally reach us crying for
heip. mus myself and many others saved
'"yight, however, finally came when nearly u
'ozeh more were saved. X. L. Brown of San Fran
CISCO being the last one taken on board at O'Clock
IN Sunday morning, He had been lust twejy,
hours ut the mercy Of the sea, and doubtless ower
1l' life to the fact that be had ON heavy clothing
preventing his blood from chilling by the long ex-
30 ure. -
Captain Johnson. of the Ellen, continued t,
ruI5e around until nearly , o'clock on ,unday sf
,ernoon, and although We frequently encountered
11rtIons of the wreck it was evident that those
"hp had ciung to them had become exhausted and
nat at least i've hundred souls had perished du
ing inns awful night. We however. fpnnd ouf
itw refuge short of provisions and the crew living
hi"h cruel, but were soon relieved bv the bar.
"t&ony which supplied u.s. and touk six of ON
passengers to Savannah
phe ot the passengers saved by the Ellen hal
7trdgged for seven hour, in the water with twent,
houhds ol gold in wallets fastened under his clio
hlug. lie was large ans powerful man and suc-
-Fded IN securing large piece of the wreck. but
VAS SIM almost exhausted when brought GU board
mother passenger saved forty $40 gold pieces but
cost OF us had been compelled to abandon all out
l]ney to secure our safety whilst il was torn from
| ne possession of others by the violence of tho
! waves
| should not however, forget to mention the fac;
mat the caImneSs ami resolution displayed by the
t,t-sengers thruus shout the last day on board iii,
| s,eahler was truly remarkable. After the excltc
htnt OF getting the women and children of to the
rig Marine the fact that the vessel wa. grl.uali \
-lhRliig was regarded a fixed fact and all wen
| 20 work calmly and coolly to secure the best posi-
| pit means of safety. There was no noise each
making suggestions to his neghbor, and all cheer
ng aud encouraging hopes for succor, even in tn,
Ast extremity. 1t n fearful hour. and one that
| III OF Us will never forget.
capt Thos. ". Badger, of Baltimore, who cam
| upon the Norfolk boat this morning. WAS of greaI
assistance to Capt Hernden throughout the storm
tie assisted in organizing the gangs for bailing
chtered US ali up with hope ofultimate 'ty unit
Al hope was gone and then gave us the aid Of HI
| nautical experience in securing the best means o
| safety.
Cap IIerndon behaved nobly throughout, ant
| was STANDING near me on the hurricane deck WheI
| she went down. He sank, however, to rise nt
more. lelvin "a name to be honored among the he
roes of the sea.
The conduct of the engineer is much censure,
by ali the passengers. 1t believed that bette
| discipline in the engine room would have prevent
ed the fires from going ont and the steam gettin:
down SO low rs to stop the working of the machine
| ry and the pumps. His final behavior in seZin!
the first opportunity to escape before single NAL
passenger had entered the boats also exciting gen
| eral reprobaton.
| STATEMENT OF MR.. HENRY II. CHILDs
| We left Havana September Sth. having had de
| ightful weather and calm sea from the time q
| leaving Aspinwall In the afternoon of the day q
sailing from Havana. fresh breeze sprung ur
| and on Wednesday morning the 9Th il commence,
| blowing very strong. The gale continued ali day
And at night it was still increasing and raining il
| torrents. On Thursday, the wind blew a complet
| hurricane and the very high.
Through Friday the storm ragged with unabatin
| fury, and at II o'clock, A. NJ it was first know
among the passengers that the steamer had spruu
| Il leak and was making water fast. A line wa
tornled ana all the men weNt to work bailing fron
her engine room, the fires having been already ex
| tinguished by the water. After some hard wor
| We gained on the water much rs to be able t
| get up steam again, but held it so but for a fe,
| minutes, when the water again rose on US and til
| engine stopped then forever, Bailing was Still
continued in all parts of the ship and kept up unit
| she finally went down.
During Friday night the water gained gradually
but all being still in good spirits We worked to tn
best of our ability, feeling that when morning cam
We might possibly speak some vessel and thus b
| saved.
The fatal Saturday came at last, but brough
| nothing but increased fury! Still we worked or
About o'clock. P. NJ, the storm lulled littI
| and the clouds broke away, when life was renew
| cd and all again worked like giants
| At / O'Clock, p. NJ. spread on sail and fire
| guns, our flag being placed at half mast TO ou
| JOY, We were seen, and the brig Marine. {
| nUstOn. hove down upon us. We then considere
| our safety certain. She came near, and We 500
| spoke her and told her condition. She laid b
| about mile distant. and we. with the aid of onl
three boats, all that had been saved from the fur
of the Storm placed all the women aud children
| safety on board the brig.
As the evening was fast approaching. we disc
| yered another sail, which responded to our s
| nails and came near us. Capt. Herndon told thel
our condition and asked that they would lay
| and send boat, as We had none left. She promise
to do so. but il the last we saw of her eXceI
at distance, which grew greater and greater ever
moment.
| At clock We saw probability Of keepin
| afidat much longer, although we felt that if /"
could do so until morning all would be- saved !
,sisa haas 6 81 I,rfE
yer her upper deck, and all hope faded fast ava
| from desponding hearts, Life preseryers wer
| supplied TO all aud as we sent up two rockets {
| attract the attention of any sail that might sti
be near us, a tremendous sea swept over US. and l
| a moment more the steamer tCeRt darn!
| ! think some 400 or 400 souls were at that ms
nfnt launched npon the ocean at the mercy OF tn
waves. The storm by this time had entirely SUI
sided and We all kept near together ami went 4
The waves took us. There was nothing or yer
little said, except that each one cheered his felu
comrade on, and courage was thus kept up for t"
or three hours and think that for that space
gime none had drowned, but those who could n,
swim became exhausted and one Dy one SraduuIl
passed to eternity!
The hope that boats would be sent 10 us from IN
| two vessels We rad spoken soon fed from Us, ah
nur trust alone in Providence ana What bette
trust could you or ask for! saw my poor cor;
| ra,es fast sinking around me; anu AT q CLOCK Z"
| n that night was nearly alone upon the oceai
| some DO miles from land! !, however, stu near
shouts from all thar could do 30 that were iIo
ftr from me, but could not see them.
Within an hour from this time / saw vessel
| Judged about ons mile from ME. Taking iresh COT
rage struck out for the vessel and reached lt "he
| nearly exhausted. but ! was drawn on board D
rupes as soon as perceived. The vessel proved
be Norwegian bark from Baize. Honduras ho9n
tor Falmouth. england. found on board oi ne ~
| some two or three of my comrades, ana al "
| clock next morning We had i9 noble fellows o.
board and these are all know OF having oeeh sa'tG
We strayed about the place until we thought al
alive had been rescued and then set sail
We found the bark short of provisions anu u sn' sr
crew living on 0rueI We had some tea and coHe
b. refresh ourselves with at noon. ON SUNDAY sPoh
the American bark Saxony, bound Tor saVanhan ~ .
who supplied us with provisions ana TOOK ,,'.o n'e
| us on board. Onr names are; b. H. hluie " - =
.gabez Hines of san Francisco; Samuel Loon, " =
Name Adolph Frederick, of San Francisco ant
Henry ii Childs, of New York. c,..,.s,on
| The Norwegian bark set sail for ehafi -.