Year: 1871

gunwale and fell in the passage-way between It and
the after cabin. / lay for a moment stunned, and
then springing up came amidships Here also
everything was in confusion, our steamer having
struck her the tarboard side, near the boy, cut
ting hole in Ler to the water, and carrying away
good part Of her rigging.


The Captain and sailors, numbering about ten
men, were endeavoring to get a small boat, which
lay keel upward her deck free from the eutangled
rigging, and launch it, 1t was only after working
with viii that we were enabled 10 get 1t over the
side and, jumping in as best We could, we pulled
away from the brig toward the steamer, but we
dare not approach too near for fear of being drawn
in the vortex, but shouted for them to jump, and
we would try and pick them up


1t was too late. One awful scream. one crv Of
agony-such as pray 1 may never hear agaln-as
she plunged to the bottom; and Of all those cabin
passengers alone was left. The waters met aud
closed over her peacefully and calmly as if moth
ing had occurred, and nearly sixty souls men,
women and children, were in eternity


The day had fairly broken row. and with the
new light we seemed tc have new hope. Firding
that the brig, which had drined some way of. was
still floating we steered FOR her, and e;amberng up
threw ourselves upon tne deck worn out and ex-





man could have saved himself SC utterly were we
used up.


But help was near at hand. We had discovered,
while in the boat the masts and spars of ship
looming up on the horizon, and now she was In
plain sight. We hoisted our flag as being in dis
tress and shouted and almost cried with JOY as we
saw her return the signal, and then come bearing
down toward us. AS she passed where the steamer
sank she put out her boats and picked up two steer
age passengers, and then came to us. She proved
to he the King bound TO the coast Of Afdca from
Norway. Her Captain, bluff old sailor, but
kind-hearted man. after a consultation with the
Captain Of our brig, told him he would help him
into the nearest port, which Leghorn, or as he
called it, Lirerno. Our vessel, although severely
damaged, would still float, for being, as sailors have
it, only In ballast, viz, having cargo we were en-
abled by constant pumping to keep the water out
until had stuffed the rent full Of old cordage
sails &c, and nailed large lot of canvas over the
side.


The Captain of the King had also picked up the
Captain of the steamer and his crew in the boat
which they had taken so basely, and, being rather
short of provisions, with so many more thrown on
his hands, all that could had to remain the brig.


We found by observation that we were about 100
miles from Leghorn, and so turned our prows in
that directions but now, one of those calms fre
quent in this set in, and It only after three
days and nights increasing labor at the pumps that
we reached the port The ship, meanwhile, kept
close by US, and at night our lamps answered each
others welcome light, while the deek-watches Of
the two vessels sent the water the joyful cry
of "All's WELL" was quite used up and unfit for
duty after the second day. for my feet were purple
and swollen, and my left wrist sprained from my
jump, but it was not until cramps set in that gave
up taking my turn at the pumps, for there was
many poor fellow worse than l.


The moment we arrived the news spread like fire,
and soon a crowd of many hundreds were about US
asking questions and pressing upon our acceptance
food and money, and in fact, like many others Of
our species, needed both, for a more sorry look
ing crowd it would be hard to find Our wardrobes
were made up of the odds and ends belonging to
the Captains of the two vessels, and was anything
but comfortable, but we little thought Of that, for
life had been spared us, while so many had met a
watery grave OF my journey to Rome, and the re-
eeption received there, Twill not speak-sufHee it
to say that a more kind-hearted people than the
Italians or ones more ready to help those in actual
Distress do not live made statement Of the af-
fair before the American Consul at Leghorn, and
have since learned that the Captain of the Alberto
ei is serving out term of eighteen years in the Gov
ernment Prison for not having his lights out, and
cowardice in leaving bis vessel.


Nearly two years have now passed since that
night, but yet see those pale faces, aud hear
the shreks as they sank. 1t will cling to me while
l exist for am sure l can never forget while mem
ory lasts-my leap for life. Fl. J. b.