The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-21

small box that were floating around me.
At this time the lake in my immediate vi.
cinity was covered with the heads of people
who had just sprang overheard. On my
right, but few feet distant, they were quite
numerous. The noise of the breaking up of
the decks continued for few moments, and
large masses of it, together with the wheel
houses and pilot house, were visible during
the frequent flashes Of lightning. The pilot
house was in sight near me for two or three
minutes, on which were clingiDg several
men, one of whom thought to be the Cap.
tain, and they were visible by the lightning.
The storm ragged with great fury with con-
tinuous thunder, and almost incessent light
ming, and the rain pouring down in torrents
The lightning gave sort of purple glare to
the lake and the human faces that were Wis.
ible around me, as the persons were strug-
Cling for life. During these CLEANS the faces
of different ones were distinctly visible for
some distance, and for few moments were
quite numerous in my immediate vicinity,
but disappeared rapidly. The first scene Of
strangling or drowning seemed to be follow.
ed by convulsive struggles and sharp shrieks
as they threw up their hands and sank.
called out to those near me to know
who they were, and several answered, but
only recognized the voice of Mr.. Kilroy,
whom I had spoken to with others to keep
cool and not waste their strength. but only
to keep their heads above water. Some one
asked me what thought the chances were,
and l told them l thought it would be good
if we only could keep our strength. I be-
came separated from those near me, large
portion of whom should judge sunk in the
space of 20 minutes or half an hour. Short
ly l heard lad apparently from his voice
l6 or Is years of age, shrieking for help, and
told him to keep still and l thought it would
be all right, and to be careful to keep his
head above water. kept near him, and
could occasionally see him during the flashes
of lightning, for a half or three quarters of
an hour. We talked together from time to
time. and tried to encourage him that day
light would soon come, and we should be
picked up by some passing boat. At lastI
heard him struggling and calling for help,
and cried to him, to which he made no
answer, but had disappeared. l now felt
powerful feeling of loneliness, as there was
no other person within hailing distance as
far as could judge.
After day had fully dawned, and dis
covered the great distance from shore and
the increased fury of the storm, gave up
all hopes of rescue. About this time the
difficulty of holding on to the two or three
pieces that had, was such that 1 gave up
every support but piece of two-inch pine
plank, about six feet by fourteen inches,
which was my entire support for the next
four or five hours. At this time the shore
appeared to be from four to five miles distant,
and the wind blowing apparently directly
on shore. ..'.i''
As symptoms of cramp or chills appeared
l exerted myself by occasional efforts at
swimming with the help of the plank. I
discovered portion of the wreck at some
distance, on which was apparently large
number of people, but no person near me
for some time. An hour or so after day
break, l also discovered portion of the
wreck, with three men and one woman up
on it. One of the men had on a military
cap, and 1 judged him to be member of
the City Band.
About or 8 o'clock the wind veered
around from the east to the northeast, and
blew US SO that we drifted in a more south
| erly direction, towards point two or three
miles farther of. Then it increased to a
more powerful hurricane, raising the sea till
it fairly rolled mountains high. 1 found that
I could ride over these huge waves with
comparative ease by keeping myself nearly
in horizontal position. That if l let my
feet drop they would be thrown forward Of
me, and throwing me upon my back and I'm.
der the plank, which occurred on two or
three occasions, when came near drown
ing, and only recovered my position of my
breast to the plank by the most terrible ex-
ertion. During the early part of my solita-
ry trip l was sea-sick, and became very
much exhausted from vomiting and retching.
Occasionally found an almost irresistible
tendency to go to sleep, as had slept but
little the two nights preceding. The pain
in my shoulders and neck from head and
shoulders above the water, became intolera-
BILE; as was not able for hours to make
any material change in my position. also
felt very faint from exertion and hunger,
and towards noon was fortunate enough to
find two or three pieces of dried apples and
one large fresh apple, which 1 got hold of
after ten minutes struggle. My hands
turned purple and became cramped so that
l had almost lost the use of my fingers, and
sustained myself upon the plank by hang
ing my arms over it, and resting upon my
chest.
About an hour before reaching the shore
was surrounded by great deal of debris
from the ship, and amongst the rest discov-
cred an old ship plank, about l6 or Is feet
long, with several long spikes in it, and one
or two mortices. felt that could not
hang to my old plank much longer, and that
the other had appeared Providentially al
most, and I could hang my arms through
the holes and around the spikes A few
minutes swimming brought me alongside Of
it, completely exhausted, and seized hold
of it and experienced great relief from the
change. When about a mile and half
from the shore, discovered that the banks
were covered with large crowd of people,
and felt slightly encouraged in the hope that
l might succeed in getting through the tire,
mendous breakers that were rolling upon
the shore. oi a4'tt4 '.t-1 80
As I approached nearer and discovered
the perceptions nature of the bank which I
should judge to be 40 feet high, and almost
perpendicular, I could see no possible foun.
4. Co. l. e ~