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

movement, the stately ship passed silent
ly down into the bosom of the deep. eve
ry tall mast and tapering yard in its place
and every sail spread to its ut,ermost, anC
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-lit 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
:etuge that desolate field of ice-hard
inhospitable, and sheterless.
That night was one of infinite suffering
to hardy men what, then, must it have
been to the feeble and helpless? A few
loose planks and spars had oeen thrown
over irom the ship and the scramble to
obtain them was like a struggle for gold.
was so fortunate as to secure one. and on
1t 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 intoi4ra-
BILE pain.
As the night passed on the cold increa-
sed, or else we felt it more: and many
times, as looked on tie shiYering beings
crouching around me, thought that few
among them would survive tn morning.
But thanks, under Providence, to the
officers of the snip, who served out, at
short intervals, small allowances of spirits.
the day dawned on all save few small
children, my own de .r 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-
cheeree by a single sail, and thought of
our desolation, our misery, and probable
fate, felt it was mercifully called away
from the evil to come. i'ut the mother
could not feel 50, and amid her own sui-
ferings, her tears fell fast on the sweet
placid face that would never weer again.
With the morning, the shirs company
and pnsseners we're mustered, to ascer-|
tam ii any was missing, and great was
our CONSERVATION to find that Mr. G.aEt
YVES 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 ere
at length compelled to believe that our
kind friend aud 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 a friendly sail. As the
day wore on. the sun shone brilliantly out
and his beams flashed in thousand daz-
cling rays on our ice raft, until we we're
almost .binoed by their radiance. Yet
they shed a 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 10 the day a lit
tie biscuit aud raw pork were distributed
to us, ana thus sadly and suffering passed
the day, till a second night OF misery set
IN. This proved far worse than the form
er, ior, ere long, wild gusts began to howl
ove" the ocean wastes out among which
we now had drited and heavy waves
|ashed and ragged around us, and dashed
themselves against our refuge; and though
hey had not power to put ii into motion,
We knew not how soon they might sweep
over it or shatter it in pieces. 1t was a
eartul night, and so exhausted and des
pairing did 1t leave MS, tnat we scarce
,ould rouse ourselves to exertion, Until a
ailor's cry of Sail hol" awoke fresh
rope. /
How many fearful eyes frightened and q
leavy hearts throbbed quick and grateful {
y as thev watched that sail speed on to- s
Yards US before the last breath of the ex> O
'lring gale! As she drew near the only !
ear was lest she should not have space g
or all. Nearer and still nearer she came,
Until we could see the men upon her o
|ecks, and then-we scarce could believe I
ur eyes-she passed Us by, unobserving o
IS or unheeding the signal we had placed /
pon a spar, and the dark group OF HUI l
nan beings clustered around it. If un. q
eeding, Heaven forgive them, for it was
fearful depth of despair into which to
ing back so many OF their fellow crea- r
ures. The women sank down tco heart c
tricken for words, and men lifted up Z
'S'' 'OiSco Iu oitttI lUdlSldllOU 1T Tie
ruelty that could thus leave women and z
hldren to perish. Death in one Of his D
lost fearful forms did indeed seem press
ng close upon us, for cur scanty stock Of y
bod was exhausted. Many flung them
elves full leng' upon the ice, utterly in y
itierent TO all outward objects while 81
theirs prayed earnestly over the dear q
res for whom all earthly hopes is past. u
Suddei ly u loud shout rose above the 'c
,lash OF the waves and the murmur of C
'rrowful voices, and echoed cheerfully
yer our frozen resting place. Every eye IN
lrneo seawarc, and there, but few g.
thoms from US lay large vessel, which, q,
'sorbed as we were in our misery, had r
'proached us unpercei,ei. Her bull to
arks were filed with sympathising faces. n
I'd TO our feeble cheer OF welcome there -,
me back so hearty response that i: n,
mt glow through our shvering frames. =
Never was kindness greater than we w.
'or ice-wrecked voyagers received from I'd
A .s,I - L.N Il