A SAD STORY OF THE SEA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1373, 23 December 1872, Page 4

A SAD STORY OF THE SEA.

On the 20th of November last, the brig Wasp, Captain O. Talbot, and a crew of 11 men, left Montreal with a cargo of wheat for Antwerp. On the 28th of November they approached the Magdalen Islands, butas therweathdr was thick and - the snow falling fast it was deemed prudent to heave the vessel to, and wait until the weather cleared up before the islands were passed. As Boon as she came up to the wind, she began to lie over on her broadside to starboard. She then shipped a couple of heavy seas, which sent the lee rail under water, and the crew thought she would capsize. They then wore her round on the other tack, when, after some time, she righted, but turned over on her side until the port side was under water. This was caused by the cargo shifting from one side to the other. Expecting every moment that the vessel would go down, the yards were squared and the brig ran before the wind for the Magdalen Islands, as the captain said she could not keep afloat in the state she was, being on her beam ends. The sea at the time was very heavy, the wind blowing a gale from the north, with a heavy snowstorm. About four o'clock the vessel struck . the ground heavily on the north-west beach of Grindstone Island, one of the Magdalen group. The masts were then cut away, and she began to break up in pieces. At 9 p.m. the main deck was carried away by the sea. The remainder of this sad story is told by the chief officer, Mr Labonrdias, the only survivor : — " I then cried out to the captain and remainder of the crew, who were all aft except myself, ' If anybody is on board answer me,' but received no answer. I then knew they were all washed overboard. I was at this time fastened to the cathead, where I was more, secure from the sea, which was breaking over the wreck, and knocking it to pieces very fast. I was on the cathead all night, and on Wednesday, November 29, the wreck was driven farther inshore, when the sea became less, but the weather was very cold, with snow and ice. During the day I managed to get aft on a piece of tne port side of the wreck. I now found all the cargo was washed out, and the vessel broken to pieces. Seeing no hope left for me, and that I should certainly perish by the sea or by frost and | hunger if I remained where I was, it being at the time five degrees below zero. On Wednesday night I got to a piece of the poop, and threw myself into the sea upon it. I was washed ashore on the beach, amongst wreckage and ice. I was very exhausted from cold and hunger, being nearly naked, having nothing on my head, and covered with ice. I managed to crawl up on the beach, | and found shelter in an old hut. Next day I wentout to endeavor to find some human habitation, but did not succeed. I then found that my feet were badly frozen, and tried to get my boots off, but could not, as they were [frozen to my feet. I remained on the beach until December 3rd, without food or fire, when I saw smoke coming out of a hut about half a mile distant. I managed to crawl towards it, and found some persons who had come from another island, and were not aware until then of the wreck. I was taken at once on a ' sled 'to a house about eight miles distant from the wreck, and afterwards taken charge of by Mr J. J. Fox, Her Majesty's Collector of Customs, and cared for by having everything done for me that my distressed condition required, but unfortunately, I have lost both my feet by the frost, and my bodily health is much impaired."

Don't take too much interest in the affairs of your neighbors, Six per cent, will do. •