, 1872-11-27

ed from causes to effects, and I finally conclud-
ed that my good fortune vas due to the large
size OF the ship, and mentally resolved never
again to go to sea in inferior vessels. wrote
jub;lant letters to my friends in England, and
sent them from Queenstown. Was in quite q
feyer of joy. We put to sea from Queenstown,
and enjoyed pleasant weather until Monday the
18th; then gale arose. Captain Kennedy told
ne that IN 1873 voyages he had made ao1oss
the Atlantic, he never saw it's equal. The sea
pounded our noble ship without mercy. lay
sick in nv berth, and could hear the hammering 6
Of the heavy waves upon the solid iron which
surrounded me. They stove in two OF our boats,
and broke the iron staunchions like pipe-stems !;
through the 1entlators. AL the ships of that
line, you know, are well ventilated, and thereby
hangs 3 tale. The ventilators which let in the
air likewise let il the water. There Was hardly
sleep IN; had 81 entire .state-room to
myself, and the sofa and two berths
Tere all water-soaked. The officers gaze me
temporary accommodation in some distant recess
Of the ship, which could never have found NY
self. They led me there, and put me to bed It
was small aud dark, but still it was dry, and
there entombed myself, and heard the waves
pounding. againRt our noble old ship. It
was while T was in this seclusion on
Monday, that the boats we're visited SO violent
Tremendous waves were rapping against the side
OF the ship, and it seemed as if they would
stave everything to pieces. The steamer was
very uneasy that night, and the sea
an 1ssssl Rss On Ras "saRSSaay asate1 It 3ge
horizon. Her mizzen-1nast Was gone, and
her flag Union down. signal of distress. The
Captain at once bore down upon her, and as ne
gradually drew nearer, her condition became
more apparent. It wes about o'clock before
the passengers became aware Of it. I Was at
lunch. hurried on deck, and there full be-
fore me-, at distance, but still
absolutely before me IS in frame, WAS this ter
Elhle picture Of a ship dismasted and with cer-
top of the cabin. The cabin YRS elevated above
Ehe deck, over which the sea was washing, and
a, shere tbsy were hnddled together; 2;
gsnS.. They had divided themselves into two
squads, and climbed to the mast-heads. They
had accumulated water and provisions up there,
but to be in that position for forty-eight hours
must have been terrible: The ship was With
sails we're split, actually flying like SO many
ribbons as the hulk rolled restleBsly about
What an immense area those four fellows must
have travelled in the air? It was ter
81 z6' me The s,6 Gapt1n in ts describing dad II
times Was fifteen feet under water.
The ship VAS loaded with timber, and they knew
she could not sink as long as she held together.
M The danger was that the constant pressure of
her apart, and then she would be a
mere diazecta n1embr1. They saw our
ship at 10 In the morning. It was the FIRST glad
sight they had seen for fortY-eigbt hours. Cap
lfe-Doats. The first boat wes quickly manned
and commanded By the second officer It was
touching sight to see that boat leave the side
of our steamer, she seemed 60 small
huge T5gs ns tic te snte roWds wn RSss 5ss
and looked after her. She reached the wreck in
safety. The officer drove her forward upon q
towering wave. She neared the side of the drift
ing ship, and five men 1eaped upon her. Then she
was headed again toward the steamer. The five
rescued men were landed safely on our deck, but
the boat lost her rudder, and was unable to re-
turn to the wreck. The second boat WIS under
tie command Of the third officer. It reached
the wreck and three men leaped aboard. Then
sufferers we're dragged aboard By ropes.
boat was large enough to take
more, and the officer proposed to pull along side
crew. He cried out, ssWe can't take any more
If re touch that ship again ne shall all
30 down. Pull" Should the officer strike
rope attached to the wreck, and he tried to
pull the boat alongside, but the oarsman gave
the word to pull for the ship again, and the
officer Was powerless. he had seven poor SUI
fering creatures in the boat, and the sea Was
running very high. He submitted to his
panic-struck oarsman WAS the frs. to strike our
deck. There we're still men clinging to THE
wreck, and another ect Of volunteers was called
for. The sailors hung back. Then two OF the
One Of them took the bow oar,
il IL with a great 'i skill: IT, As 80 soon aa'ssa sa
rs the wreck WAS reached three men 1eaped
1nrd T,oF F~y 4ofp nd .l.11
tie wreck Pull again !" shouted the officer,
and the noble-hearted stewards brought her
nlongside again. The Captain was the last man
TO leaEe the lost slip. Tie passengers Of our
the scene, and in the evening at dinner, at the
suggestion Of many, I called the attention Of the
saloon passengers to what we had thnt day wit
MESSED My remarks we're followed by others,
who suggested that contributions be taken for
cur own heroic sailors and the poor fel-
lows who had been shipwrecked. A
Committee was appointed, of which
was the Chairman. to collect and distribute
subscriptions. In . few hours VIC had collected
upward of ;eeS944-s420. The next day we held q
session Of our Committee to decide IS Is to the
proper method Of distributing the money. There
were many things to be considered, and we
conducted the business in true Congressional
style. The session lasted three Or four hours,
nad ne had before us Captains Kennedy and
Blanche, and the two officers Eho had command
ed the boats. We finally decided on the follow
ing distribution: We gave ca to each of our
own seamen, except those who had practically
mutinied, who went to the wreck To them
we gave nothing To those who went to the
wreck twice, ne gave "a; to each Of the brave
stewards who, not being sailors, did seamen's
duty, We gave "a; to Captain Kennedy, We gave
@lG, with instructions to havo q ring made for
each OF the two officers. with an appropriate in
scription. To each Of the shipwrecked sailors
re gave e; to the third officer Of the Assyria,
93; to the second officer, -s5; and the
balance, some EFT, We presented to
Capt. Blanche Is Chairman Of the Committed,
] made this report to the passengers, and they