Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-03

Hours passed by and saw and heard nothing

of the captain or the crew. was alone with
the dead. The thought became unbearable, and
I resolved to leave the wreck and endeavor to
reach the land. I brought up my trunks from
the cabin and lashed one to each end of the spar
which had killed poor George Then with inf
mite labor got them over the side and into the
water, which had now become comparatively
calm. Summonng up all my resolution low
cred myself into the waves. The life-preserver
supported me admirably, and managed to reach
the spar to which my trunks were tied. The
wind carried me slowly towards the breakers
There were passages between the rocks, and for
tunately we were hoated through one of these
and finally thrown upon the shore. was ter
rbly lacerated and exhausted, but managed to
crawl up on the sand out of the reach OF the
waves and then laid down with full and CRATE
full heart. After resting for perhaps half an
| hour, united my trunks, and rolled them upon
| the bank. The shore was covered with casks
and boxes, and succeeded in securing some OF
them. This fatigued me excessively, as l was
then unused to labor, and was not so robust as
now am
Night was approaching. Ny garments were
wet, and began to shiver with cold and hung
or. had eaten nothing except some biscuits,
| WulCu Hdu uoNOuTtu just uCfoi0 io"'iH6 SAS
wreck. The loneliness and danger of my situa-
tion rushed upon me. | did not know what
would become of me. | feared l should perish
with cold and hunger. I knelt down on the
sand and tried to pray-but no words came to
nv lips. arose again in utter wretchedness
and walked towards the water. A dark bale OF
goods was tossing near the shore, and saw that
by venturing into the water short distance l
could save it. I made the attempt, and got the
bale to land, but its weight prevented me from
rolling it out of the waves. My scissors were
around my neck, and cut off the covering OF
the bale. 1t was composed of buffalo robes, and
the sight inspired me with new hope. cut the
cords which bound it together, and carried the
robes, one by one, on shore. Some of them
were wet, but three were warm and dry. o.
pened my trunks, took off my wet apparel and
replaced it by dry clothing. Then making
bed of two of my buffalo robes, wrapped my
self ir the other, and prepared to pass my first
night upon my desolate island. The terrore OF
my situation, my uncertain, fate and my grief tor
my poor cousin, for while deprived me OF sleep,
but at length l fell into deep slumber, from
which did not awake until the sun OF the next
morning shone into my face.
The wreck had disappeared. suppose that
during the night the wind had again arisen, and
tossed the vessel to peices upon the rocks. The
wind still came toward the shore, and every few
moments wave would throw upon the sand
fragments of the wreck, or portions of her cargo.
| felt strong and refreshed but very hungry, and
knew not of what could make my breakfast
began to renew my former labor of rolling the
barrels and boxes out of the way of the returning
waves. My hands were torn and bleeding, and
4 my limbs soon ached with the unaccustomed ia
tigue but persevered, as could not bear to see
so much property swallowed up by the waves
! Among the boxes was one marked "Sardnes.'
forced the lid off with stone, and feasted my
eyes upon my treasure. But, shut up in their lit
tie tin boxes, the fish were as useless to me as Il
they were at the bottom of the lake. NY hunger
increased, and / sat down upon my buffalo bed
and gave way to tears. Suddenly remembered
that in one of my trunks, had newly invented
chisel for copper cutting, which my father had
sent as present to Mr. Ashne, who was eugag
ed in the mines. found it, broke open one o.
the boxes of sardines, and enjoyed delicious and
refreshing meal Ny hunger satisfied, l agair
went to work, and spent all that day in saving
such thing as | was able to handle.
The next day occupied in collecting together
the goods W hich had saved. found that L hao
eight barrels of pork, two kegs OF lard, twelve
barrels of flour, two of sugar, several boxes O.
candy, candles, raisins, and dried herring, my
box of sardines, another bale of buffalo robes, 6
box of dry goods, needless pins, thread, yarn, etc.
box of mining hatchets, box OF heavy cloth
ing, and bale of blankets.
On the third day explored my Island. l fount
it entirely uninhabited, as far as could theI
Judge, and afterwards ascertained this to be true
The shore was sandy and barren. Half mile
from the lake there were short and scrubby trees
} which grew larger and thicker as you advanced
On this day, also, the waves threw upon tn
shore the dead and bruised bodies OF several o
, the sailors, among them that of my cousin. IL
his pocket found q metal box filed with friction
matches, which were afterwards of the creates
! service to me. dug shallow grave in TIN
sand and buried them as well as could. lV wa
sad and awful duty, and left me very melan
choly and depressed.
t For several weeks was certain that vesse
would arrive and rescue me. But when six week
had passed, and had seen no sail OF any human
being, began to give away to the most poignan
: agony and fear. was enabled finally TO over
. come this, and as Autumn approached had be
. come in measure, at least, roconclled to m.
. fate.
f.. / knew / had provisions sufficient for three o
lOuE JcdtSs udu dilSduJ lOoi ibSu w SeNoN
e and to cook my pork and flour without the aid @
dishes or stoves. With the fragments of th
a wreck, and some of my empty barrels and boxes
made low hut, which | covered with sand t.
/ the depth OF foot. One end Of this was closed
the other was fitted with door made from tn
I lids of my two trunks; over my barrels and box
es of goods stretched sail, fastening it dow
I by means of stakes. As the Winter approached
i T fahr cd hnff, Ia ohaoo drpae which
fancied would be impervious to the cold. NJ
+ shoes. gloves and hat were made of the sam
| material The forest supplied me with fuel, an
t soon learned to chop it with considerable ease
3 During the early part of the first Winter sui
' ferred terribly, but managed to live through II
3 and the next season was Injured to hardshlps.
In this manner passed three long and ionei
, years. | kept journal during this unhappy pc
7 riod, and it was my only recreation. My books
and even my Bible, were left in the vessel. Du
!, ring these three years saw but seven vessels
, They either did not see or would not regard m
, signals: nv anguish on these occasions was in
deed indescribable. The thoughts of home, an
+ of the friends who were now mourning me as
mong the dead, would rush upon me with over
, powering force, and my misery seemed too heav
for me 10 bear.
. at length, I know not on what day, but b
, nv calculations, on the 25th of February, my Is
land was visited by six Menominee Indians, the
had crossed from the British shore, partly i
| their canoes and partly on the ice. They wer
as much surprised to find me upon the Island as
> was delighted to see human face again. W
could not understand each other, but they mad
} signs that should go with them. Twas in thei
power, but was willing to go, as conceived b.
their means might finally obtain my release an
restoration. They returned with me to the Brit