The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-16
Rescue Of a Nreekel crew.

helpless wreck with men clinging to 1t.
The wreck proved to be the Assyria.
The SEA was running very high OF the
time with the wind blowing gale but
volunteers were called for and two boats
were Immediately manned and, COM
manded by the second and third officers,
were sent to the scene Of the disaster.
The story Of the wreck as told by a sur
yiyor Is Us follows;
The Assyria was fourteen days out
from Quebec, bound for Plymouth with
o cargo OF timber, and we got along well
until Sunday afternoon. The forenoon
Of the day was very fine, hut about SIX
o'clock gale sprung up southwest by
northwest. i was on watch ut the time.
The gale blow strong and came astern
and struck in her starboard quarter, and
II was raining hard at the time. All sails
were braced up. Orders were given by
the captain to reduce sail, and the wind
blew 30 hard II was with great difficulty
they were obeyel by the men. We sue
ceeded in Glowing up the royal and main
royal, the ay.iib, and the side sails. The
hurricane increased and the ship was
driven OF q furious rate through the seq.
AT eight o'clock some Of the men were
below having something to eat when all
hands were piped up and ordered to reel
the top.yard sails After that was done
one Of the men, seeing that the main.
royal mast was gone, the captain, with
all the offlcers, worked with will and
everything was done to remedy the
breach, but the canvas was torn into
shreds. We succeeded in rigging up a
fore and main topsail, and o foreSail, but
tho wind blew stronger ard the SEQ ran
mountain high. The two men at the
wheel Ind 10 DO dashed to the rail with q
rope. At eight bells the tempest got
worse and we gave up hopes Of attempt-
ing to run her, the decks were swept by
the seas and 1t was with difficulty the
men kept themselves from being carried
away. We tried to leaye her 10 beam,
but the tempest prevented us, The
night was dreadful and we were drencled
by the sea and suffered terribly from the
cold. When daylight broke upon us
there was nothing but the mainsail left,
We then commenced to work ct the
pumps as she was making water fast.
The carpenter set the donkey engine al
work on the pumps, but 1t ceased tc
work in q few minutes, There were
two boats in the dayitB and they wert
carried away. The third boat which
was on thehouse was stoyein. Between
eight and nine o'clock q heavy sea stove
in several Of the planks in her weather
bow, tearing her cat head away and lift
ing the anchors on tho deck, The END
Of the dock.house wns carried away and
all our clothes which were slowed away
there. The wind carried of everything
and we were dashed 10 the rail while w
worked at the pumps. The carpenter
aglin got the donkey-engine to work at
the pumps for half an hour aud then II
gave up. lie was not lashed TO the
pumps and the sea carried him over
board, and we never seen him after. Hi
name WIS Frederick Anderson, and hi
leaves wife and family in Newcastle
on.Iyne. The second nate was ther
Carried away and he was thrown up by {
: receding wave, and threw him rop,
and We hauled him on board Captain
Blanche and I were working together a
. the pumps. The chief officer was for
ward keeping lookout, and shouting
tot us when heavy sen was to breal
over the ship. Twas dashed from tht
pump, and my arm wis broken. l did
not know anything Of II being brokt
until saw it swinging in the air by thu
force OF the wind. held on until go
: to the deck house, where | managet
with the other hand to keep myself from
being washed away. We ate nothing
since Sunday until Monday evening
when one Of the men succeeded 10 get
ting some bread which bud been soaked
with the sea water. We were glad t.
get 1t. In the afternoon we found The
vessel was fast becoming a wreck, and
the men took to the rigging mud swung
out some flags Of distress. | was moi
able to go aloft with the broken arm
The ship was setting down and I gave
up all hopes. The men would venture
down to the deck now and again, which
was being swept by the sea, and sue
ceeded in getting from below some raw
pork, which We ate. Just before dark
set in We found that the vessel was wa.
ter.logged, and that we had not long 10
live. Shewas almost level with the wa.
ter. Eighteen Of the men were in the
rigging while was being washed by the
sea for hlty.lour hours. i was getting
insenible, when cry was made about
three o'clock on Tuesday morning Of u
sail in sight. Themen cheered, aud for
a while we were like men who Ind
escaped from watery grave. The yes.
sci was u schooner going eastward, and
which did not see NJ. In the joy that
was caused by seeing q ship in view
some OF tho men yentured 10 the deck,
and one OF them gave me u blanket, but
it was carried away afterwards by the
sea. About noon the Baltic was sighted
about eight miles away. but those OIL
board seemed to have seen US as seor
us We saw her, and abe put about, ani
made for us direct. AS soon us the bon
came alongside / jumped overheard
having trusted myself lohg enough L
what had made up my mind to be ny
coffin. Captain Kennedy and officer
Gated us well, and had it not been fol
him and divine providence We all wonlt
hive met o watery grave.