The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-31


made of iron Tin fact the ship was iron,
and Clyde built), were all stove in, and
the water pouring in in great volumes
at the apertures. But another sight |
| saw, which, for cowardice and unsailor-
like conduct, could hardly be equaled.
The Captain and crew, with only one or
two glorious exceptions, had seized the
only boat left uninjured, and in the in
distinct light / saw them pulling away
from the ship, and leaving us to our
fate. ! rushed back to the stern, where
the passengers, who had now caught
sight of the boat, were vainly stretching
forth their hands, and begging for the
love of God to take them in. The Con-
sui, whom | have before mentioned,
shouted a reward of two hundred thou
sand francs would they but take his
wife. In his agony he beseeched and
prayed them, but money in that hour
had no temptation, and his words fell
on ears deaf to all mercy.
Seeing one of the sailors, who yet
bravely stood at the wheel, | asked, by
signs, for life preservers. He shook his
head they had none. | then tried to
get two or three men together, who
would help me wrench off doors or cut
away the seats and benches which ran
along the upper deck for a raft, but
they would not stir; either they could
not understand, or fear had paralyzed
them. And now the ship was settling
by the bows and rapidly sinking; al
ready the water was nearly amidships,
and almost up to the fires. The en-
gineer had left his post, with the engine
| IL
here and there, as chance directed. |
now began to look around to see how
might save myself. The time had passed
when we might have worked together,
and every one for himself was the
thought of all.
Having taken off my clothing, seized
small settee; it was almost good for
nothing as float, yet more than one
attempted to take it from me, and it
was only by threatening them all with
my knife that | could keep possession.
| knew that it was chance, if it would
hold but one, and life was too dear to
part with lightly.
AS the water reached the boilers, the
steam poured out in volumes, and many,
thinking we were on fire, added to the
; scene by their cries. | had made up
nv mind to throw my settee overheard,
and then, jumping after it, endeavor to
keep ahoat until picked up by some
passing ship, and was about to put it
into execution when my attention was
drawn to the brig, which was approach
ing again with the evident intention of
aflording help. The ship had now sunk
; so far that her stern was raised some
thirty feet above the water, and only
the mizzen-mast was clear of it. Every
moment we could feel her settling lower
and lower, preparing for her final
plunge to the bottom. We were all
huddled together in the stern, anXiously
looking for boats, or atleast boat, from
the brig, when the captain hailed us,
asking what nation the ship was. He
spoke in French, and we cried back,
"The General Abbertocci, Italian. We
are sinking; can you save us p Then
silence ensued, and mothers hushed
their children, and we all waited the
words-the words of life or death. The
answer came back, clear and distinct,
1--WE cannot help you; we are sinking
ourselves" Oh the agony Of that mo-
ment Yet there was no more frantic
crying but men grasped each others
hands in farewell grip, and a dark,
E settled despair was on the faces of all.
] now determined to reach the brig,
or perish attempting it, for | saw there
was no hope for us, and | reasoned that
the brig being wooden vessel would
/. hold out the longest, or at least afford
means of building raft; at any rate ii
was death to stay where | was, for
knew | should be drawn in by the sue
; ton when she sank. SO, grasping my
watch, and what money had with me-
which | had taken from my vest, | went
up the rigging, and as the brig sank on
, the swells, jumped down and across
The exact distance / sprang | could not
E say, but | struck her gunwale and fell
in the passage-way, between it and the
after cabin. lay for a moment stunned
and then springing up | came amid
. ships. Here everything also was in con
fusion, our steamer having struck hel
on the starboard side near the bow, cut
ting a hole in her to the water, and
carrying away a good part of her rig
ging.
! The Captain and sailors, numbering
about ten men, were endeavoring to get
small boat, which lay keel upward on
her deck, free from the entangled rig
ging, and launch it. 1t was only after
working with a will that we were en-
abled to get it over the side, and, jump
ing in as best we could, we pulled away
from the brig toward the steamer, but
we dare not approach too near for fear
of being drawn in, but shouted for them
to Jump, and we would try and pick them
up.
1t was too late. One awful scream
one cry of agony-such as ] pray | may
never hear again-as she plunged to the
bottom and of all those cabin passen-
gers, alone was left. The waters met
and closed over her rs peacefully and
calmly as if nothing had occurred, and
nearly sixty souls, men, women and
children, were in eternity.
The day had fairly broken now, and
with the new light we seemed to have
new hope. Finding that the brig,
which had drifted some way off, was
still floating, we steered for her, and,
clambering up, threw ourselves upon