The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-02


nia-Marvelious Escape of some of the
Boats-Awful Sufferins-Somc of the
Passengers become Insane ana Leap
into the Ocean.
Our English files are filed with the harrow
ing details of tho loss Of the steamship Hiber-
MIA, which recently foundered at sea on the
passage from New York. We copy the follow
ing narrative of Mr. Davis, the second officer,
who had q marvellous escape in one of the
ships boats:
When wo left the Hlberaia, we had in our
boat two barrels OF biscuit, three casks OF
water and several tins OF preserved meat. Two
hours after leaving the ship we found tho boat
was so full that we deemed 1t necessary 10
throw one Of the barrels of biscuit overheard
to make room for the passengers. The boat
was 4 life-boat, twenty-five feet long, with SIX
or seven feet beam. One woman had two
children. of three and fivo years old, rcspec-
lively, and another an infant OF Blk mouths
old. Our boat was leaking badly when we
started, and it required two meA constantly
bailing to keep her afoat: Soon after leaving
tho Hlbernia, We fell astern OF the other boats,
being only able to pull two oars, owing to our
crowded condition. When tue first mates
boat was capsizcd, we attempted to get round
and assist them, but, being nearly swamped In
doing so, we were obliged to attend to our own
safety. During that day we pulled before the
wind, but at night we lay to by means OF
floating anchor, and e1deavored TO make the
boat as trim as possible: we tricd to make
the women as comfortable as we could by
spreading tarpaulins over the forward part OF
the boat. Nobody asked to get anything to
cat the first day, all being too anxious to thiak
OF eating. On the following (ThursdaY)
morning We got lugsail set on the boat, and
made the best Of our way for the Irish coast,
before southwesterly breeze.
Nothing Of note occurred that day, but the
following night friday an old man. who had
shown symptoms of arrangement. jumped
overheard, saying he was going to bed. On
the third day the breeze fell very light, AND we
had to take to the oars. Next morning, one OF
the passengers, supposed to- be Francis Rods-
ers, suddenly threw himself overheard.
woman, supposed to be his sister, pleaded
hard that some OF us should throw her into the
sea after him; but we endeayored to soothe
her, and succeeded in some degree. Rodgers
was evidently out OF his sen :es. He had quar-
relied with us because We nailed the compass
to the thwarts. he wanted the knees of his
trousers darned, az "he could not" he said,
'.go home with holes in tbem." Up to this
time provisions had been given in moderate
quantities, and each person had daily allow
ance Of q pint of water. We had, however, TO
shorten the allowance. We had to keeppull-
ing both on the fourth and 9th days, and did
not make much progress Sunday was calm
all day. The children hitherto had been tol-
erably lively. The infant was fed on mashed
biscuit, its mother having no milk, and the
others got biscuit and preserved meat, with
small quantity Of preserved fruit.
The want of sufficient water now began 10
be felt. and owing to the close packing OF all
in the boat, and the frequent wettings, cramps
were very general We were forced to keep
everything in one position as much as possible
to avoid capszng. Up to Monday no ono had
seriously complained Of the discomforts, and
all were in telerable spirits. The seamen did
all in their power to inspire hope, and the
quartermaster, Blair, spun yarns to keep their
spirits up. On Wednesday the second engi-
neer sung the one hundredth psalm, and many
joined with him. That day the wind blow hard
from tho southwest, and we had to bring the
boat 10 by using the sail and two Of OUT oars as
a floating anchor, and in doing so lost both sail
and oars. 1t was useless to seek for them, it
beng now dirk; 30 we had to make sail out
of a piece Of tarpaulin, and be content with
one oar and half that we had with us in he
boat. The wind blowing freshly, tho tarpau-
lin was torn into rags, and we substituted for
it bed covers. These latter were also soon de-
stroyed. Samuel Brewster, an old man, died
on Wednesday, after going raving mad. Many
Of our number now showed signs OF madness;
propdply lfOm QeSpdlr auu SApoeurc " e4lIcluo
cold. Some became violent and threatening IN
their conduct, and we had to use forco with
certain of them, and gradually we got them
calmed down.
Early on Thursday morning, child five years
of age died, and shortly afterwards its mother
expired. Another child took locEjaw, and died
also. The bodies were thrown overheard. The
effect on the survivors was very visible. All
this time we were making slow p osress TO-
wards the Irish coast. The torn tarpaulin had
been mended in tho best fashion we could, and
served in kind of way for lugsail. Provi-
sioas and water wore now given IN small quan-
tity. One of the barrels OF biscuits was found
to be much soaked with sea water, and one of
the fresh water casks had leaked half Of it's
contents. We had to disregard the appeals
for drink, and the consequence was that.sev-
eral seamen took 10 quenching their thirst
with salt water in spite OF our remonstrances.
This was continued until o number got per-
fectIy mad. Walter McFarlane, fireman, was
one Of those who persisted in taking salt water,
aud his conduct became 30 dangerously out
rageous that he had to bo tied to the bottom.
He died in this state.
On Friday morning we had sailed four hun
dred and fifty miles. The tarpauiin sail had
given way half dozen times, and as often
mended, and, on the whole, the boat had gone
very well. This day the il FAINT died. Our
situation had become miserable in the ex-
trSme. Iue sea was breaking over inc DOat Ill
clouds OF spray. wetting every one to tho skin,
and oil were sitting in pools OF Nate:. There
was nothing now to cover the women, as VIC
had used everything for sai.s. Cramp had
seiScd all Of u.s. moro or less. and our legs and
hands were greatly swcilcd, and, consequently,
very painful. The fresh water was so scarce
that less than pint had to serve four persons
for day, and provisions were equally scanty.
Some of us were ravins and violently mad. A
woman died as the evening closed IN, but the
fact was not noticed at the time, and the body
was still in tho boat when the greatest OF all
our calamities occurred. About II o'clock a
heavy wave struck the boat, and those on
board in their drowsy condlt on falling sudden
ly in mass to the lee side, she went over, and
all were left struggling in the water. The
boat hoated upwards, and Reilly managed to
struggle up and seat himself upon the keel
He assisted Blair 10 got up, winch the latter
did with some difficulty, as drowning pas
senger had laid hold Of his leg. Reilly then
assisted Mr.. Davies, who had also to
shake himself clear OF some one cinging to his
foot. No others got hold of the boat, though
several were heard for time Shouting or swear
ing as they swan about in the d: rkness. One
poor soul had got under the boat, I'd he was
heard for nearly half an hour. He was appa.
reutly holding on by the thwarts, and breath
ing the air which had been enclosed whc.. the
boat rolled over, or which reached him through
the chiuks in Il rtinibcrs. About twelve O'Clock
a heavy Sc. struck the boat, and tho three W o
were sitting aStride Of the keel were again =
ncrscd in the water. Blair was the hrst TO re-
cover his position, and by his assistance the
other two men wrought up OH the boat. The
4 o'o opI boi1 nj