Page:Loss of the steam-ship Orion.pdf/2

2 remained in bed, although all the other passengers in the cabin started at once to their feet, and rushed on deck. After a very brief interval, one of my neighbours returned, and began to dress. I then apprehended danger, and jumped out of bed, and drawing on my trousers went on deck, calling at the ladies’ cabin in passing, to tell my wife that she had better get up and dress, although there might not be any immediate danger.

“On getting to the quarter-deck, I found a large number of the passengers assembled. The vessel by this time had settled somewhat by the head, and was lurching over a little to starboard —that is, towards the land.

“My wife and I now wentn o deck, and as the vessel was dipping deeper and deeper into the water, I calmly told her that I feared there was little hope, but that we would use every effort to save ourselves.

“By this time the water was over the bulwarks at the bow, and the heel of the deck was becoming greater and greater. I then feared that all was over, and clasping my wife to my breast, we both felt resigned to our fate.

“We then proceeded, at my wife’s suggestion, to the stern of the vessel at the larboard side, and as the inclination of the deck became so great as to prevent our standing, I laid hold of one of the belaying pins, and placing my wife between my breast and the bulwark, I held on.

“A lady at this moment got hold of my wife’s

ened at the throat,