Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-11-24

the fears and dangers of those dearest to
them. On none did the blow fall heavier
than on me; for l had delicate wife on
board, and of my two little ones, the
younger was an invalid. Meanwhile, no
time was lost. There was no space to lower
the boats, and the pale, terrified passen.
gers were hurriedly passed down, by the
bowsprit, upon the ice. 1t was touching
to see some snatch cloak or wrapper as
they passed, the sole relic of all their
worldly possessions; while others, in their
terror, departed without even that. A few
provisions were next sent down, quickly
followed by the crew; and then we stood
wrctched, covering group upon the field
of ice that had wrought us so much evil,
watching for the last moment Of the good
ship, which had brought US in peace and
safety more than two thousand miles. 1t
was not long in coming Suddenly the
bow bent low, as if it to salute the waves,
and the stern rose high into the air then
with rapid forward movement, the stately
ship passed silently down into the bosom
of the deep, every tall mast and tapering
yard in its place, and every sail spread to
its uttermost, and cleaning Whitley in the
moonlight, until each in its turn passed
from our sight For a few moments there
was a troubled vortex, and then the moon
lit sea rolled placidly 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
had struck our devoted ship had left us
exposed and helpless upon the broad sea,
our only refuge that dcsolate field of ice
hard, inhospitable and shelterless.
That night was one of infinite suffering
to hardy men; what then, must it have
been to the feeble and helpless7 A few
loose planks and spars had been thrown
over from the ship, and the scramble tc
obtain them was like struggle for gold
r [ was SO fortunate as to secure one, and or
, it placed my poor wife and elder child
rolled together in our only cloak; while
through the livclong night | passed to anc
fro beside them, with the little one wrap
. ped in the breast my coat, striving il
= vain to still its cries and as L walked, m.
feet clung to the frozen pavement bcneatl
- them, and the cold shot up through m
:, limbs like an icy fire, causing intolerabl
pain.
J. As the night passed on the cold increas
. cd, or else we felt it more; and man
II times, as | looked on the shivering being
Il crouching around me, thought that fe
y" of them would survive till morning. Is,
thanks, under Provid idence, to the Office,
!" of the ship, who served out, at short int
vals, small allowances or spirits, the da
:" dawned upon all save few small childre
H. my own dear babe among them. An
~ truly, when looked on the wide waste
oi waters around US, dotted here and there
IL silvery ice fields, but uncheered by a s
'p gle sail, and thought of our desolation, oil
~ misery, and probable fate, l felt that
W " was mercifully called away from the eN
~ to come. But the mother could not fe
:. :" so, and amid her own sufcrings, her tea
=" fell fast on the sweet placid face that wou
~ never weep again.
ny With the morning, the ships compa'
y and passengers were mustered, to ascerta
''V if any were missing, and great was o
'uV CONSERVATION to find that Mr.. Grant "
H' absent. Every inquiry was made, a
n,s every search among the creyices and era
'AS nies of our rugged ice raft but all in va
gu In the confusion and misery of the mig
'on none had missed him, nor was any ira
'"u of him to be found, and we were at leng
''' compelled to believe that our kind frie
'"' and master had either perished in t
A' wreck, or else in his passage to the ice.
~ Meanwhile many were the eager e.
W. continually scanning the horizon in
vain search for friendly sail. As
W. day wore on, the sun shone out brilliant
i"S and his beams flashed in thousand d.
''' zling rays on our ice raft, until we W
almost blinded by their radiance.
- they shed warmth through gh our chil
- frames for which we were most thank
g and in many spots they melted the
:, which ran in little rills, enabling US
qucnch our thirst without filling
and mouths with ice. Twice in the day Ii
ice biscuit and raw pork were distributed
and US, and thus sadly and suffering pas
less the day, till a second night of misery
our in. This proved far worse than the fl
the for, ere long, wild gusts began to h
ters ever the ocean wastes out among wi
so we now had drifted and heavy wa