The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-04-08


thrown over from the ship. and the
scramble to obtain them was like strug-
gle for gold. l 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 live
long night l 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 l walked, my feet clung
to the frozen pavement beneath them,
and the cold shot up through my limbs
like an icy fire, causing intolerable pain.
AS the night passed on, the cold in
creased, or else we felt it more and
many times, as looked upon the shver-
ing beings crouching around me, I
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 but few small Children, my own
dear babe among them. And truly,
when l looked upon the wide waste of
waters around us, dotted here and there
by silverv ice fields, but uncheered by
single sail, and thought of our desolation,
our misery, and probable fate. l felt it
was mercifully called away from the evil
TO come. But the mother could not fesl
so, and amid her own sufferines. her
tears fell fast on the sweet placid face
that would never weep again.
With the morning, the ships company
and passengers were mustered, to ascer.
tain if any were missing, and great was
our CONSERVATION TO find that Mr.. Grant
was absent. Every inquiry was made,
and every search among the crevices and
crannes of our ice raft but all in vain.
In the confusion and misery OF the night,
none had missed him, nor was any trace
of him to be found, and we were at lergth
compelled to believe that our kind friend
and master had either perished in the
wreck, or else in his passage to the ice.
Meanwhile many were the eager eyes
continually scanning the horizon in the
vain search for friendly sail. AS the
day Wore on, the sun shone brilliant out,
and his beams flashed in thousand dag
cling rays on our ice-raft, until we were
almost blinded by their radiance. Yet
they shed warmth through our chilled
| frames for which we were most thankful,
and in many spots they melted the ice,
which ran in little rills. enabling US to
quench our thirst, without filing our
mouths with ice. Twice in the day
little biscuit and raw pork were disrbut-
ed to us and thus sadly and sufferingly
passed the day, till sec ond night of
misery set in. This proved far worse
than the former, for ere long, wild gusts
began TO howl over the ocean wastes, out
among which we now had drifted and
heavy waves lashed and ragged around
us, and dashed themselves against our
refuge and though they had no power
TO put in motion, we knew not how soon
they might sweep over it, or shatter it in
pieces. 1t was fearful night, and SO
exhausted and despairing did it leave us,
that we scarce could rouse ourselves TO
exerton, until sailors cry of /" Sail
ho - awoke fresh hope.
How many fearful eyes Frightened
and heavy hearts throbbed quick and
gratefully, as they watched that sail
speed on toward us before the last breath
If the expiring 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 upon her decks, and then--we could
scarce believe our eyes-she passed us
by, unobservng or unheeding the sig-
nal We had raised upon spar, and the
dark group of human beings clustered
round il. Ii unheeding. Heaven forgive
them, for IL was fearful depth of des-
pair into which to fling back SD many of
their fellow creatures. The women sank
down too heart stricken for words, and
the 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 pressing close upon u.s.,
for our scanty stock of food was exhaust
ed. Many flung themselves at length
upon the ice. utterly indifferent to all
outward objects; while others prayed
earnestly over the dear ones for whom all
earthly hope was past.
Suddenly loud shout rose above the
splash OF the waves and the murmur Of
sorrowiul voices, and echoed cheerfulIy
over our frozen resting place. Every
eye turned seaward, and there. but few
falhoms from us, lay largo vessel,
which. absorbed as we were in our
misery. had approached us unpereeived.
| Her bulwarks were filed with sympa-
lhising faces, and TO our feeble cheer of
welcome there came back so hearty re-
sponse that il sent glow throug IN our
shivering frames.
Never was kindness greater than that
which we poor wrecked vovagers re.
eeived from the crew and passengers of
that ship. crowded though she already
was, To their care aud attention we
owed not only our own lives, but those
OF the dear ones who seemed about 10
die and never can we feel sufficiently
grateful for their good offices, or the
many sacrifices they made on our behalf.
The ship was westward bound. and on
our arrival in Canada. the account of
our misfortunes brought us many offers
OF employment. Years have passed