Mr. Peter Blair, quartermaster of the Hibernia, has given an
account of the sufferings of the third boat launched from that ill-fated ship strangely pathetic in its simplicity, lie relates how the boat was put off for the Irish coast, some 700 miles distant, laden with fifteen men, ten women, and three children ; how he saw the second boat immediately capsize ; how on the second day a passenger leaped overboard to "look for the missing boot," and on the third another, fretting at some holes in his trousers, went raving mad, and also leaped over ; and day after day some one would for want of fresh water drink salt, and so die delirious ; while one poor old woman, Irish, of course, keptthe women's hearts up by her drolleries, getting them "into a line of conversation." Some one, however, in the boat, let us hope in a delirium of thirst, " stole our one bottle of wine." At last, after eight days' sailing and rowing, the passengers, utterly worn out, all slept, the boat was -struck by a heavy sea and capsized, and all but three being drowned. While these three were sitting on the keel they "heard a voice cry from below, Hallo !" and answered, but could render no assistance,—surely a delusion. The boat was righted by another wave, and the poor fellows reached the coast of Donegal too sore and swelled and exhausted to reach the shore. They were of course kindly tended, and are now convalescent.
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