The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-04-08

I lOdIilIi2 tue uGCh l. SOOU SAW Ily IDlStaRP,
for a large brig, whose outlines could
just see in the darkness, was slowly drift
ing away from us, and | knew in a mos
ment that we had crushed into her, and
the only question now was, were we sink
ing or was she
Every one was now on deck, and the
confusion and excitement was dreadful
Men called aloud for their wives, and
mothers fer their children, while others on
their knees called upon God to save them.
went the to forward part of the ship
and saw enough to convince me that an
hour would soon decide the case for us all,
t, OR bows, which were made Of iron, Tin
&c, the ship was iron, and Clyde built,
were all stove in, and the water fast pour
ing in in great volumes at the apertures.
But another sight saw, which, for cow
ardice and unsailorlike conduct, could
hardly be cqualed. The Captain and
crew, with only one or two glorious ex-
ceptions, had seized the only boat left
uuinjured, and in the indistinct light |
saw them pulling away from the ship, and
leaving US to our fate. ! rushed back 10
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
Consul, whom | have me ntioned, shouted
a reward of two hundred thou sand francs,
would they but take bis wife. In his
agony lie beseeched and prayed them, but
money in that honr 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 raft, but they would not
stir; either they could not understand or
fear had para!yzed them. And now the
ship was settling by the bows and rapidly
sinking already the water was nearly
amidships, and almost up to the fires
The engineer had left his post, with tie
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 passed together,
| and every one Cor 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 at
| tempted 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
stream 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
was about to put it into execution when
my attention was drawn to the brig. which
was approaching 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 hud-
/ died together in the stern, anXiously looks
/ ing for boats, or at least a 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
! Abbertoci, Italian; we are 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: We cannot help you, we are
sinking ourselves. Oh, the agony of that
moment. Yet there was no more frantic
crying, but men grasped each others hands
in q farewell grip, and dark, settled des-
pair was on the face of all
| now determined TO reach the brig or
perish attempting it, for | saw there was
no hope for US. and L reasoned that the
brig, being a wooden vessel would hold
out the longest, or at least afford means of
building raft. Al any rate it was death
to stay where ! was, for knew should be
drawn in by the suction when she sank.
So, grasping my watch, and what money
] had with r:ie, which I had taken from
my vest, | went up the rigging, and as the
brig sank on the swells, | jumped down
and across. The exact distance l sprang
l could not say, but struck her gunwale
and fell in the passage way, between it and
the after>cabin. | lay for moment
stunned, and then springing up, | came
amidships. Here everything also was in
confusion, our steamer having struck her
on the starboard side near the bow, cutting
hole in her to the water, and carrying
away a good part of her rigging.
The Captain and sailors, numbering
about ten men, were endeavoring TO get a
small boat, which lay keel upward on her
deck. free from the entangled rigging, and
launch it. 1t was only after working with
II will that we were enabled to get 1t over
the side, and jumping in as best we could,