Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-02-08
At Sea on a Cotton Bale.
BY BISHOP CLARK.


steamer Lexington" in Long Islam
sound was received in Boston forty year
ago. The first report was that all Of
board were lost, and, in fact, it prove
that there were only four survivors lei
to tell the tale of woe that made tina
fatal January night SO tragically mem
orable.
It happened, few evenings ago, il
passing through the sound in the steam
er "Rhode Island" that / fell into con
versation with Mr.. David Crowley, q
present one of the officers of the boa
and he told me that he was one of tn
four perOns who managed to escape wit
their lives when the Lexington" wa
burned. I asked him to give me tn
exact particulars, which he did in
very modest and unassuming way, an,
think that the story is worth preserv
ling, for venture to say that very feS
men could have endured what he di,
and live through it. He is now strong
well preserved and young looking mai
with his hat on) of little more thai
sixty years of age, and has experiences
no permanent detriment from the awfu
exposure to which he was subjected il
his youth.
On the night in question the Licking
ton" was crowded with cotton to the full
extent of its capacity, and also carrying
the full quota of passengers. At abou
7:30 o'clock Mr.. G. says that he heard q
rushing of feet on the deck, and hurry
ing from his room he saw that the Who'll,
central part of the vessel was fire, cut
ting off all communication with the ap
paratus for extinguishing the flames-
There was nothing to be done to save
the steamer, and the life boats, as is of
ten the case under similar circumstances
proved to be of no practical service. AT.
ter assisting in throwing overheard 8
number of cotton bales, he seized boarG
and jumped into the water. This he
found to be Of little use. and seeing al
some distance bale of cotton that die
not appear to be on fire rythine
around being made as light as day by
the burning ship-he swan to the bale
and succeeded in reaching it. Waiting
awhile in order to recover from his ex-
haustion, he managed to climb upon the
top of the bale, where, if he could only
avoid being frozen to death, he felt that
he was for the time being secure.
Gradually the fires of the Licking
ton" abated, and at last he found him
self alone on the waste of waters, with
nothing to do but wait, with what pa
tience he could III the cold and dark
ness, untii,t he dawn of day should bring
relief When the morning broke slool
appeared in sight, engaged in looking
after those who might have survived the
wreck, and he was now sure that the
worst was over, and rescue near at hand,
until, to bis dismay he saw the vessel
change her course and sail away with
out having detected him.
All that day the stout hearted man
clung to his cotton bale. thrashing a.
bout, as far as he could venture to do,
that he might keep the circulation in
his body alive, and sometimes trying to
paddle his clumsy craft with his bare
hands, but without the slightest effect.
Occasionally he fell into doZe, and
.tumbied twice into the water, regaining
his place upon the bale with not little
difficulty. As night drew on he wound
uc his watch as usual, and thinking that
he had now become sufficiently accus-
toned to the motion of his craft to al
low him to do it in safety, and being
very tired and sleepy, he adjusted him
self for a good nights rest. AS he as
sured me, he did sleep quietly through
the whole night, and woke in the morn
ing refreshed in body and mind.
The Wednesday sun now dawned,
and another dreary day on the ocean
awaited him, Two or three times it
flashed across him that q good square
meal would be refreshing. but he says
that he suffered little from either hun
ger or thirst. He had neither coat
on his back or covering for his head,
and how he was able to avoid being
frozen to death is a marvel but he new
er lost heart for an instant, or bad the
slightest doubt of being rescued at last.
Sometimes be foated ear the land, and
then winds and currents ore him away
to point from WHICH the land could
not be seen at ali.
He again tried to wind up his watch,
but with his frozen fingers could not
handle the key. After a while he fell
into scrt of doze, and imagined him
self to be in the Stonington harbor, and
decided to slip from the bale and wade
ashore. The plunge into the icy waters
restored him to his senses, and again he
contriued in some mysterious way to re-
cover his seat on the cotton bale.
On the third evening, at about 8
O'Clock, he found himself fast nearing
the shore. and recognized spot known
as 'sthe horse in the bank, from the re-
semblance of clump of bushes growing
near the water. His heart now revived,
and he felt that all that renamed was
for him to get through the surf in safety,
which, ia his enfeebled condition, be
knew would require strong effort OF
the will. This he accomplished, and at
last found himself once more standing
on the solid ground. AS his frozen feel
were entirely insensible, it was with the
greatest difficulty that he was enabled
to walk at ell but after one or two falls
he struck into narrow valley, think
ing that he might find some spot where
he could be sheltered from the searching
wind, and wait till the dawn OF morn
ing.
After pitching along, as he supposed
about half miie, to his indescribable
Joy light appeared. and making his
wav to the door ofthe house from which
it shone he knocked for admittanoe. A
Young man came to the door, who al
frat shrank back affrighted at the
strange looking being who stood upon
LIE SteU, Uut ~ W he dOt lOuS OCiOi0 OnS
family were busy doing ev
erything in their power for bis relie
and comfort. A bright fire was burn'
ing on the hearth, but he was incapable
of feeling the heat, and it at once occur.
red to his friends that it would be peril
GUS to be exposed 70 such a sudden
change of temperature. Cutting of his
boots-which the swollen condition O
his feet made imperative-his frozer
hands and feet wsre immersed in colo
water, which soon became coated witt
films of ice, and were scraped off from
time to time until the frost was thor
oughly abstracted. Suitable nOnrish
ment was then administered, but tn,
sense of taste was entirely Obliterated
and all that he craved was repose.
A long nights rest restored his equi'
librium. and before noon on Thursday
a hundred people had focked in from
the country to see him, the tidings o1
his wonderful rescue having by this TIM
been communicated far and near. Mr.
Crowley's interest in his friendly cottor
bale had now revived, and a band o
men started eff to find it. They return
ed unsuccessful, when Mr. G.. after in
curing how the wind and tide had beer
flowing since he landed, informed then
of the spot where the bale would hav
been likely to lodge. Following his di
rections the bale was found, cOveret