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

3 81 3 a#f sk y - fh &As&
Aletter from Mr.. JACOBS, United States Com
sui General at Calcutta, published In the Alba
nv Eoenino Journal. reports the loss of the ship
Elvna and the sufferings OF the shipwrecked
crew, as follows: flt41H .
The Elvina left Calcutta, 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. - . -
All through that day and night the storm
continued. moderaling towards morning. The
sky was overcast the second day, but the wind
went down and the sea became more calm
1 The sun rose bright and clear in cloudless
sky the morning of the third day, and his
beams beat most hercely 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
| f.ao bod ~ for do
| clouds gathered overhead on the fifth day, but
the sun burnt them off and shone more scorch-
ingly than ever. .e.-
This evening one of their comrades slipped
over the side, saying III am going home,
can stay here no longer-I want to see my
mother-come with me, we !, shall not be
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
| wstfully 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.
The seventh morning found them hopeless
and despairing. Too weak to stand spritless
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 holly upon them.
At the last mOmelt relief came. The French
Jain SftiC, TsoUtTI, uldsCcT OlSCOVeTeQ Ll0
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 sE
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
nlggardlness that evinced most mean and
contemplate nature.
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. t--
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 ill adapted to nourish men so
nearly famished. e|aIG
HIS officers were reprimanded for taking
medicines from the ship Is 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. 100
The sailors and officers, however, divided
their rations of wine and food with them, and
they recuperated more rapidly than could pos
sibly have been expected.
The survivors are William Palmer, George
D. Blake and James Anderson. TGey 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 61o east