Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-26
Dreadful Suffering at Sea.


Full particulars of the loss Of the
American yacht John T. Ford, which
sailed from Baltimore for Havre, are
given by the English papers. The sea.
man Armstrong, who alone survives,
gives the following statement:
In all kinds of weather two out of the
crew of four had to be on deck, as there
was only room for two below, and then
they were cramped up. On the 2Sth of
July spoke ship belonging to Var
mouth, N. s., strong wind at S. W., the
boat making heavy weather. On the
10th, strong wind at S. s. W., with
heavy sea running, the boat under the
foresail, shipped sea and capsized
righted again in. about a minute, The
water damaged all the bread and books,
aud wet all our clothes. On the I'd of
August moderate weather, wind at N.
pm. spoke a bark belonging to
Shields, from Montreal for Cork. Asked
for little bread, but they could not
supply any but gave bottle of rum and
little tobacco. On the 9th, at pm,
wind strong at S. W., a sea struck the
boat She turned over again, and righted
almost Immediately, and lost all their oil
and the principal part of their water,
which placed them in great distress.
They were all suffering very much from
cramp and pains in their legs. On the
8th spoke ship belonging to Liverpool,
bound to Quebec. Got supply of
bread, little oil and tobacco. The mas
ter of the boat did not report the misera.
BILE state they were in. Shortly after
wards got out of oil again, and had no
light for the compass, or to make any
thing warm to eat or drink They cut up
the boards that secured the ballast, and
all the internal fittings of the boat, to
burn. On the 18th of August, spoke a
bark bound to Portsmouth from Quebec.
which furnished them with little bread
and few candles. Experienced very
heavy weather, the wind being from S.
w. to N E., with cross sea; bore up
for Cork, Cape Clear by their reckoning
being N. e. about thirty miles. 1890
D. IN. a sea struck the boat and turned her
over, and the ballast boards having been
burnt to furnish light, the ballast shifted
and all on board we're thrown into the
water
The boat kept revolving round as all
four of the crew were trying to get on
her, until the lad got entangled between
the rigging and the mast, and by that
means she was kept steady until they all
got on her. She continued on her side,
aud two of the hands were on her masts,
and two on the side of the keel. They
were in that position all that night, fire.
quently being washed off and on, until
ll:30 p. m. the next day, when they OBJ
served brig bearing down towards them.
They we're all quite cheered with the
hopes of speedy relief, but instead of
rendering them any assistance, she came
close to them, hoisted the Dutch colors,
and stood away without giving them any
assistance. About an hour after, the
mate, John Shanney, asked Armstrong
to pray for him. They all, prayed to-
gether, and continued so for some time,
and while they we're so engaged they
were now and then washed off and on
the bottom of the boat Shortly after
wards the ears of the mate were OBJ.
served to swell very much, and his eyes
protruded. He shook hands with all OF
them, and took his wife's likeness out and
kissed it, after which he became very
excited, and bit the captains thigh. The
captain pushed him from him, and said,
John, for Gods sake, don't bite me.
The mate then fell over the boat, and
sunk Immediately. About pm, the
lad Edward Murphy asked Armstrong
to make him fast. He did so to his belt.
Shortly afterwards sea swept him away,
and then the captain and the survivor,
Armstrong, were washed off. The cap
tain cried, +" God help my poor wife and
family" and he then sunk. Armstrong
succeeded in regaining the boat, and re-
NAMED on the bottom of the craft with
out the least food or nourishment, and
being often washed off by the heavy seas,
until 4 M of the 23d when the ship
Aerolite, of Liverpool, Captain Allen,
hove in sight, and rescued him from his
dreadful position He was much ex.
hausted, and almost insensible when
taken on board the Aerolite.