Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-11-26


the men pushed of and moved rapidly
away, as If determined to got out Of sight
and hearing Of the miserable beings left
all unconscious Of the fate that was Cast
approaching them. We made but little
way, however, because our boat was too
heavily loaded. Tho captain gave orders
to have certain things thrown overheard,
and some indispensable provisions trans
ferred to the other boat, which was less
crowded. These things delayed us for
some time within a stones throw of the
Camden, from which 1 could not with
draw my eyes for moment The
moon shone SO brightly that every rope Of
the doomed vessel was visible, and all the
familiar objects on the deck which had
been our home. Nearly all the sails we're
set, and showed ghostly beneath the
moon; but the vessel being without gui-
dance, they tapped idly this way and that,
like the wings of wounded bird. Slowly
the head of the vessel turned round, and,
as she drifted before the wind, advanced
towards the boats. just then 1 saw a
figure in white night-dress running
frantically about the deck-now pcering
over the side, now, with hands clasped
above its head, gazing up at the sky, but
uttering not word. Then it disappear
ed, and within minute, from the hollow
hull of the vessel came tumult of voices
--of savage execrations mingled with des-
pairing cries and shrieks, as the forlorn
and wretched creatures swarmed out upon
the deck. They crowded to the little boat
at the stern, fought savagcly for the pos
session of it, and swamped it in the vain
attempt to get it afoat--the most forward
and furious of them perishing before the
eyes of the rest. And now that all were
aware Of the death that awaited them; the
cries and the curses, and the long dismal
howls and shrieks all mingling together,
were most heart-rending and horrible to
hear, and will ring in my ears to my dying
day. They soon caught sight of our boats,
as the men, panic-stricken by the awful
sounds, paused upon their oars, and gazed
as if fascinated by the fearful tragedy
As the sinking ship lurched heavily nearer
and nearer, we merely pulled few strokes
q ~ HI aiant fn mo- foip aafo 4
then paused and gazed again. The poor
doomed wretches, stretching their clasped
hands towards US, prayed piteously for the
help we could not afford them and anon
goaded to madness by our silence, for we
answered them not q word, called down
curses from Heaven upon our heads. 1t
was dreadful aud sickening thing to be
obliged to fly from the distress which we
would all have willingly risked our lives
to alleviate. But. alas there was no help
for it; and all we could do was to add in
silence our bitter lamentations to their
own. For more than two hours we Eat the
agonizing spectators of this horrible
tragedy. 1t must have been nearly three
hours past midnight when the Cu0,den
went down, and the last drowning cry Of
the wretched passengers rang in our cars
prayed to Heaven earnestly that night
that no human eye might ever again be.
hold such a spectacle; and hope the
Great Ruler Of the universe will hear my
prayer.
"The dead, cold silence that followed
struck more terror to my heart than all the
agonizing cries that had gone before
Then / heard the strong men sobbing like
women; but at these sounds, the captain
who had hid his face from the dreadful
spectacle Of the wreck, reused himself
and in calm severe voice ordered the mer
to pull away, himself taking charge of The
rudder. ! had been in sort Of maze al
this time, incapable of doing anything bu
stare fxedly on the poor sinking ship; bu
when the boat began to move, I was recall
ed to my proper senses, and then thu
thought of my family, and the peril W,
were in, almost bewildered me again.
turned 20 my poor wife she was in deat
swoon, and as / afterwards found, ha,
tainted the moment had joined her il
the boat, and had beheld nothing of tn
!, fearful sight which had unnes7ed us all
, She lay in the arms of hor niece, who wa
almost as helpless as herself. The tw
eldest girls were moaning with apprehcn
! sion and terror; but I was glad to sec tha
: the younger children were fast asleep, an
that the girl had covered them up close i
, the bottom of the boat, We were llhud
] died togctner with the captain at the stcrI
, and as the sea was anita calm were fortl