Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-12


and furious IL ~ q p.s|
Of the rest. Ard
the death that aMnls
curses, aHdthstdl
all Mingled tcesEhss
our boats, ss the ussn, panle -
awful sounds: paused 6bO6 s. ii g. 4
gazed as Il fascinated Ey tls
As tho sinking ship hecha9
and nearer; we merely pullsd ls1
sufficient to maintain aale dISltnee ~ l8eh
paused and gAzcd again. The nook tcp3a
wretches, stretching der tIal tel ss s1tf.
ards us, prayed piteoualy Sor hsIn 4fhae We
could not afford them and &no9 eoaesd 10
madness by onr silence, for We an1M Mets4 them
not word, called down curses nom HgGven
upon our heads. "a,
It was dreadful and sickening thing 70 bU
obliged to fly from the distress which We
would all have willingly riskcd our lives TO
alleviate. But, alasl there was no helpfOr h;
and all we could do was 10 add 10 silence our
bitter lamentations to their own.
For more than two hours We sat the akCtj.
izing spectator Of this horrible tragedy. le
must have been nearly two hours past mid
night when the Camden went down, and tho
last drowning cry OF the wretched passengers
rang in our ears prayed TO Heaven e1f-
nestly that night that no human eye hAieht
ever again behold such spectacle and hope
the Great Ruler Of the universe viii hear my
prayer.
"TKc dead; cold silence that followed struck
more terror to my heart than all the ag0ntz-
| ing cries that had gone before. Then heard
the strong men sobbiRg like -wosnsn; but 1t
| Ahnoa c01nda tho ranAaf0 vuhN had M hfa
face from the dreadful spectacle Of the Nfecky
reused himself, and in calm severe voice or
dercd the men to pull away, himself taking
charge Of the rudder. had been in . sovtof
maze all this time, incapable fdoing anything
but stare fxedly on the poor sinklpg ship;
but when the boat began 70 TnCves @as fe-
called to my proper senses, end thea the
thought Of my family, and the pesil We wer6
in, almost bewildefed me again. Turned to
my poor wife she was ina dead swoon, and
as l afterwards found, had tainted the moanent
had Joined her in the boat, and had beheld
nothing Of tho fearful sight which had un5
ncrved Us all. She lay in tho arms Of her
neicc, who was almost as helpless No hefeolf.
The two oldest girls were moaning with ap;
prehcnsion and terror; but was glad TO- seS
that the younger children were fast asleep
and that the girl had covered them MP eicso
in the bottom Of the boat. We were ell hnd-
died together with the captain ct the stern,
and as the sea was quito calm, were. fortu-
natcly warm and dry. put little brandy
to Betsy's lips, and chafcd her hands and feet,
and it was not long before she revived and
looked round. The captain was very kind to
us, and so were the men, and bore lhe no mall.
ice for the part bad taken; on the contrary
they endeavored 10 encourage us by saying
that We would be sure to be picked up at the
| nrfh N,~N Ak~A .Akn
had rough weather, all would be well.
The day was now beginning to dawn, and
there was soon light enough to reveal the hors
izOn, on the eastern side Two eaiIn wef0f
visible they said, though coaid not see them;
but they were too taF Of to catch a. Nc of any
signals We could make, and none wsfo6 sismpt-
cd. All that day We rowed on 20 en- euotsslY
course, looking anxiously for some fUllevine
vessel. Whether the captain lelE the conds
dcncc he expressed with regard to our being
picked up, do not know; but in the aftsF.
noon he caused an account to bo taken ofwhAk.
ever provisions were on board the boats; had
them fairly distributed according 70 the nusas
bcrs in each and put us alI upon an allow.
ance; which ho said would last four o. Ave
days, with water for three days more The
sweet biscuits and the spirits in my posssssion'
were added to the general stock-the latter %
be used only for cases Of sickness q 6xkanz-
tion. had little inclination Cor iboamyaSaf.
but it distressed me to hear the Oompla1nta e.
the children at the scanty meal alIotAed TO
them that day, and 1t went to my heart u hs
obliged to quiet them by reproof; what kiiev-
ed mo still moro that my wife would noe tomch
her allowance, but shared Il with tue yOune-
| est children.
Towards evening sail sPpeGEsd - thS
n0rthward, at the distance 6f GyH6E alg mIIaa.
Wa Tod q oh q
turned our boats toward hoE. and Is one hmei
had good hopes that she had ason IN - Mhef
altered her course e. II 70 uent ust ~ -
vecred OF on another tack shortly "a 81 ehla
disappeared In the distance and o. -
evening. This disappointmama 1ala &kn 4
fresh calamity, and east dls1l 1nnn
alGbut now worse thing alarmed dd5 ~ &t<1h-
or became overcast, and though there wai -
much wind, the billows rose and fSll in -
black walls Of water, now heavin. a. slolNaa
their tops, now plunging Hs down n theGl6os
my burrows. The boat lay very deep in -
water. The captain sign6lled The otkss bat,
to know Il they could relieve a. of q pa11 0f
our weight; but ell they could Do wuB e laka
one of the water-casks, which thsv hnalsif p.
board with q rope. We threw over 9, - nrsR.
ces which could best be spared. nnd -
lightened the boat little 4eAAwhlla -
weather grew worse-the billows - g
break in fOam,. and the sRMy dashed esof "a
in showers. With the ai6 e ashalh -. =
saw, piece Of sail clotn, Ne unanaaaa 6 -
up at the stern q rude HAlwark 1enikef -
breakers which would eise hsvo ssnmns -
It now began to rain and thatin . We 80
promised continuance ofWet Cor tone s
at least. In few minutes we were "a y
cd to the skin-and al more tken -
pressed with the extremity Of our u lSli 4,l
peril. My wife scarcely spoke woja 1|N.
1t was to quiet and comfort he chlla1sa g
now cried bitterly, and wouI1hee - ~
led. The men no loneeN tIko1 t51
but could SEQ them, stalhihR q
through the darkness, e 4 dsao'
ly upon Us, in search of aolns r
think that We Al tasted IL 81.
death many times that night HIz
Of the seay as We e1pecl11
brought the Wind IN O. a
have cared ~ fEnm -
hOwoveSs y esmps