The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1869-12-11
Dangers of the Deep.

The Hartford, Conn Courant tells the
story of fearful suffering at seattle
whaling schooner Susan n Smith, which
was wrecked in the Atlantic Ocean. Mrs.
Smith, the wife of the Captain, and nine
teen of the crew persisted. The Captain
and four men clung to the wreck and were
eight days without food or water. There is
hardly such another case on record The
testimony of all Is that the thought Of food
scarcely entered their minds, but their burn
ing thirst nearly drove them to desperation.
Eight days without drop of water! What
a miracle Of suffering What hercism that
can outlive such terrible ordeal 1t came
to be through this dreadful parchlng, that
neither one could talk. Each tongue was
swollen and hung without the mouth As
it touched the roof of the mouth it glued
there and scaled off in large pieces. Such
suffering as was experienced cannot be de-
scribed. 1t was fearful beyond telling On
Sunday morning the first sail that bad been
in sight since the disaster occurred appeared
some distance Of-too far to be attracted
The little hope then suddenly departed as
the whitened sails were lost 70 view in the
distance. But two hours later another
vessel came in sight about three miles off
and here was new hope to the wretched
men; but the vessel passed on, unattracted
by the low lines of the wreck
These two last sad disappointing led to
the raising of signal of distress, and an
old blue coat hoisted A about four clock
In the afternoon another vessel appeared
about four miles off to the windward, and
before dark the Captain of this vessel, Cap
tain Oxley, of the ship FIatworth, en- route
from China to London, discovered the
wreck, and by dark had got within one hun.
dred yards of 1t. He got out boat and
sent alongside. Capt. Housenville and his
companions were SO weak that they could
not stand, and by another day at the longest
must have perished, and as the boat came
up they slid into it heIplessiy and were
taken to the Flatworth, where every atten-
tion was paid them by the kindhearted
Englishman In command. When taken off
two of the sailors were entirely naked, as
they had been during the whole week The
sun had blistered them, as it had the Cap.
tain and others. III were the merest skeI-
etons. Capt Rousenville, who weighed
before the wreck 100 pounds, had lost near
ly ninety pounds In eight days of suffering.
a teaspoonful Of brandy was given each one
to start with, but even this was too much
for their shattered systems, and very soon
after reaching the ship all was unconscious,
and remained In that state for two DAYS.
On reaching London, the survivors were
removed to the Sailors Home in Well
Street where they met with every atten-
ton
Rousenvilie IS still suffering from the
effects of his terrible experience, and both
mentally and physically is greatly prostrated,
He says be did not expect life when the
waves first washed him overheard He
could not swim and made no effort to save
himself further than to catch hold of the
rigging as he washed against it. All good
swimmers on the vessel were lost. He says
if he could have reached the cabin, where
his wife and children were, he would have
gladly died with them, for he feels that
though he has saved his own life, he has
! lost all that made life dear to him.