The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-23
Rescue Of a Wrecked Grew.

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The wreck proved to be the Assyria.
The SEA was running very high at the
time with the wind blowing a gale bpt
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:
Tie Assyria was fourteen days out
from Quebec, bound for Plymouth with
o cargo Of timber, and we got along we'll
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
Il was raining hard at the time. Allsails
were braced up. Orders were given by
the captain to reduce sail, and the wind
blew 80 hard It was with great difficulty
they were obeyed 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 at q furious rate through the sea.
AT teight o'clock some Of the men were
below having something to eat when all
hands we're piped up and ordered to reef
the top-yard sails. After that was done
one Of the men, seeing that the main.
royal mast was gone, the captain, with
allthe oflcers, worked with q viii and
everything was done to remedy tile
breach, but the canvas was torn into
shreds. We succeeded in rigging up u
fore and main topsail, and ioresail, but
tho wind blew stronger ard the seq ran
mountain high. The two men at the
wheel Ind TO be lashed to the rail with q
rope. At eight bells the tempest got
worse and we gave up hopes Of attempt-
ing 10 run her, the decks were swept by
the seas andit was with difficulty the
men kept themselves from being carried
away. We tried to heaye her to beam,
but the tempest prevented us. The
night was dreadful and We were drenched
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 at the
pumps Us she wns making water fast.
The carpenter set the donkey engine at
work on the pumps, but 1t ceased TO
work in few minutes. There were
two boats in the davits and they werC
carried away. The third boat which
was on the house was stovein. Between
eight and nine o'clock a 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 was carried away and
all our clothes which were slowed away
there. The wind carried off everything,
and we were lashed to the rail while we
worked at the pumps. The carpenter
again got the donkey-engine to work ut
the pumps for half an hour and then Il
gave up. lie was not lashed TO the
pumps and the sea carried him over.
board, and we never seen him after. His
nanie was Frederick Anderson, and he
leaves n wife and family in Newcastle.
on.Tyne. The second mate was then
carried away and he was thrown up by O
rectding wave, and I threw him u rope
and we hauled him on board. Captain
Blanche and / were working together at
the pumps. The chief officer was for.
ward keeping lookout, and shouting
TO us whena q heavy sea was to break
over the ship. was dashed from the
pump, and my arm wis broken. l did
not know anything Of II being broke
until Isaw 1t swinging in the air by the
force oil the wind. l held on until I goi
to tue deck house, where / managed
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 in get.
ting some bread which had been soaked
with the sea water. We were glad to
get 1t. In the afternoon We found The
vessel was fast becoming wreck, aud
the men took to the rigging mud swung
out some flags OF distress. / was not
able to go aloft with the broken arm.
The ship was setting down aud 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 to
live. She was almost level with the va.
ter. Eighteen Of tho men wete in the
rigging while ! was being washed by the
sea for hity.iour hours. / was getting
insenible, when cry was made about
three o'clock on Tuesday morning Of u
sail in sight. Themcn cheered, and for
a while we were like men who Ind
escaped from q watory grave. The yes.
sci was schooner going eastward, and
which did not see ~. In the Joy that
was caused by seeing 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 tile
sea. About noon the Baltic was sighted
about eight miles away. but those OH
board seemed to have seen US as soon
us We saw her, and ahe put about, aud
made for us direct. AS soon us the boat
came alongside I jumped overheard,
having trusted myself long enough to
what | had made up my mind to be my
coffin. Captain Kennedy and officers
treated us well, and had Il not been for
him and divine providence We all would
laye met watery grave.
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