The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-02-06

ice that had wrought Us 30 much evil, watch
ing for the last moment of the good ship,
which had brought Us in peace and safety
more than two thousand miles. It was not
long in coming. Suddenly the bow bent
low, a. il 10 salute the waves, and the stern
rose high into thea 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 un.
til each in lis turn passed from our sight
For a few moments there was a troubled
vortex, and then the moonlit sea rolled pla.
cidly on and the gentle night wind swept
over the spot, leaving no trace Of the fear
ful sHipwFsek which, in scarce ten minutes
.ispm she tlms thE ics.haaatrnek Gun devoted
chip bad left us exposed and helpless upon
the broads and our only refuge that desc
late field Of ice-hard, inhospitable and shel.
terless. 7a H. a" f'a@.a'..4 ..s .' ".''
That night was one ofinfnite suffering to
hardy men; what then, must it have been to
hefeeble and helplessl A few loose planks
and spars had been thrown over from the
chip, and the scramble to obtain them was
like struggle for gold. was SO fortunate
as to secure one, and on it placed my poor
wife and elder child, rolled together In our
only cloak; while through the lifelong night
I paced to and fro beside them, with the
little one wrapped in the breast of my coat,
striving in vain to still its cries: and as
walked, my feet clung to the frozen pave.
ment beneath them, and the cold shot
through my limbs like an icy fire, causing
me intolerable pain. oa4., Hn ,sa.
As the night passed on the cold increas-
ed, or else we felt it more; many times as I
looked on the sbiveriDg beings crouching
around me, l thought that few Of them
would survive till morning. But thanks, un-
der Pro vdence, TO the officers of the ship
who served out, at short intervals, small al
lowances Of spirits, the day dawned upon
all save few small children, my own dear
babe among them And truly when look
ed on the wide waste Of waters around US,
dotted here and there by silvery ice fields,
but anchored by single sail, and thought
of our dissolution, our misery and probable
fate, thought it was mercifuly called away
from the evil to come. But the mother
could not feel so, and amid her own suffer-
ings, her tears fell fast on the sweet placid
face that would never weep again.
With morning, the ships company and
passengers were mustered, to ascertained if
any were missing, and great was our con-
sternation to find that Mr.. Grant was ab-
sent. Every enquiry 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 trace Of him tc
be found, and we were at length compelled
to believe that our kind friend and master
had either pershed In the wreck, or else in
his passage to the ice. ............ ......
Meanwhile many were the eager eyes
scanning..the horizon in the vain search for
friendly sail. Az the day wore on, the
sun shone out brilliantly, and bis beams
flushed in a thousand dazzling rays on ou
ice raft, until we were almost blinded BY
their radiance. Yet they shed warmth
through our chilled frames for which We
we're most thankful, and in many spots they
melted the ice, Which ran il little rills, en-
abling os to fuench cur thirst without filing
! our mouths with ice. Twice in the day
little biscuit and raw pork were distribute
to US, and thus sadly and suffering passe
b the day, till second night of misery set ii
e This proved far worse than the first, for
o ere long, wild gusts began to howl over tn
It ocean wastes out among which we hod no
n driftea and heavy waves dashed and rage
r around US, and dashed against our refuge
e and though they had not power to put it
1T motion, we knew not how soon the
', might sweep over it or shatter it to piece
at 1t was fearful night, and so exhausted al
" despairipg did it leave us, that we scar
le could ruuse ourselves to exertion, until
as sailors cry of "Sail ho p awoke fre
~ hnpe. al stt. ..,.,4.. .,.,..l
t. How many fearful eyes Frightened a
te heavy hearts throbbed quick and grateful
d. as they watched that sail speed on towar
re US before the last breath Of the, expiri
de gale +! 5 AS she drew near the only fear "
nd lest she sh oud not have space for all.
9. Nearer and still nearer she came, until !
could see the men upon her decks, and th
nd we could scarcely believe our own ey
ce she passed US by, nnobserving or snhes
nd ing the signal we had placed upon a sp
a and the cluster Of human beings around
%. II unheeding, Heaven forgive them, for
lie was a fearful depth Of despair into which
,ut fling back SO many of their fellow creatur
ter The women sank down too heart strick
a for words. and tte men lifted up their Y
ces in bitter indignation at the cruelty d
fu. could thus leave women and children
ms perish. Death in one Of the most fear
81. forms did Indeed seem pressing upon Us,
ars our scanty stock Of food was, exhaust
On Many flung themselves at full length VI
q the ice. utterly Indifferent to all outw
ny objects |; while Others prayed earnestly .