Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-10-15
THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 10, 1857


the rest some became delirious, and yielding
to the cravings of thirst, drank the salt water
which only aggravated their sutferings, and
they soon died. Sharks and dog-fsh cruised
aboutin sight of them, and sometimes came
very near, as if impatient of their prey. On
the fifth day only four OF the men remained
alive on the hurricane deck, when they dis
covered Mr.. Tice, the assistant Engineer in a
boat at a short distance. Grant swan to the
boat, and the other two followed him, but the
last two were drowned, and he, Dawson, was
left alone. In a short time the boat came
along side and took him off. They remained
together in the boat for three days, when they
were fallen in with by the bark May, from
Oardenas bound to Cork, and were taken on
board. They saw no sail until the Mary hove
in sight.
ALEXANDER GRANT, FIREMEN ON BOARD THE
CENTRAL AMERICA
Alexander Grant was on board the Central
America, until she foundered. He was adrift
on the ocean during nearly nine days, without
| food and without water, except once, when
| there was rain, and he secured some to drink.
He was picked up with Tice, the second engi-
| neer, and Dawson, a passenger, on the list OF
| September; on the 28th was transferred TO the
| bark Lanra, which arrived at this port at an
early, hour yesterday morning. He was taken
| Immediately 90 his residn,ssAy A-ss-s0T fAhuhm
-seEast, aud soon afterwards was visited py one
I OF our reporters, who found him apparently in
much better condition, physically, than could
| have been expected, after so many days spent
in clingng to the floating remains Of the hur-
ricane deck of the Central America, and in
a leaking, open boat, in boisterous sea. III
| would be useless to expect graphic account
| OF what occurred to him or anybody else from
Mr.. Grant, even if he were disposed. But he
| is motor at least was not yesterday. Al
first he refused to give any information in reia-
tfnt, f, arn.hp Ta-ifl m
| the deck, who were lost. He was busy making
| up for lost meals; and at intervals during the
| performance of that evidently agreeable duty
| complained Of not being very well. HIS lips
were swollen considerably; they had been
| blistered and were then covered by black
scab, otherwise his appearance did not diner
widely from that of other men of like voca-
tion--s fact which speaks well for the prudence
and care of those who attended him on the
Mary and Laura. Judging from his condition
yesterday, he will doubtless soon recover his
wonted strength, provided he is kept from all
excess.
| During the day he improved in temper, and
became somewhat talkative to those OF ms I'M
mediate acquaintances. He was among those
| who, at the time considered themselves fortu-
| nate in getting positions on the hurricane
| deck, which came to the surface very soon at-
| ter the ship went down. On that there were
nine besides himself; among them were
George Buddington, Third Assistant Engi-
| neer.
Patrick Carr, Fireman.
John Banks, Coal passer.
| James Kennelty, Coal passer.
-Eyers Coal passer.
Richard Gilbert, (colored,) Engineers mess
| man.
| The others were passengers whose naneshe
| did not know. They all managed to keep upon
the piece of the wreck during the night, and
until the following day, although the sea was
rough, and considerable effort was necessary
! to resist the force of the waves. BY this time
they had drifted out of sight and hearing OF
the others who were in the water, and knew
nothing OF their fate, although they felt sure
they must have gone down. A terrible thirst
seized upon them all, and the weakest Were
rapidly losing the power to maintain Their po
sition upon the wreck. They looked out anx
iously for sail, but none -appeared to encour
age them !. one by one ocean ftrengtjl gave wa
ndldror;hng INTO the river they wore drown
ed. ON the second day, after some two o
three had been washed off, &. W. Dawson
(colored) a passenger on the Central America
appeared near to them, clinging to plank
He wanted to get upon the hurricane deck
but they would not let him, because thewelgh
| of those who were upon it pressed II some IN
ches below the surface. But Dawson kept neal
and clung to his plank. 1t was not long before
others became senseless and rolled on, anu
l
For u time he kept himself afioat by ciinging
to the side, but finally, after great effort, ne
succeeded in getting upon it. AS the third
night came on, another man was seen hoailhg
and alive near the deck. He, too, was taken
on, making twelve in all that were ana hau
been on the hurricane deck. By this time all
were nearly wild from hunger and thirst. some
gazed with vacant stare out upon the Droau
waters in search of friendly sail, and dis
cerning none, hope forsook them and they
died. Others raised their enfeebled hands
imploring God to save them from Impending
death, and while thus they prayed, the re-
morseless waves choked up their utter anee
and burieSf them for ever The fourth day
came, and all but four had pershed. The sut'
ferinRs of those who remained were even now
beyond description. Death appeared cheaE
price ior relief, and yet they chung to the WrecR
and looked out for sail until their eyes were
deadened by the glare of the waters. bu
long and anxibusly though they looked, nc
sail appeared Another terrible night wa'
passed, and as the morning of the nth DAY
dawned, the four men wele still ciinglnE
TO the floating deck-two Of them, however, Sc
feebly, that it was evident they must soon die
If not yery soon relieved. 1t was not long
now before Grant, discovered Tice, an assist
, ant engineer. in a small boat short distance
from the floating deck. He dropped into tn
water, swan towards the boat, reached II, an'
, was taken in. Tice and Grant then made 10
the deck to take the others off, but when the
a arrived Dawson alone remained. The othe
: two had died and been washed away. DawSo
I was taltan in; the hurricane deck was abandon
ed. they sat down in the boat, and as calml
. as their awful sufferings would permit awaite
' sail or death. For three more long DAY
/, and nights they waited, but neither deatn re
= sail came to their relief. They were now
u much exhausted that they could not rise u
p to scan the sea; and when the Greenock bri
y Mary came te,hem, they were unable 70 max M
I Z any strong demonstration OF Joy. ohe W.
Il quite near before they discovered her, an
7 when they were taken on board they were III
u able to stand. The brig Mary was the only ~
:, they saw, from the time the Central Amerl'
9 went down. They were carefully attended
= by those on board the Mary. On the 2oth ths
. were transferred to the barque Laura whe
y kind attentions were continued until their
!, rival here yesterday morning, when the tlI
u were taken to tho residences of their respes'u
a friends
HABITS IN THE PULPIr.--A correspondent
t. the Christian Reflector is holdingup a few pi
., lures true to life, for the notice OF such OF
d, clerical friends as may have need OF thel
ct hoping the reflection will do no harm
u says:
a / notice in some cases handkerchief hal
Il, in the pulpit, which has led me to inquire
a the use OF thatyery nee essary article is pa
ca of theological training. notice some man
ed ters take It out of their pockets, as they
er their sermon, and lay it on the pulpit. Soi
K spread it out lengthwise through the middle
n the Bible some roll it up, and tuck IL una
the Bible some shake it every few momer
he over their heads; some clench 1t In their han
= as if they were going to throw it at the a
re dlenoe and some keep srowding it unto thu
"a pockets, and pulling it out again, with nj
er yous movement, as if they did net know wi
to other nse TO make of their hands, went on