The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-09-07

1
sized, drllted toward US. This was our
only hope. Having no oars and no means
by which to right our own boat, and we
could not have lasted but a few moments
longer, one or two who had sufficient
strength managed to crawl into the broken
boat and with their hands began bailing
our own boat. We all had on life pre-.
servers, otherwise none Of US could have
survived. In tho broken boat we found
one oar, and finally our boat was bailed
and we got into her. A sailor named
Peter Barry, who subsequently proved
himself hero, improvised o sail by using
the skirts Of the ladies and shirts Of the
men, rigged to an oar, and we made our
way with this aid As best we could to-
ward land. Before leaving the ship
Capt, MaurY told us that the nearest land
was that Of Maitland Island, and for this
point we made, taking our bearings from
the sun, Judging the hour, all having
lost our watches. In the evening our
suferings were intense. With wet cloth
ing, and the great heat Of the day and the
pangs ofhuuger upon US, we deSpOired Of
being saved. Heavy seas were continually
breaking over US, adding to our misery.
About 2 o'clock the steamer exploded
wsth a tremendous report and i'm.
mediately sank, bearing everything on
board with her. Nothing whatever was
saved. l hope never to witness or ex.
perience such suffering as attended us
after this, but cheered on by our sailor
hero, all, even the ladies, bore up with
fortitude and resignation. When night
came we took stars for our bearing and
kept before the wind with our strangely
contrived sail The waves ran thirty or
forty feet high, and we believed, although
we could see no land, that we were near
it. We coasted all that night endeayor-
ing to find safe landing place. 1t was
task OF immense difficulty, in a terrific
gale and tremendous suri which was
rolling. About three o'clock in the
morning we landed at Cat Island, San
salvidor. II so happened that we landed
in q, calm under the skilllul pilatage of
our heroic Barry, although a few mo-
ments later the storm was renewed
with redoubled fury. Cat Island
we found to be perfectly barren, and
for long time we believed 1t to be unins
'habited. Our feelings, when we found
no human hands to relieve our distress,
and with neither food nor water, no
words can describe. Several OF our par.
ty started out to explore the Island and
shortly before daylight some of them
found several thatched huts. Upon closer
examination we discovered quite colony
of colored people living in huts, who
were engaged in the propagation of fruit
for the New York market They lost no
time in relieving our distress and admin.
istering 10 our wants in every possible
way. At first they gave us in our tam.
ished state but very little liquor: soon af.
ter they started fires and made cruel,
and an hour later we were given chicken
and other substantial food, with tea, cof.
fee, &c. Our inner wants having been
satisfied the ladies were given dry skirts
and hats, and coats and shoes were dis.
tributed among the men. Mr.. Stewart,
resident U. S. Consul at the Island, was
informed OF our arrival and Immediately
did all in his power to relieve US. We
then sought rest remaining here under
the care of the kind hearted natives for
day. On the evening Of the 18th Mr.
SiewsEt provided a sail boat TO convey us
SSstcsii.fti:s
night Of the next day, where we found
Capt. Maury, who, with two or three
other boats, had already arrived. At
Nassau we remained two weeks. The
people did all they could 10 make us
comfortable and raised subscription Of
el0S for our benefit, as we were entirely
destitute. 1t is certain that over forty
persons are missing, as there is no doubt
that twenty were drowned, while one
boat with thirty.two persOus has not been
heard from.
The steamer Moro Castle brought in the
following cabin passengers Of the Bien.
vile: II. Anthem, W. H. Woolrich, Mrs.
Barker, Nora Sullivan, W. Burroughs, Jr.,
Rufus Mead, George W. BafFy, o. Stoker,
Christopher Ortega, Pho BosoIia, Mr.. Ber-
ry, Mr.. Lawler, Mrs. Fuglcton and
the following officers: W. A. Smith,
purser; Mr.. Wright, chieI engineer, and
Frederick Haven, first officer.