The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-22
A Remarkable Shipwreck.

Aletter from Mr.. JACOBS United States COM
sui General at Calcutta, published In the Alba
nv Eoe,,ing Journal reports the loss of the ship
Elvina and the sufferings OF the shipwrecked
crew, as follows: .fp.a .s.
The Elvina left Cllcutta December 22d,
bound for Boston, and on the 18th OF January
was caught in storm which wrecked the ship.
AS she was slowly sinking the crew sprang
overheard five minutes before she went down,
leaving the master and his brother, alone,
standing together.
Together they sank and were not again seen.
Gaining the floating spars, the poor fellows
rested for few moments until the cabin roof
was driven within reach, upon which they
clamb red, to the number of eleven The rest
had disappeared. Here, tied to the spars they
laid down upon the sails and the sea washed
over them At seven the wind died away. and
tearing shirt in two, they raised signal of
distress
At noon the gale again sprang up, blowing
furiOusly as before. The waves swept tumult.
uously over the raft, carrying away two Of
their number. One, George Chase, swan back,
and was assisted upon it, but soon turning
black in the face from swallowing sea water,
| died. va
All through that day and night the storm
| continued. mOderating towards morning. The
| sky was overcast the second day, but the wind
| went down and the sea became more calm
The sun rose bright and clear in cloudless
| sky the morning Of the third day, and his
beams beat most fercely upon their unshel-
| tered heads. Maddened with thirst, in their
| agony, some of them drank the sea water and
died.
The fourth dav dawned with sun, ardent
| as before. Another died. The survivors cut
off his legs and ate for the first time since
| leaving the ship. They drank their own urine
| Not mOrsel had they eaten; not drop of
| fresh water had they drank for four days. The
clouds gathered overhead on the fifth day, but
the sun burnt them off and shOne more scOrch-
ingly than ever. % - .f-, I'd; .,,g,
| This evening one of their comrades slipped
| over the side, saying:-" am going home, I
can stay here no longer-1 want to see my
| long away and will soon RETURN" They were
| too weak to prevent it, and he swan away.
Far as their dim eyes could range did they
wistfully watch him swimming on, the sharks
| FLASHING their white fins by his side, till he
was lost in the distance. The sixth day came
and went, and another died. 81
The seventh morning found them hopeless
| and despairing. Too weak to stand, spiritless
and exhausted. they lay feebly clinging to the
spars, and another died. But three were left
now of the eleven and still through the long
forenoon did not the burning rays of that terri
BILE sun fall hotly upon them. te
AT the last mOmeIt relief came. The French
bark Claire, Robert, master, discovered the
raft-their signal fortunately still fying-and
despatched boat to their assistance Tenderly
were they lifted into it, and from thence trans
ferred to the ship s
! 1t would be but reasonable to suppose that
misfortune had now done with them. Not 80.
For whilst the officers and seamen on the
Claire could not be too kind, dressing their
wounds and in every possible way administer
Ing to their comfort, the master treated them
with harshness and severity uncalled for,
most cruel under the circumstances and with
niggardlness that evinced most mean and
contemplate nature. :
Before their strength was restored, whilst
their trembling limbs were yet swollen and
cracked, so that the blood wood Ooze from
their feet in walking, he compelled them to do
duty with the members of his crew. M
With an abundance of live fowl and preserv-
ed fresh meats, with ten casks of wine in the
hold, he yet confined them to an allowance of
salt pork and beans for dinner and supper.
which, with coffee and hard bread for break
fast. composed their fare-subStantial enough
doubtless, but i'll adapted to nourish men so
nearly famished. uIE
HIS officers were reprimanded for taking
medicines from the ship chest for their relief.
That he was one quarter owner of the vessel
and too penurious to be at any cost, personal.
ly, in assisting them, is the only reason that
can be alleged for his conduct. trt
The sailors and officers however, divided
their ratiOns of wine and food with them, and
they recuperated more rapidly than could pos
sby have been expected.
The survivors are William Palmer, George
D. Blake and James Anderson. TIey were
picked up at noon. January 9th, having been
seven days and six hours on the raft. The Ell.
VIVA sank in about latitude 23o south, lOngi-
tude Gle east. G