Page:Loss of the steam-ship Orion.pdf/5

5 Mr Merrilees of Liverpool had a little child about 9 months old in her arms. When she was overpowered with the waters, she sunk and on rising to the surface her baby was dead, and floated away out of her arms. The mother was saved, and when she recovered herself so far as to recollect her loss, she was bewailing her sad bereavement, when the body of the little innocent was brought into the house. Mr Tait, baker of this city, swam on shore with his little boy on his back most of the way, and both were saved. The Rev. Mr Peughe, the Episcopal clergyman of Paisley, had a little child on board, about twelve years of age, which was given in charge to the stewardess. After the alarm was given, she proceeded to dress her little charge, and took her on deck, the poor little child exclaiming, “I know you will not leave me.” “No, no, I never will,” exclaimed the noble woman; but, alas, heroism availed them not. The remorseless surge claimed them as its own.”

One of the most providential of the numerous miraculous escapes which occurred was made by a lady, who, for about three-quarters of an hour, hung on by a rope attached to the rigging till she was ultimately received on board one of the boats in a state of great exhaustion. The folowing is the statement she makes:—

Shortly before the vessel struck, she was on the main deck, and she was perfectly satisfied that, at the time, there was no appearance of any fog. Immediately after the rock was struck, she ran down to the cabin and found the ladies leaping from their beds in a state of the greatest consternation. She had, at a previous period of the evening, advised those with whom she had occasion to be brought into contact, not to undress on retiring, but, in the great majority of instances, her advice