The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-14
Horrors of the Deep.

NEW YORK, December ia special from
Falmouth, England, says: "Chief officer
Foot and Charles Cosman, seaman, the only
survivors OF the American schooner EStela,
OF Portland, Me-, bound from Yarmouth
for the Island of Antigua, West Indies,
with general cargo, were landed here to-
day. They commenced their voyage on the
2SLh December. After leaving port they
experienced terrific weather, the wind being
very high, and they were forced to iay-to
for three days, waiting for the fury of the
storm to subsde. On January 9Th, du-
ring the early morning hours, heavy
sea capsized the vessel. or crew
OF five men. Cosman only was on deck,
the other four being below. Captain
Hursey and Chief Officer: Foot and the
cook came on deck as she: turned over.
The survivors then succeeded in getting on
the side OF the vessel. The cook fell of ex-
hausted after three hours. The captain
succumbed to the exposure and fatigue after
holding on until after O'Clock in the morn
ing. The vessel finally, by the action Of the
waves and being full Of water, righted her.
self. Foot and Cosmau managed with great
difficulty to make their way once more to
the vessels deck. They laid pianks on the
windlass and water barrel, which served
as their bed and resting-place for fifteen
days. Neither OF them slept for the first
three days, expecting every moment that
the vessel would sink beneath them. On
the fourth day barrel OF apples foated
from the foTehold, which they succeed.
ed in capturing. The apples were
saturated with salt, and caused the poor
fellows most intense thirst. They also OBJ
tained a box Of salt mackerel, which they
Io,, hoFn
were rescued barrel OF flour floated out
from the hold. They made dough OF por-
ton OF its contents, but heavy sea spring
ing up n wave washed it away. On JAN
uary 10th, while the winds were piercingIy
cold and the sun was about going down, the
wreck and the unhappy men were seen by
the Spanish brig Doratea, which bore down
upon them. Soon they came alongside and
rescued the survivors, who were hoping for
death to come to their relief. When the
Spaniards took them OBJ they had only seven
apples left. They were in such an emaciated
condition that they had to be lifred from the
plank bed towhich they had tied themselves
to prevent being washed OFF, !!HLi.Slr.E :
President Hayes's letter to Collector
Merritt.
New York, February 13.-Tbe following
is copy OF President Hayes's letter to
General Merritt: - =
Executive Mansion, Washington, Feb
>ruarY 4, 1S73.-My Dear General: I con-
graduate you on your confirmation. 1t Is
great qualification to me, very honorable to
you; and will prove, believe, Of; signal SER
vice to; the country. My desire is that the
Office be conducted on strictly, business
PRINCIPLES and according to the rules for
the civil service which. were recon-
mcnded by the CiyiESeryice Commits
sion in the administration Of General
Grant. I want you to be perfectly indie
pendent OF mere influences from any quar-
ter. Neither my recommendation, nor that
OF Secretary Sherman, or OF a member Oh
Congress, or other influential person, must
be specially regarded, Let appointments
and removals be made on business princi-
ples aud according to rules. There must, l
assume, be few confidential places filled
bV those you personally know to be trust
worthy, SUIT restrict the area Of patronage
to the narrowest limits. Let no man be put
out merely because he is a friend OF MI.
Arthur, and no man be put ia merely
because he is our friend. ID The gooa
OF the service should be the sole end in
view. The best means. yet presented, IT
seems to me, are the rules recommended oy
the CiviLService Commission. I shall issue
no new order on the subject at present. l
am glad you approve OF tbef message and
wish you to see that all that isexpressed or
implied In it is faithful y carried out. Again
coDgratulating YOU and assuring you Of my
entire confidence, I remain sincerely, To-
s,s7 zsi, t' {. 5tti,sp ~ ~, r. ,. HAYES
= General; e. a. Merritt. '.''tS i