The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-05-17
WEDNESDAY, MAY II, 1871.
A Leap for Life.

L was oh my WY mum ans ~ AAohlNf aAA eHS
morning in May found myself in the city of Mar
settles, where had made up my mind to take the
steamer for Italy. The vessel had intended to sail
in had departed the day previous to my arrival,
there was nothing left but to select the next aud
best to commence my journey. After noting the
offers of the various companies, finally settled
the General Abbertoci of the Valery Line and after
seeing my baggage board, and looking in vain fer
some one to whom might say goodby, followed
suit and was soon on the deck.
looked around me at our passengers; never was
there greater mixture of nGtious French, Span
ish, and above e Italian, to be heard on every
side, but listened in vain for sound of our good
old English tongue. After numerous leavetakings
and kissngs such as only foreigner indulge
in, we managed to get off, and steamed from the
harbor with light breeze following, and as happy
company as ever got together. There were
seyeable notables on board, the Consul General of
| France TO Rome, and his wife, an accomplished and
elegant woman; several Secretaries of Legation,
besides many officers of the French army, who, with
a company of troops, were on their way to relieve
part of the garrison at Civita Yecchi, then held by
the French As W. sailed along, many small boats
followed us, the occupants shouting and waving
their good-byes until we were out of sight Could
they have seen what the next tweuty-four hours
would produce; could they have known that their
adieus were indeed farewes to those who, before
the morrow's sun would be in eternity their glad
ness would be changed to sorrow, and their rejoc-
ing to tears:
As have said, we sailed on the morning of the
9TH of May 1869, and nothing occurred to mar our
voyage up to eight O'Clock that night, when the
wind suddenly changed and head sea set in, which
quickly drove all the ladies and most OF the men
below. As for myself, (having spent nearly year
at sea- and never suffering from that malady called
seasickness) walked the deck for some two hours,
partly for the fresh air, which could not get in the
saloon, and partly because feeling of uneasiness
and insecurity had taken hold Of me, which had
endeavored in vain to throw of. There were good
grounds however for my feelings, for had not been
half an hour on board before 1 noticed a lack of
discipline among the officers and crew, which boded
no good in case of accident, and which was after
ward fully confirmed by their conduct. We were
also heavily laden, including among our freight
deck load of petroleum, upon the barrels of which
the troops lay sat smoking. Iendeavored in vain
by signs to make the Captain understand the nature
of such in1ammabe material, but he treated the
subject with the utmost Indifference and Struggling
over sixty lives were of no possible consequence
Having remained on deck up till nearly eleven
o'clock, went to my room and lay down, taking
off my coat merely for the horrid presentment that
something would occur still clung to me, and made
my sleep anything but quiet. 1t was about one
o'clock when l was awakened by fearful crash,
followed instantly by two more shocks repeated in
quick succession, while at the same moment shreks
a ,,1., 81. No..
terrified women and children were rushing madly
hither and thither. My first thoughts were that We
had struck upon some hidden rock or shoal, which
this part OF the Mediterranean abouuds in, but on
reaching the deck soon saw my mistake, for large
brig, the outlines of which 1 could just see IN the
darkess, was slowly drifting away from us. knew
in moment that we had crushed into her, and the
only question now was were we sinking, or was
she?
Every one was row on deck, and the confusion
and excitement was dreadful Men called aloud for
their wives mothers and children, while others on
their knees called upon God to save them. went
to the forward part of the ship and there enough
10 convince me that an hour would soon decide the
case for US ALL Our bows (the vessel was an iron
one, and Clyde but) were all stove in and the water
rushing in great volumes through the appertures.
But another sight l 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 indisnct light discerned them pulling
away from the ship and leaving US to our fate. l
rushed back TO the stern, where the passengers who
had now caught sight of the boat, were yainly
stretching forth their hands and begging for the love
of Tod to take them in. The Consul, whom have
before mentioned, shouted reward Of two hundred
thousand francs if they would but take his wife. In
his agony he beseeehed and prayed them, but money
in that hour had no temptation, and his words fell
on deaf ears to all mercy
Seeing one of the sailors, who yet bravely stood
at the Wheel asked by signs, for life preseryers
lie shook his head-they had none then tried to
get two or three men together who would help me
TO wrench off doors or cut away seats and benches
which along tine upper deck, for raft, but they
would not stir; either they could not understand or
fear had paralyzed them. The vessel was now set
Ting by the bows and rapidly sinking; the water
was nearly afnidships and almost up to the fires
The engineer had left his post with the engine at
full speed, and it pushing US here aud there as
chance directed. l now began to look around to
how might 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, 1 selected a small
setiee; it was almost good for thing float, yet
than attempted to take it from me. and 1t
only by threatening them all with my knife that
1 could keep possession. l 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 my mind to throw my settee overheard, and |
tueu, jumping after it, endeavor to keep aoat until
picked up BY passing ship, and was about to /
put it in execution when my attention was drawn
to the brig which was approaching again with the
evident intention OF affordng help. The ship had
now sunk far that her stern raised some
thirty feet above the water, aud only the inzzen-
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 at least boat from the brig, when the Captain
hailed u.s. asking what nation the ship was He
spoke in French, and We cried back: "The General
Italian; we sinking; can you save
US ~ 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: I'VE can not help you, we are sinking