Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-04-17
& 'Easc of The Sea.

Suffering anl l,riyatiOn. with their
attendant virtues OF fortitude and he
roi5in, are twice-tOlI tales in connec-
ton with records Of the sen. We can.
not recall Il winter i. which there have
been more stories OF maritime disaster
to chronicle than the past one. The
wreck OF :n ocean steamer and the loss
OF many lives becomes public caiaInl-
IS, and stirs the feelings of the whole
world. But the simple, almost com
mon-place story Of the bark Polly
brings home to us III z vivid manner
the strength of human endurance, and
the force of those bonds Of sympathy
which unite mankind in the hour of
danger al d disaster.
TIE Polly was a wooden bark of GIL
tons, built IN Quebec in 1916. OF late
years she had been engaged in carry
ing pitch pine from Pensacola to Swan
sea, Wales. In September last she
left Swansea with a crew of sixteen
hands, all tod. Thevoyage was speedy
and IN ytntful. At Pensacola n cargo
consisting of $50 loads of sawed pitch
pine was slowed away in the hold of
the vessel, and Oh the 9Th OF Decem-
beg she started for home Up to
tioTs. On Christmas morning the
noon gale set IN from the east. Ee-
fore night came on, the gale had in
creased in terrific squalls which buried
the ships lee-raiIs under water. Ths
ship was put before the wind, the
pumps were sounded, and six feet of
water found in the hold. All hands
worked st the pumps during Christ
mas ight, and nearly tue whole of the
next day. At o'clock on the aftel-
noon of the Goth, the sails were blown
away by q terrific hurricane. The
heav y seas breaking over the ship pre-
vented the men from working at the
pumps, and at length, finding that he
was getting a water-logged ship, the
Captain gave orders to cut away the
IlaEts. Heavy showers of rain fell
The mcn were now able to uniash
themselves, and Stacked their thirst by
sucking the rain water from each
others clothes. Another search was
made for food, and although it was
known that an ample supply was on
board, not even Il biscuit could be
obtained. On the morning of the 31st
vessel hove in sight. This afterwards
proved to be the Rosa B., an Italian
bark. Signals of distress were made
with torn pieces of canvass, and, with
scarcely any hope of being seen, the
seven poor wretches waited. The YES
sci slowly approached, and hen with
III 800 yards OF the wreck, vas
about to change her course, when
she observed the signals OF distress
for the first time. The broken masts,
with seven almost lifeless forms cling
ing to them, were all that could lie
seen of the Polly. The Rosa 3. imme-
diately lowered boat with crew of
six men and the first mate, leaving Oh
ly the Captain and two boys TO guard
the ship. A heavy sea was running all
til 3 time il was nightfall, and tie
water covered with broken spars and
floating timber. The dangers encoun-
tered by the rescuers under these cir
were enormous. Ten IN
attempts were made to take
OFT the sufferers before they were at
last laid in the bottom of the boat and
carried ca hoard the Rosa i. The
Italian sailors, though unable to speak
the language OF the survivors, treated
them with great kindness, and when
the latter at last arrived home they
spoke OF the gentleness, the courage,
and devotion OF their rescuers in glow |
ing and affecting language. This lit |
tie history was iirst made public at the |
Board OF Trade inquiry fey weeks |
ago, and we are glad to say that, in |
addition to the eulogy passed upon the
rescuers, the owners of the Polly gave |
Them sum of money as deserved re-
ward FOR their heroism and humanity. |
NcaC York Times.