Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-11-16


in that sea and in the dark. |
"wednesday, oct, 25.-The ship is still
afloat, and has been kept afoat simply
by the efforts of the passengers In bail
ing, as the pumps were all out OF order,
and, strange TO say, ont Of the chaos OF
the occasion, something like order has
grown up. 1t was desperation, but men
were just on the eve of exhaustion. We
were laborlng to keep the ship afioat a
few hours longer, as the sea was suhsld' |
ing, and making our preparations to
leave the ship in the boats, AT half-past
one In the afternoon we stopped bailing
as II was evident that she could not foat
much longer. The boats were launched
and raft made, and at two the men be-
gan to get into the boats. 1t was such
scene as never expected to see under
such circumstances. No confusion, no
panlc-peopN shaking hands and bid
ding each other adieu with all the calm
ness that they would exhibit if parting
upon any ordinary OCCASION no trying
to get into the boats first, but one saying
to another You go in this boat, and |
will 90 in the next"
The ladies and children were all put
into the boats first, and then the men
were allowed to take their chances.
Henry and ! were in boat No. ,, though
it was the last boat lowered into the sea.
We had 13 in her, and by singular
good fortune, Capt. McNair, an old sea
captain was with us, and to him under
God, we owe our lives, as he knew how
to steer the ship by the sun and stars.
At four o'clock P. N. the ship sunk to
the bottom with 100000 in gold and
much other treasure on board. The four
boats and raft now started on their
cruise for fe. 1t was magnificent
sight They happened to form in the
shape Of a pentagon, and with the sea
rolling 40 feet high, the boats would rise
and fall like our hopes and fears. Our
boat got filled with water within 10
minutes after we started out, but we
took off our hats and caps and soon
bailed her out, and during the remain
der of the night we kept her head on
the sea, and waited with patience and
anxiety for daylight.
Thursday, Oct. 26.-At last it came, and
availing ourselves Of the general fact
that land was to the west, we steered in
that direction and rowed for our lives.
A little after noon Capt. McNair rugged
up a sail out of table-cloth which was
on board, and with that we made rapid
progress till nearly night, when the
wind died away, and we had to take to
the oars, and all that night we had to
pull, and were looking, anxiously look
ing for sail or land, but neither came
in sight. ...... ...
Thirst; more terrible than anything
else | ever suffered, was added to our
other calamities. We had not one drop
of water, and with all the labor we had
performed it seemed impossible to live
without water But we said little to
each other in regard to it, and kept hare
at work.
| Eyaay, Oct. 27.-Morning came, and
with it no sail-no land. 1t was water
everywhere. Our throats began to swell
from thirst, and took out Mays golt
chain and put it in my mouth, to keep il
moist, and gave Henry a coin for thu
same purpose. His jaws began to Sc
themselves, but the poor fellow worked
without saying anything, and did nj
part like man. ...:
Ats a. m. a sail hove in sight, and w
began to pull for her, and pulled till W
were exhausted, and had to give her u
in despair, as she had gained on us, in
stead of our gaining on her. At TIL
point we were on the point of despair
, and took off our clothing and jumpe
l into the sea, to absorb moisture extel
e nallv, which allevlated our sufferin
i very much for the time being. Just a
+ ter we had get into the boat again,
e sail hove in sight in the opposite dire'
e ton, and though, almost dead, we too
/. to the oars again, and after pulling ov'
p an hour we got to the ship,which prove
}. to be the Horace Beals, Capt. JOSEF
vt Blankership, and he treated us with d
y the civility and politeness which tru
l, born gentleman could bestow upon u
If We could not stand at first when we g
II on the deck, but water, coffee and som
II thing to eat, together with a night
Sleep restored US. ..=...z
re Saturday, Oct. 28.-We were ON the sh
s, during the day, and rested what
g could.
1 Sunday, Oct. 29.-The steamer denel
1T Hooker, which was sent out by the TO
i'd eminent to search for us, came up a
he took US on board about 5 P. NJ, ana
We headed for Charleston. #
at Monday Oct. 30.-We arrived IN Chs
er lesion this morning, and once more
upon land. To kind and oyer-rsll
ke Providence, Ireturn my sincere and p
,is found thanks. .s.F
90 have given you a simple narrat
m of a terrible suffering, and when l hs
- 49, T will rive Won q similar Il