The morning is beautiful, quite warm and perfietly calm. Captain Eldridge came on board early this morning, and gave quite an interesting account of his adventures last night it appears that he had reached the City, accomplished his business, and was ready to return by 5 P.M . So he engaged a Row Boat, and set out for the Ship expecting to reach her somtime in the evening. The Sun had Set and the evening Shades were Slowly enveloping Surrounding objects as they Slowly approached Statten Island’s Shores, when a Squall Suddenly overtook them and the wind blew with Such violence that they were obliged to land, and it was not till 12 Oclock at night that they dare again venture upon the Bay and then it was so dark that the position of the Ship could only be guessed at. with that “Yankee Compass” to guide them they pulled and rowed and pulled again, till all became very much fatigued, when one of the party Siting in the Bow of the Boat peering through the thick darkness espied a long low black object, which he Soon Satisfied himself was a Ship, and of course it could be no other than the Salem, (So they thought). To board her was the work of but a moment, when to their Surprise they found they had got on the wrong Ship and therfore were obliged to betake themselves to their Oars again, though nearly tired out already. from their on account the next two hours were Spent prospecting the Bay for Several miles around, but at last run ashore. Several miles South of the Ship. They were now very cold and resolved instead of trying any longer to find the Ship that they would Set out in Search of a House. this they Soon accomplished, but on arousing the inmates, they were refused admittance by an old Man who ran his head out of a window, and declaired he would Shoot them if they did not leave imediately. they intreated the Old Man to let them in that they might Shelter themselves from the cold, and I expect a little drop of Something inwardly to warm their Stomachs.
but the Old Man evidently took them to be filebusters, and would not listen to the Straglers. So they were obliged to return to their Boat and wait on the Beach, till daylight, when they discovered their Ship, and were not long finding their way to her. I think all of the party had got pretty well “sobered” by their nights toil and fatigue .
11 A M. The Steam Tugg Santee appears in the distance Steering up the Bay toward us.
A light Breeze Springing up from the South East, the Association resolved to employ the Steamer to tow us out to Sea.
Our Captain therfore hailed her when near enough, and we were Soon lashed together. Our Anchor hoisted from the mud of New York Bay bottom, and in the course of an hour we were floating upon the broad bosom of the Atlantic .
2-1/2 Oclock P M, quite a Serious acident has just occured to one of the Crew, while engaged with others of the Crew hoisting the Main Topsail, a large Chain, called the “tie” parted and fell upon his head, while Standing in the maintop. the blow was So Severe that, he was Senseless for the remainder of the day but wholey recovered the following day or two. At 3 Oclock P M .having reached a distance considerabley out side of the “lightship” and all our Sails being unfurled to the breeze, the Pilots Bill and the Steamers Bill was paid and the latter Ordered to cast off her lines which She did with three hearty Cheers, which were as heartiley returned by those on Shipboard.
Many letters were Sent to the City by the Steamer, Wrote to Cousin Emely Halsey
As evening draws near the Land grows dim in the distance, the land of our Farthers the Land of the free, and the Home of the brave, will Soon be hid from our tearful Eyes behind the dark blue waters of the Great Atlantic Ocean, and as the Sun went down to add gloom to the already dreary prospect, and night with her dark drapery closed inn around us and Shut from our vision all Surrounding Objects, Our hearts became very Sad and lonely and we found ourselves asking our own hearts, the question When Shall we again See our much loved “home” and all those dear ones whose names are associated with that Sweet word “Home” the onley answer was an internal conviction that it Might be “Never”.
Many tears were Shead this evening, and all were glad to retire earley, to their Several “Bunks” and Strive to forget all they had left behind in the arms of Morpheus.