Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

Distressing Narrative.

The following narrative, from the Philadelphia True American, contains one of the most heart-rending accounts of human misery that we recollect ever to have seen or heard:-

Tuesday last arrived here in the Mercury, Capt. Dolby, from Jamaica, Capt. Ross, late of the schooner Vigilant, of Philadelphia—who relates, that he sailed from Cape Francois the 28th of June, with a cargo of coffee, for this port.—On the night of the 20th, he ran ashore on a sandy key: in the morning Mr. Nixon, Capt. Bradshaw, with one or 2 of the crew, took the boat to go and look for assistance but never returned to the schooner. Capt. Ross, Isaac C. Rogers, and the negro cook, being left on board the wreck, remained in expectation of the return of the boat till Tuesday the 1st of July, when they found the schooner going to pieces: they got together spars, with which they made a raft and put thereon some water and provisions, and left the wreck, in hopes of finding some harbour or place of safety: they had not been one hour from the wreck before their raft upset, which threw them into the sea and deprived them of their stock of provisions and everything but what was on their backs; however, they all three once more got on the raft. On Wednesday night the 2d of July, the negro cook leapt from the raft and was lost: about 2 o'clock on Thursday, the 3d. Mr. Isaac C. Rogers appeared somewhat deranged, about day break next morning leapt into the sea; Capt. Ross sprang after and replaced him on the raft: but, restless and uneasy, in a few minutes he once more threw himself into the water and was seen no more. Thus was Capt. Ross left in the wide ocean, on three spars without victuals or drink, or a friend or companion to console or comfort his drooping spirits. It so happened that he had not long to reflect on his solitary situation, for about 10 o'clock A. M. to his great joy he discovered land; and drifting near it, about 6 o'clock in the evening, fearing he should pass it in the night, stripping himself, left his raft, and swam for land.—where being landed, he set out to search for a drop of fresh water to moisten his tongue, and allay his fever: in vain did he wander from place to place till 10 at night, when, wearied and fatigued, he laid on the sand in hopes of sleep; here again he was disappointed by the hoards of lizards and other vermin, that tormented him. The day broke and found him restless, and gave him no comfort; for he was now convinced he was on a sandy island, without house or shelter, without victuals or drink or a rag to cover him, having left his clothes on the raft where he stripped himself... In this forlorn state he once more set out in search of water, which about sun-down, to his great joy, he discovered; with this he quenched his thirst, and sat him down to look at his forlorn state, when hope, that solace of the distressed, was all that he had left. Here he determined to remain 'till Providence should relieve him in the way it seemed meet. Thus, from the third of July until the 21st did he bear up against his misfortunes, his only food a few land crabs, which he ate raw, and they were so scarce that he could not get more than sufficient to keep him alive: so that he grew daily weaker, 'till the last two days he was obliged to crawl on his hands and knees; and having nothing to shelter him from the rays of the sun, he was blistered, by its heat, from head to foot, and finally the whole of the skin came off, naked, hungry debilitated and sore, hope had almost deserted him, and he only thought he should lay him on the sand and die: when, on the 21st of July to his great joy, he espied a schooner making towards his sandy beach; he with difficulty raised himself and waved a bush, which they perceiving, humanely sent their boat, and in a short time saved him from the jaws of death. He found himself on board the Surveillant, Capt. Rogers, of Barracoa, where he was treated with the greatest kindness and attention, clothed once more and restored to health.