For several hours previous, the gale had been sensibly abating; and, for a moment, the pale moon broke through the dispersing clouds, as if to witness this scene of terror and destruction, and to show the horror-stricken victims the fate that awaited them. How few were now left, of the many who, but a little before, inhabited our bark! While the moon yet shone, three men were seen to rush from the middle of the stern of the boat. A wave came rushing on. It passed over the deck. One only, of the three, was left. He attempted to regain his former position. Another wave came. He had barely time to reach a large timber, to which he clung, when this wave struck him,—and he too was missing. As the wave passed away, the heads of two of these men were seen above the water; but they appeared to make no effort to swim. The probability is, that the violence with which they were hurled into the sea disabled them. They sunk, to rise no more. During this time, Mr. Lovegreen, of Charleston, continued to ring the boat's bell, which added, if possible to the gloom. It sounded, indeed, like the funeral knell over the departed dead. Never before, perhaps, was a bell tolled at such a funeral as this. While in this situation, and reflecting on the necessity of being always prepared for the realities of eternity, our attention was arrested by the appearance of a lady, climbing up on the outside of the boat, abaft the wheel near where we were. Her head was barely above the deck, on which we stood, and she was holding to it, in a most perilous manner. She implored help; without which she must soon have fallen into the deep beneath, and shared the fate of the many who had already gone. The writer ran to her aid, but was unable to raise her to the deck. Mr. Woodburn, of New-York, now came, and, with his assistance, the lady was rescued: she was then lashed to a large piece of timber, by the side of another lady, the only remaining place that afforded any prospect of safety. The former lady (Mrs. Shroeder,) was washed ashore, on this piece of the wreck, one of the two who survived. The writer having relinquished to this lady the place he had occupied, was compelled to get upon a large piece of the boat, that lay near, under the lee of the wheel: this was almost immediately driven from its place into the breakers, which instantly swept him from it, and plunged him deep into the water. With some difficulty he regained his raft. He continued to cling to this fragment, as well as he could; but was repeatedly washed from it. Sometimes, when plunged deep into the water, he came up under it. After encountering all the difficulties that seemed possible to be borne, he was, at length, thrown on shore, in an exhausted state. At the time the writer was driven from the boat, there were but few left. 17-VOL. V. Of these four survived, viz., Mrs. Shroeder, and Mr. Lovegreen, of Charleston; Mr. Cohen, of Columbia, and Mr. Vanderzee, of New-York. On reaching the beach, there was no appearance of inhabitants but, after wandering some distance, a light was discovered, which proved to be from Ocracock light-house,-about six miles south-west of the place where the boat was wrecked. The inhabitants of the island, generally, treated us with great kindness; and, as far as their circumstances would allow, assisted in properly disposing of the numerous bodies thrown upon the shore. The survivors, after remaining on the island till Thursday afternoon, separated,-some returning to New-York, others proceeding on to Charleston. Acknowledgment is due to the inhabitants of Washington, Newbern and Wilmington, as well as of other places through which we passed, for the kind hospitality we received, and the generous offers made to us. Long will these favors be greatfully remembered by the survivors of the unfortunate HOME." Madame La Coste, Charleston, S. C. | Mr. J. Holmes, Mrs. Shroeder, Mr. H. Vanderzee, Mr. H. Anderson, Of the Crew, there were in all forty-three, including the Captain, two Mates, the Chief Engineer, &c.: of these, the Captain, and nineteen of the boat's company alone were saved. The names of the crew not known. |