The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-30
TIE WRECK OF THE ASSYRIA.

Hon. Charles Summers Story of tho
i@E.@"" Rescue, SO.
Brief mention has been made OF the arriva
OF the steamship Baltic at New York. having
on board the crew of the ship Assyrla, res
cued from that vessel, water-logged at sea,
The behavior of the captain and crew of the
Baltic Id rescuing the distressed mariners Is a
subject OF much commentator. The New
York Tribune says:
When the Assyrla was discovered the sea
was running high and a gale was blowing, but
volunteers were called for, and two boats,
under the command Of the second and third
Ing nineteen men, who had been cllnging to
the rigging for two days. The nrst boat was
prevented from going on q second trip by an
accident TO her rudder, but the secoud boat,
under the command of Officer Williams, start
ed and rescued the rest Of The crew. When
It was found that there must be a second Trip
there was Q reluctance to volunteer, but Two
stewards came forward and q man who had
been on the first trip, and others soon fol-
Afterwards Hon. Charles Sumner called the
attention Of the passengers TO the matter OF q
contribution as q tribute TO the courage OF the
boatmen, and to. supply the needs of the
WIcCh6u CIcHs q COulWtttCSf SChoioSihS "
Mr.. Sumner, ex-senator Gwin. Of California,
Captain Wstmough, United States Navy. Ed
ward Shaw, Of Liverpool, and the Rev. B. N.
Thomas, Of Philadelphia, was accordingly ap-
~pointedto attend 20 the matter, and It was
voted t0expresS to the captain Of the Baltic the
thanks OF the passengers for hs ability IN res
cuing the wrecked crew. Subscriptions to the
amount Of EDS los Sd were made. Senator
Sumner gives the following account Of the
rescue:
SENATOR SUMNER 9 NARRATIVE.
On Wednesday, at MOOD, q vessel was eight
ed In the horizon. Her mizzen-mast was
gons, and the flag union down, q signal OF
distress. The captain at once bore down
upon her, and, as we gradually drew nearer,
her condition became more apparent. 1t was
about one O'Clock before the passengers be-
came aware otit. was at lunch. l hurried
on deck, and there, full before me, at q dis
lance, but still absolutely before me as 10 a
frame, was this terrible pictare: A ship dis
mssted, and with q certain number OF human
The cabin was elevated above the deck, over
which the sea was washing, and there they
were huddled together. Captain Blanche told
me afterward that they had been for forty
eight hours In the rigging. They had divided
themselves into two squads aud dumped 10 tne
and provisions up there, but TO De IN nal
position for forty-e1ght hours,
1T MUST HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE
The ship was without q rudder, drifting to
and and fro, and her sails were split, actually
hylpg like so many ribbons. AS the hulk rolled
restlessly about, what an immense arc those
poor fellows must have travelled In the air
It was terrible ! The captaiD, In describing IL
to me. said that the deck at lines was fifteen
feet under wafer. The ship was loaded WIN
timber, and they knew she could not Sink as
lone as she held together. The danger was that
the constant pressure of the masLs upon the
hull ana keel would force her apart, and then
she would be q mere dtsectd me1nbra. They
saw our ship at ten In the morning. 1t was
the first glad sight they had seen for forty
eight hours. Captain Kennedy called for vo..
was quickly manned and commanded oy tne
second officer. 1t was a touching sight to see
that boat leave the side OF our steamer. She
seemed 80 small a thing to battle with these
huge waves. The passengers crowded on
deck and looked after her. She reached The
wreck In safety. The officer drove her for
ward upon q towering wave. She neared
TIE EIDE OF ri DRIFTING SHIP
and i've men leaped upon her. Then she was
headed again toward the steamer. me nVe
reached men were landed safely on our deck,
but the boat lost her rudder and was unable 10
return to the wreck. The second boat Was
under command OF the third officer. It reached
ths wreck and three men leaped aboard. Then
a large wave carried 1t of. Two more OF the
sufferers were dragged aboard by ropes. One
of these was q negro. The boat was large
enough to take more, and the officer proposed
to pull alongside again. But the Dow oars
man became stricken with panic. and bis panic
infected the whole crew. He cried out, 1--WE
can't take any more. If we touch that ship
again we shall all 20 down ~ 'sPull" shouted
the officer. ''Strike for the wreck again ~
he held q rope attached to the wreck, and he
tried to pull the boat alongside; but the oars
mar gave the word to pull for the ship again,
and the oficer was powerless. He had seven
poor, suffering creatures In the boat and
TIE SEA WAS RUNNING ERY HIGH.
He submitted to his men and returned to
the steamer. The panic-struck oarsman was
the first TO strike our deck. There were stil
men clInging to the wreck, and another set OF
volunteers was called tor. The sailors hung
back. Then two of the saloon stewards came
forward aud offered to 60. One Of them TOOK
the bow oar, and the officer says ne managed
it with greats skill. AS soon as the wreck wa
reached three men leaped aboard. The cap
tain and one man were stlll on tne wreck.
WPull againl ~ shouted the officer, and the no
bic hearted stewards brought her alonslde
again. The captain was the last man 10 leave
his lost ship. The passengers of our steamer
were all very much touched by the scene, and
In the evening at dinner, at the suggestion o.
many, / called the attention OF the saloon pas
sepgers to what we had that day Witnessed
TEE MIXED SCHOOL QUESTION.