South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-04-30
Romney, Hampshire County, West Va, April 80, 1875


ofthe darkness, three bodies were thrown
overheard.
The next day six more cases were re-
ported by the surgeon, who told the cap
tain they were of the most alarming
type. twas impossible to keep the mat.
ter secret any longer. 1t became known
TO the passengers that the cholera was
in their midst, and there at once ensued
panic which battles all description.-
Captain Bridges almost wore himself
out, trying to induce them to be calm.
They seemed utterly incapable of listen
ing TO reason. 1t was horrible 10 think
they were shut up in the narrow space
of ship, and seventeen days from Phil
adelphia. In vain the captain warned
them that their fright would expose
them more fully to the disease. They
seemedsto have entirely lost their self
control, and to be incapable of regain
ing it.
Six weary terrible days passed away.
The ship had now been out seventeen
days, and eleven more must elapse be-
fore port would be reached. In those
six days the pestience had RACED fear
fully. One hundred passengers, includ-
ing six of those in the cabin, and three
OF the crew, had been seized with it. and
fresh victims were being added every
day. The deaths reached the ffightful
number of twelve day, so that in this
time seventy-two persons had died There
seemed no sign of the sickness abating,
and ON the twentieth day OF the voyage
the ships surgeon died. Captain Bryd-
h. 4, H.. 4
might be taken, too, for the fearful trial
had almost turned his brain.
After the surgeons death the disease
increased with greater rapidity, and the
deaths became more numerous. The
captain noticed that the fright Of the
passengers had given place to a recb-
lessness that frightened him. Several
times he saw one of the cabin passen-
gers in close conversation with some of
the crew and steerage passengers. Their
manner and looks excited his surprise
He called one of the men to him, and
asked what they were talking about
The man cvaded an answer to the cues
ton, and upon its repetition, refused to
reply to IT. Another was Intercepted,
with the sane result. The captain now
terror of the passengers and crew had
driven them to some desperate course.
What it might be he hardly dared to
think. Land was only eight days dis
tant; but alas if matters continued ma
changed, they might erreach it. Out
of three hundred and thirty passengers
that Lad sailed from Liverpool, there
were scarcely two hundred remaining.
and six Of the crew had died. Now that
the surgeon had been taken. there was
no one on board capable of treating the
disease, and nothing could I've done to
cheek It. No wonder the stout-hearted
sailors hair grew gray; no wonder the
bitter tears coursed down his bronzcd
checks. lie had never known such sor-
row as this-to see hundreds of fellow
creatures committed to his care perish
ing, without his having the power to aid
them.
There was little ceremony shown TO
the dead. As fast Is they were found to
be lfelcss, they were thrown into the
sea. 1t was not time to think of the
dead. Humanity required that the on
~ care should be for the living. and it
was necessary TO remove the corpses at
once. 50 that, fit were possible, the
number of victims might not be iucrea-
sed.
On the twenty.third day oftha VOYAGE
matters came TO crisis. Capt. Bridges
was standing 10y the wheel. gazing sadly
into the water. when some one touched
him on the shoulder. Looking M. lie
saw that it was one of the passengers.
nlI M I 1.
have you any more bad news. to re-
port2'
Il have come % say that we have de-
cidod to abandon the ship, captain, " said
the other sternly.
Whom do you mcan?" asked the
shipper, slowly and firmly.
"Ihe passengers and crew. All who
are able TO 60 in the boats" was the
reply.
You forget. sir. that / command this
ship. and that | will tolerate no inter
ference"
The captains voice was stern. for he
could not bear that any one should rob
him Of any of his authority on board
The sovereign of the Seas"
Il do not forget g." said the other.
and bis tone was that Of man who IS
resolved 70 make good his words 1--WE
would have proposed 10 TO Won ct first.
but we knew you would not consent
lou must look at the matter plainly.
captain. Nearly ouc-half Of our mum
Der have fallen victims 20 the cholera.
and ir we remain longer I'm this ship. we
may an die"
But land is only four or five days
distant" said Che captain, pleadin1ly.-
II pledge you my honor I'll land You all
rs soon as we make Cape May"
give days may destroy u.s." REPLIED
the passenger. we must take our rqte
into our own hands. Men I'm our posi-
ton must look for life before anything
else We have decided 20 leave thieves
sell and make for the land in the boats.
We shall DE in no more danger than
we are now. VIII YOU 20 with us2"