The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-03
statement Of Another Survivor.

Statement OF Another Survivor.
A gentleman gave the following statement
of the scenes and Incidents that came under
his notice, as we'll as his " miraculous
escape: The weather, though raining heavily,
was not untavorable, and, though q ras1st
fresh breeze was experienced when q shor5
time out, 1t was expected that the Wlnd Woula
remain as 1t was and not increase into q Vio-
lent gale, as 1t afterwards proved. AS the
wind Increased, the waves were lasneo
into intense fury, and the vessel rocked
to and fro and rose and fell like q mere play
thing In the hands of the elements. u was lln-
nossible for many Of the passengers to sleep.
About midnight the gale seemed to Increase.
untii about hall-past three. when 1t reached
ira height. was then lying In my berth, un-
able TO sleep, when suddenly a violent shock
was experienced, and we keeled slighly on
the starboard side. My first Impression was
that the vessel had struck on q rock, and l
Immediately fastened on deck, when ascer-
talned tn 1t q schooner, name unknown, and
bound eastward, had struck us, as was sup
nosed. with her jibboom amidships and i'm.
mediately below water mark. / Yves inform
ed that no serious damage had been done,
and Immediately started for my cabin for the
purpose OF putting on my pants; being prsvl-
ously wrapped In my night clothes. / was
gone about i've minutes. and returned to the
deck, where 1 found a number of The passen-
gers congregated.
ASSISTANCE REFUSED.
They were greatly excited, but their fears
were quieled when q vessel, afterwards ascer-
tanned to be- the Stonington, came alongside
and proffered assistance. which was refused,
the captain stating that no damage OF any con.
sequence had occurred. again returned to
| nv cabin, when the noise and excitement that
ensued beggars description. The creaking Of
the tImper5. the waves washing completely
over me, fairly stunned me. / then felt that
the vessel was rapidly sinking, when suddeE-
lvthe waves dashed against the vessel. a por.
tlon OF which sunk while The balance was set
a,loat In every direction. For a moment l
was stunned, then I found myself floating
In the water with no sight OF land. On either
side were the debris OF the vessel; hers q door,
and there q portion Of the EcabiD. Men,
women and children were cltnglng to differ
ent portions of the wreck, and ! Il made exhaust.
was floating rapidly, and on every side OF
which human beings held for dear life My
efforts proved f~ruitlese, and almost exhausted
with nv endeavors I glanced about me for o
| niece of the wreck to which I could cling.
Within ten feet OF mel discovered q bale Of
cotton, and succeeded In reaching 1t, com
pletely tagged ont with my exertions. For
how Long a time I loated I do not know, but
l had been. on the bales a considerable period,
when a man whom I did not know also sue.
ceeded in reaching it. I saw that he was
IN A DYING CONDITION,
and / helped him TO o sitting position; butere
long the breakers that were dashing over us
with considerable fury swept him of, and did
notsee him again. I afterwards ascertalned that
when the Metis fOundered she was four miles
from shore. I drilled into the beach, lmne-
dIately behind the hurricane deck, from which
I could see human beings continually swept
-. - -1-,@r1alooo hrooRnrd NNu n child
and Immediately followed o woman. The ma
iorIty of those on the deck appeared to be
women and children. When I first attempted
10 reach 1t every available spot was occupied,
but comparatively few had energy sufficient
TO keep Them from going overheard. Howl
escaped Is to me q decided mystery. Several
times I gave myselfn up for lost, and never for
reach the shore alive. The waves dashed
over me reIentlessly, aud each one I expected
would sweep me into the water. The scene
after the wreck separated was one that / hope
I may never again witness. The roar Of the
waters could not drown the plteous "aiL OF
tho ohitdrou aud tire ugon1Zlng cries OF the
mothers. I could see men, women and chill
dren
STRUGGLING IN TIE WATER
without either life-preserver or anything to
assist them In reaching land, while almost
within their reach were visible individuals
with two, and In some instances even three,
lite.preservers, who would not grant one of
them to the people drowning before their very
eyes. I saw q man with two maltresscs, and
vet within ten feet of him was:a mother and
Child battling for life with the elements.
Those In whose power 1t was to- offer succor
abstained from rendering any: assistance;
while the u%nfortunates, who were themselves
without assistance, endeavored TO render aid
to others. I Witnessed many exhibitions OF
magnanlmlty that were truly touching. One
young man Voluntarily surrendered q piece of
debris to which he was clinglng to a mother
aud her babe, and, alter relieving himself Of
None OF US saved any baggage, and the cloth.
Ing I now wear are the only. things l saved
from the wreck. It was almost four O'clock
when the boat struck. I received severe con-
tusions from debris, which was flying In every
direction.