New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-11
Disasters At Son.

| that have occurred between this and other ports
have, in the last two days, been frequently allud
ed to in conversation, together with other topics
naturally growing out of them. In the hope OF
adding to the information of some of our readers
we subjon few facts which we happen, at the
moment, to remember. Instances of officers who
have preferred certain death in disasters of this
kind, will at once occur to every reader. We
think this was the case with the captain of the
London, to which steamship we have already
referred; and we remember reading of an
instance of an English captain in the Mediterrane
an, who remained behind after the passengers
were embarked, and was so afflicted with remorse
| at the accident that he had indirectly brought
about, that he made sailor put on his coat, and
thus escaped in the darkness the prosecutions OF
his friends to save his life. The instance of two
high Spanish officers who, not many months since
committed suicide, will readily occur to every
one.
But instances of generous disregard of death
in the hour of supremest peril are frequently re.
corded not only on the part of officers, but among
| the entire crew of vessels, in some cases.
In the recent sea fight off LISA, between the
Italians and Austrians, the first shock of battle
was directed against the irou-clad Re d'Italia,
AA0n HoS oeVoShCu at OuGS Wy lOuI SHIPS OF the
enemy with fire at close range. While she was
Keeling from the shock, her rudder was carried
away, and she was rendered manageable. Her
gallant captain, seeing the Austrian Hapsburg
bearing down upon him, prepared to board. The
crash, however, of the tremendous mass that
came down cut the frigate to the waters edge,
and soon destroyed all hope of this. The Re
dltalia went down almost instantaneously, the
marines in the tops firing as they sank, and
cheering with a last cry, g V1ue pItalia ~
Soon after the Palestro took fire from she'll
The wounded-some thirteen in number-were
sentotf in boats, her crew refusing to abandon
the vessel, and fighting manfully until the flames
reached the ammunition chamber. She then blew
up, none of the remaining crew, according to the
best accounts, escaping.
Somewhat the same story is told of the French
ship Vengeur, which is said to have had its colors
nailed to the mast, and to have gone down with
cry Of g VSUe Ia France :" but the story is con
tradicted. @
The shipwreck of the Medusa in 1915, will long
be remembered in the annals of disasters at sea-
The vessel was bound for Senegal, upon the coast
OF Africa, and the captain, who was utterly I'M
qualified for his post, had received positive sailing
directions as to the manner in which he was to
avoid the quicksands which lay in his course.
But becoming infatuated with person who pre-.
tended to have great knowledge of that portion of
the Atlantic, he disregarded his orders and aban-
doned his vessel to the strangers guidance, in
spite OF the remonstrances of the other officers
and passengers. The mournful presentiment of
every one was soon realized The frigate soon
touched sandy bottom; she struck with strong
c0OcusaioD and of ba a.
the waves. The vessel might have still been
saved by throwing overheard the cannon, but
action was postponed until it was too late
The plan ultimately adopted was to place $50 of
the 400 souls upon board upon raft, and to fill
the boats with the remainder. The boats were
then to proceed one behind the other and drag
the raft after them to the shore, which could have
been cached in. day. But scarcely had thew
started, when the raft was abandoned BY the
boats, one after the other to its fate in mid ocean
md each made off as precipitateIy as it could
from the dismal scene. One long scream arose
rom each of the $50 passengers upon the raft i:
tut the cry was only ironically returned, and the
,aptain, assuming martial attitude in one of the
,oats, politely waved the doomed crew with his
lat in the air testimony of his regard. The raft
emained in mid sea for ten or twelve davs
IS passengers prey to every passion and suffer
ng that human nature is capable Of Twenty
we're crushed to death, Or swept away by the lash.
ng of the waves, during the first night thew spent
bus exposed. Maddened at one time by thirst
nd liquor, large part of the survivors resolved
0 commit suicide, and endeayored to DESTROY the
aft in order that all might perish together. A
ontest Of this kind went on at intervals, during
NO days and nights, and one-half of the raft,s
rev were killed or drowned. Almost all of the
alter had been purposey thrown overheard.
pom the morning of the fifth day the number had
cen reduced by these mad contests to thirty of
HON only twenty could move about Two of
lese were then punished with death for surrep.
tously obtaining water. Of those who remained
Telye were SO reduced by suffering that there
as no possibility of their ever recovering, and
lie painful and horrible expedient was resolved
pom summarily finishing their suffering by throw
g theminto the sea. OF the Is that now remained
ree could with difficulty be kept from commit.
ng suicide. About the twelfth day, the fifteen
'maining out of the one hundred and fifty were l
'scueds butt of them subsequently, died. and
le remainder carried upon their bodies through
fe the effect of their sufFerings.
n B, FoRREsT.-A writer in the August num.
N a M lNp r