South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1859-05-13

as | looked upwards the clouds broke awav,
aud the sun beamcd down upon me. |
knew that the water would become more
tranquil as night approached, and hoped
that if the captain aud crew had reached
the shore they would endeavor to rescue
me. I went into the hold aud observed
that the leak did not increase The seams
of the vessel were open. and her timbcrs
were strained and broken. but she appear
ed to be SO tightly jammed between the
blew strongly towards the shore. and l
saw spars and barrels thrown upon the
land by the waves. and then washed of a.
gain by the returning sea.
Hours passed by and saw and heard
nothing of the captain or the crew. Twas
alone with the dead. The thought became
unbcarable, and resolved to leave the
wreck and endcavor to reach tho land l
! brought up my trunks from the cabin and
'ashed one to each end of the spar which
had killed poor George. Then with inf
mite labor got them over the side and in
to the water, which had now become COM
paratively calm. Summonins up all my
resolution l lowered myself into the waves.
The life-prcserver supported me admirably.
! and L 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
tunatcly VIC were hoatcd through one of
| these and finally thrown upon the Shore
| l was terribly laceratcd and exhausted. but
| managed to crawl up on the sand out of
the reach Of the waves and then laid down
with n full and grateful heart. After rest
ing for perhaps half an hour, united my
| trunks. and rolled them upon the bank
The shore was covered with casks and box
es. and I succeeded in securing some Of
them. This fatigued me excessively, as |
robust as now am.
Night was approaching. My garments
were wet. and I began to shivcr with cold
and hunger. 1 had eaten nothing except
some biscuits, which I had devoured lust
before leaving the wreck The loneliness
and danger of my situation rushed upon
me. did not know what would become
of me. feared should perish with cold
and hunger. | knelt down on the sand
and tried to pray-but no words came to
4: my lips. l rose again in utter wrctchcd-
ness 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 I could save it,
| made the attempt. and got the bale to
land. but its weight prevented me from
, rolling it ont Of the waves. My scissors
were around my neck, and I cut off the
CO ring Of the bale. 1t was composed Of
hm d" robes. aui the sight inspired mc
with new hope. cut the cords which
bound it together. and carried the robes,
! one ny one. on shore. Some Of them we're
wet, but three were warm and dry. | o.
pcned my trunks. took off my wet apparel
and Replaced it by dry clothing. Thcn
making a bed of two Of my buffalo robes,
! | wrapped myself in the other, and pre-
pared to pass my first night upon my dcs-
olatc Island The tcrrors of my situation.
my uncertain fate, and my grief for my
! poor cousin. for while deprived me of
! sleep. but Mt length fell into deep slum-
Der, 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 A.
risen. and tossed the vessel to pieces upon the
rocks. The wind still came toward the
! shore, and every few moments wave would
throw upon tho sand fragments of the
wreck, or portions of her cargo. 1 felt
strong and refreshed, but very hungry, and
| knew not of what could make my break
fast. l began to renew my former labor of
rolling the barrels and boxes ont of the
way Of the returning waves. My hands
were torn and bleeding, and my limbs soon
| acbed with the unaccustomcd fatigue. but
| l pcrscvcrcd, as I could not bear to see 90
much property swallowed up By the waves.
| Among the boxes was one marked "Sar-
! Dimes" / forced the lid off with a stone.
and feasted my eyes upon my treasure
| But, shut up in their little tiu boxes, the
! fish were as useless to inc as if they were
) at the bottom of the lake. My hunger in
creased. 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 cut
ting which my father had sent as a pres
! cnt to Mr.. Ashnell who was engaged iu
! the mines. found it, broke open one of
the boxes Of sardiues. and enjoyed deli
cious and refreshing meal. My hunger sa-
tis6ed. again went to work, ard spent all
that day in saving such things ak was able
to handle.
The next day I occupied in collecting to-
gcthcr the goods which I had saved. I
found that had eight barrels of pork, two
kegs Of lard, twelve barrels Of -four, two of
sugar, several boxes Of candy, caudlcs, raj
sins, and dried herring, my box of sardnes.
another bale Of buffalo robes, box Of dry
! goods, needles, Plus. thread, yarn, etc., a
box Of mining ha,chets. a box of heavy
! clothing, and bale Of blankets
On the third day explored my Island.
found it entirely uniphabitcd, as for as
could then judge, and afterwards ascertain
ed this to be true. The shore was saHHy
and barren. iIalf mil; from the lake
there were short and scrubby treee which
grew larger and thicker as you advauced.
On this day, also. the waves threw upon
the shore the dead aud bruised bodies of Sc
veral Of the sailors. among them that of. my