Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-07-22

SUFFERING, sT ARyATIox AS.p QEATH-, a = I, - !
A letter frolh Afif. .hedbss United States Goa
sui General at Calcutta, published in the Albany
Eteahtr rsoupssag, tie iossef theship Elvina and
the sufferings Of the shfpwrscked crew, as fol-
lows OHIO FIrffEEls ssT
. ~The Elvina left Calcutta December 22d bound
for Boston, and on the 18th Of january was
caught in a storm which Wrecked the ship. As
she was slowly sinking, the crew -sprang over
board five minutes before sheswent down, leav-
ing the master and his BROTHER alone, Standing
together. EETs 81 RsssETaa -'Cfss Fg.fEt 81
Together they sank and were not again seen.
Gaining the floating spars, the poor fellows rest
ed for afew moments until the cabin root was
driven within reach, upon which they Chamber
ed, to the number of eleven. The rest had dis
appeared here, -ued 70 the sparss they laid
down upon the sails and the sea washed over
them. At seven the wind died away, and tear
ing shirt in two they raised asignaI of distress.
SAT noon the gale again sprang up, blow
ing furionsIy as before. phe waves swept ta-s
m1lutuously over the raft carrying away two
of their number. One,-GeOrge- Chase swan
baet. and was assisted uP0nit batsOon turning
black in the face from swallOwingsea-v died.
essAI II through the day and night the storm con-
tinued. moderating towards morning The sky
asoyercast the second day, but the wind went
down and the sea became more ealmg The sunI
rose bright and clear in aeloudless sky the morn
ing of the third day, and his beams beat most
fiereely upon their unsheltered heads. Mad
dened with thirst, in their agony, some of them
drank the sea-water and died. 44s tas- ,
%The fourth day dawned with sun, ardent as
before Another died! tPhe survivors cut off his
legs and ate for the first time since leaving the
ship They drank their own urine. Not a
InOrsel had they eaten; not drop OF fresh water
| had they to drink for four days The clouds
gathered overhead on the fifth day, but the sun
burnt them off and shown more scorchingly
/ thanever. ~ t7-s4-rtf ~ p "a.
@Ff1at evening one of the comrades slipped over
the side, saying:-1 am going home ] can't 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 to weak to prevent it
and he swan away,
aFar as their dim eyes could range did they
wistfully watch him swimming on, the sharks
! plashng their white fins by his side till he was
iost in the distance The sixth day came and
went, and another died. 40 r i-hr
| @The seventh morning FIND them hopeless
and despairing. Too weak to stand, spiritless
and exhausted, they lay feebly clingiDg to the
spars and another died. But three were left
/ now fthe eleven, and still through the long
forenoon did the burning rays of that terrible
sun fall holly upon them.
| "At the last Observation-Disclosures. The French
bark Claire, Robert, master, discovered the raft
their signal fortunately still flying and dispatch
ed a boat to their assistance. Fenderly were
they lifted into it and from thence transferred TO
the ship. zi
at would be but reasonable to suppose that
misfortune had now done with them. Not So
For whilst the officers and seamen of the Claire
could not be too kind dressing their wounds and
in every possible way administering to their
| comfort, the master treated them with harsh
ness and severity uncalied for, most cruel under
!, the circumstances, and with niggaTdness that
evnced a most mean and contemplate nature
!, Before their strength was restored, whilst
their trembling limbs were yet swollen and
cracked, so that the blood would ooze from
their feet in walking, he compelled them to duty
: | with the members of his crew.
'sWith an abundance of live fowls and preser-
! we'd fresh meats with ten casks of wine in the
| hold, he vet confined them to an allowance of
salt pork and beans for dinner andsupper, which
with coffee and hard bread for breakfast, COM
! posed their fare-substantial enough, doubtless
but lily adapted to nourish men 50 nearly fam
r rished. -f7 f'stls .f- if .l4s'. isrse-
@His officers we're reprimanded for taking
medicines from the ships chest for their relief
| That he was one quarter owner Of the vessel,
d and too penurious to be at any cost personally,
in assisting them, is the only reason that can
be alleged for his conduct. ss.. ass
sThe sailors and officers, however, divided
their rations of wine and food with them, and
! they recuperated more rapidly than might
I have been expected.
: 1.-THE survivors are William Palmer, George
|, D.. Blake and James Anderson. They were
picked up at noon, January 9th, having been
, seven days and six hours on the raft The FL
4 vina sank in about latitude % : south, longi-
4 tude 81 : east.