Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-03-31

SAW WIllCll. III SOW0LN1CO StIIO
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. I 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 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 preseryars. He shook his
head they had none. ] then tried to
oct 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
bv 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
at full speed, and it was pushing us
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 1T
was only by threatening them all with
my knife that l could keep possession.
knew that it was a 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 afoat 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
affording 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, anxlously
looking for boats, or at least 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? Then
silence ensued, and mothers husheo
their children, and we all waited the
words-the words Of life or death. The
answer came back, clear and distinct
ave 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 a farewell grip, and dark
settled despair was on the faces of all.
[ now determined to reach the brig
or perish attempting it, for | saw ther'
was no hope for us, and L reasoned tha
the brig being wooden vessel, woult
hold out the longest, or at least atfort
means of building raft !; at any rate
was death to stay where | was, for
knew | should be drawn in by the sue
ton when she sank. So, grasping m,
watch, and what money had with me
which | had taken from my vest, L wen
up the rigging, and as the brig sank ol
the swells, jumped down and across
The exact distance sprang | could no
say, but.I struck her gunwale and fel
in the passage-way, between it and tn
after-cabin. lay for moment stunned
and then springing up | came amid
ships. Here everything also was In cor
fusion, our steamer having struck he
on the starboard side near the bow, cut
ting a hole in her to the water, an
carrying away a good part of her rie
ging. -. .".
The Captain and sailors, numberin
about ten men, were endeavoring to &c
a small boat, which lay keel upward o.
her deck, free from the entangled rig
ging. and launch it. 1t was only afte
working with will that we were Ell
: abled to get it over the side, and, jumr
ing in as best we could, we pulled ava
from the brig toward the steamer, bu
we dare not approach too near for fea
of being drawn in, but shouted for ther
to Jump, and we would try and pick ther
up. s t..
1t was too late One awful scream
one cry of agony-such as | pray l ma
never hear again-as she plunged to tn
bottom and of all those cabin passer
gers. | alone was left. The waters me
, and closed over her as peacefully an
, calmly as if nothing had occurred, an
nearly sixty souls, men, women an
children, were in eternity.
:, The day had fairly broken now, an
| with the new light we seemed to hav
r new hope. Finding that the brig
3 which had drifted some way of, we
Y still floating, we steered for her, anC
t cIambering up, threw ourselves upo
a the deck worn out and exhausted.
0 think. had our vessel then sank that NJ
: a man could have saved himself, so u
terlv were we used up.
But help was near at hand. We ha
: discovered, while in the boat, the mast
d and spars of ship looming up on tn
t horizon, and now she was in plain sigh
+ We hoisted our flag as being in distres
: and shouted, and almost cried with jo
e as we saw her return the signal, an
e then come bearing down toward us. 4
n she passed where the steamer sank, 81
put out her boats and picked up tW
It steerage passengers, and then came
Y ms. She proved to be The King, boun