Maysville weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1864-1866, 1864-09-22
shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico.

TwENTY-sEvEN PERSONS AT SEA ON RAFT
The New Orleans Times says:
On the 3D. inst, at 6 A. NJ, as the U. S.
steamer Circassian was on her passage from
Galveston to Sabine Pass, the lookout dis
covered boat bout ten miles istant. The
steamer was Immediately headed for the
boat. and in about one hours time it was
reached, and it was found to contain Capt
Z. P. Mott m aster Of the stern wheel stea m
ers W. V. Gillum, of New Orleans, and
eight of her crew. She was loaded with
lumber, and was bound to Matanoras. On,
board of her, including crew, passengers, :
and two females there were thirty-six per-
sons.
On the 30th the weather became rough :
and the wind blew very fresh, and the Gill
lum labored very hard but she apparently
rode the storm out in safety. But on the:
morning of the LIST inst. the weather be-.
ing very fine. sEd just as all hands on board
OF Der were going to breakfast, they were,
suddenly startled to find that their vessel.
was falling to pieces. Every one was now
in the greatest excitement. and it was soon
discovered that the ship was breaking up
Her upper machinery soon went over her
sides, and her sides crushed out. A part of
her stern, with the cabin attached broke off,
and the lumber soon loated off her. Every
one now had to cave themselves the best
they could on the floating cargo and wreck, |
as there was only one boat attached to the |
Gillum.
The fret place adopted was to bid a |
raft of the lumber. which was at once com. |
meDced, and one about twenty feet wide by |
seventy-fve long was, after good deal of +
hard work, patched together. Then TWEEN
ty-four men, the two females aud the cab
in boy, took up tb cir quarters on this frail
structure, there TO remain until tax en- off by
some passing vessel, or relieved of their suf-
ferings by death. All this took place in
latitude %, "a east, longitude go 81 west.
Captain Mott, with eight men, then took
the boat, and attempted to tow. But after
several hours hard work it was found that
they did not gain any Roadway. SO after
long consultation, it was decided that the
boat should be cast off from the raft, and go {.
in search of assistance, and, accordingly, on
the morning of the Sd, the boat was picked
up by the Circassan. |.
Capt. Churchill crowded all steam for
Sabine Pass, and the gunboats Gertrude and
Penguin were sent out 10 search of the raft
Early on the morning of the 5th the look
out on board Of the Circsssian discovered
small sail to the eastward. She bore down
for her, and IN one hour and a half's time
there was one of the most happy scenes ever
witnessed at sea as the Circassian neared
the little craft, which proved TO be the lit
tie Mexican schooner Corey, from Tampico
for New Orleans. Tie excitement became !.
very great. for with the MD of glasses it was :
discovered that she was full of people. In .
q short time the two vessels nearsd each /
othor, and such scene as was witnessed on
board OF the good old Circassian one seldom ,
ever hears OF or witnesses.
The crew of the Circsssiau manned their .
rigging and gave the little schooner and it's !:
precious cargo of rescued human beings
three rousiDg cheers. They were picked up :
by the schooner on the morning of the Sd {
inst The Circassian's boats were soon I
alongside of the sch ooner, and the men and a
women were soon transferred to the decks 7
IF the Circassian.
Twelve ST the number were found sick !,
and badly supburnt, and by order of Capt.
Churchill the whole party was furnished
with plenty of bot coffee, tea and eslibles, o
and the sick were attn bded to by DR.. Sted- S
nan. The only provisions Oh board OF the !
raft were ten gallons of water, foar hams and g
'ne barrel of dried apples. They had de- t
'ided on the morning on which they were c.
escued to cast lots to see which one Of their
lumber should be slain for loud for the rest