Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-11-28

| Suddenly the bow bent low, as II to saS
lutte the waves, and the stern rose high
into the air then with a rapid forward
movement, the stately ship passed silent
| ly down into the bosom of the deep, eve
ry tall mast and tapering yard in its place,
aud every sail spread TO its utiermost, ano
cleaning Whitley in the moonlight, until
each in its turn passed from our sight.
| For few moments there was troubled
vortex, and then the moon-lt sea
rolled placldly on, and the gentle night
wind swept over the spot, leaving no trace
OF the fearful shipwreck which, in scarce
ten minutes from the time the ice struck
our devoted vessel had left us exposed
and helpless upon the broad sea, our only
refuge that desolate field of ice-hard,
inhospitable, and shelterless.
That night was one of infinite suffering
to hardy men what, then, must il have
been to the feeble and helpless? A few
loose planks and spars had oeen thrown
over from the ship and the scramble to
obtain them was like struggle for gold.
! WAS so fortunate rs to secure one, and on
it placed my poor wife and elder child,
rolled together in our only cloak while
through the livelong night passed to an
fro beside them, with the little one wrap
ped In the breast of my coat, striving in
vain to still its cries and as | walked,
my feet clung to the frozen pavement be-
meath them, and the cold shot up through
my limbs like an icy fire, causing intoiera-
BILE pain.
AS the night passed on the cold increa-
sed, or else we felt it more; and many
times, as / looked on the shiYering beings
crouching around me, thought that few
among them would survive till morning
But thanks, under Providence, to the
officers Of the ship, who served out, at
short intervals, small allowances of spirits
the day dawned on all save few small
children, my own dear babe among them
And truly, when looked upon the wide
waste of waters around us, dotted here
and there by silvery ice fields, but un-
cheered by single sail, and thought of
our desolation, our misery, and probable
fate, felt it was mercifully called away
from the evil to come. but the mother
could not feel 50, and amid her own suf-
ferings, her tears fell fast on the sweet
placid face that would never weep again.
/ With the morning, the shirs company
and wers mssterssd asd !9
our cons formation to find that Mr.. Cart
WIS absent. Every inquiry was made
and every search among the creviCes and
crannies Of our rugged ice craft; but all
in vain. In the confusion and misery OF
the night, none had missed him, nor was
any traces of him TO be found, and we were
at length compelled to believe that our
kind friend and master had either perish
ed in the wreck, or else in his passage to
the ice.
Meanwhile many we're the eager eyes
continually scanning the horizon in the
vain search for friendly sail. As the
day wore pn the sun shone brilliantly out
and his beams flashed in thousand daz-
zling rays on our ice raft, until we we're
almost binaed oy their radiance. Yet
they sued warmth through our chilled
frames for which we were most thankful,
and in many spots they melted the ice,
which run in little rills, enabling us to
quench our thirst without filling our
mouths with ice. Twice IN the day lit
tie biscuit and raw pork were distributed
to us, ana thus sadly and suffering passed
the day, till second night Of misery set
III. This proved far worse than the form
er, for, ere long, wild gusts began to howl
owe" the ocean wastes out among which
we now had dritted; and heavy waves
lasled and ragged around us, and dashed
themselves against our refuge; and though
they had not power TO put it into motion,
we knew not how soon they might sweep
over it or shatter it in pieces. 1t was
fearful night, and so exhausted and des
pairing did it leave us, tnat we scarce
could rouse ourselves to exertion, Until
sailors cry of "Sail ho" awoke fresh
hope.
Low MANY fearful eyes frightened and
heavy hearts throbbed quick and grateful
ly as ther watched that sail speed on to-
wards us before the last breath of the ex>
piring gale As she drew near the only
fear was lest she should not have space
for all. Nearer and still nearer she came,
until we could see the men uron her
decks, and then-we scarce could believe
our eyes--she passed Us by, unobserving
us or unheeding the signal we had placed
upon spar, and the dark group of hu-
man beings clustered around it. If un-
needing, Heaven forgive them, for it was
fearful depth of despair into which to
fling back so many OF their fellow crea-
Iufts. luz NOillcl sduh uONu utuIh
stricken for words, and men lifted up
their voices in bitter indignation at the
cruelty that could thus leave women and
children to perish. Death in one Of his
most fearful forms did indeed seem press,
ing close upon us, for our scanty stock of
food was exhausted. Many flung them
selves full leng h upon the ice, utterly in
different to all outward objects while
others prayed earnestly over the dear
ores for whom all earthly hopes is past.
Suddenly loud shout rose above the
splash of the waves and the murmur of
sorrowiul voices, and echoed cheerfully
over our frozen resting place. Every eye
tnrneo seaward, and there, but a few
tathoms from US lay large vessel, which,
absorbed as we were in our misery, had
approached us unperceived. Her bull
warks were filed with sympathising faces,
and TO our feeble cheer OF welcome there
came back so hearty n response that /;
sent glow through our shiverng frames
Never was kindness greater than we
d i = r.