Thursday 14 July 2011

Singular Love Affair

Perhaps it is time for something slightly more joy-filled. This story was posted in The Times on October 22, 1838. It tells of a shipwreck, but the story itself is about a romance that began among the wreckage. So here is a love story, since"...it would seem that love, thus borne upon the bosom of the deep, cradled by the ocean wave, and refined under the fierce beams of an almost vertical sun, is, after all, the very thing."

The Times, Monday, Oct 22, 1838; pg. 6; Issue 16866; col F

It reads: SINGULAR LOVE AFFAIR - The Delaware Gazette tells a good story of two persons saved from the wreck of the Pulaski, which we will endeavour to repeat in a few words.
Among the passengers was Mr. Ridge, a young man of wealth and standing, from New Orleans, who, being a stranger to all on board and feeling quite as much interest in his own safety as in that of any other person, was, in the midst of the confusion which followed the dreadful catastrophe, about helping himself to a place in one of the boats, when a young lady who had frequently elicited his admiration during the voyage, but with whom he was totally unacquainted, attracted his attention, and he immediately stepped forward to offer his services, and to assist her on board the boat; but in his generous attempt not only lost sight of the young lady, but also lost his place in the boat. Afterwards, when he discovered that the part of the wreck on which he floated would soon go down, he cast about for the means of preservation, and, lashing together a couple of settees and an empty cask, he sprang in and launched himself upon the wide ocean.
His vessel proved better than he expected, and amidst the shrieks, groans, and death struggles which were everywhere uttered around him, he began to feel that his lot was fortunate, and was consoling himself upon his escape, such as it was, when a person struggling in the waves very near him caught his eye. It was a woman, and, without taking a second thought, he plunged into the water, and brought her safely to his little raft, which was barely sufficient to keep their heads and shoulders above water. She was the same young lady for whom he had lost his chance in the boat, and for a while he felt pleased at having effected her rescue, but a moment’s reflection convinced him that her rescue was not rescue, and unless he could find some more substantial vessel both must perish.
Under these circumstances he proposed making an effort to get his companion into one of the boats which was still hovering near the wreck, but the proposition offered so little chance of success that she declined, expressing her willingness at the same time to take her chance with him either for life or death. Fortunately they drifted upon a part of the wreck, which furnished them with materials for strengthening their vessel, and which were turned to such good account that they soon sat upon a float sufficiently buoyant to keep them above water, and when the morning dawned they found themselves upon the broad surface of the “vasty deep,” without land, or sail, or human being in sight, without a morsel to eat or drink, almost without covering and exposed to the burning heat of a tropical sun.
In the course of the next day they came in sight of land and for a time had strong hopes of reaching it, but during the succeeding night the wind drove them back upon the ocean. On the third day a sail was seen in the distance, but they had no means of making themselves discovered. They were at length, however, picked up by a vessel, after several days of intense suffering, starved and exhausted, but still in possession of all their faculties, which it seems had been employed to some purpose during their solitary and dangerous voyage.
We have heard of love in a cottage – love in the deep green woods – nay, even of love on the wild unfurrowed prairie; but love upon a plank, in the midst of old ocean, with a dozen frightful deaths in view, is still more uncommon. And yet it would seem that love, thus borne upon the bosom of the deep, cradled by the ocean wave, and refined under the fierce beams of an almost vertical sun, is, after all, the very thing. There is about it the true spice of romance – the doubts, the hopes, the difficulties – ay, and the deaths too, to say nothing of the sighs and tears. Mr. Ridge must, therefore, be acknowledged as the most romantic of lovers, for, there, upon the “deep, deep sea,” he breathed his precocious passion, mingled his sighs with the breath of old ocean, and vowed eternal affection. Women are the best creatures in the world, and it is not to be expected Miss Onslow (such was the lady’s name) could resist the substantial evidences of affection which her companion had given, and accordingly they entered in an “alliance offensive and defensive,” as the statesmen say, which has since been renewed upon terra firma, and is ere long to be signed and sealed.
On reaching shore and recovering somewhat from the effects of the voyage, Mr. Ridge, thinking that perhaps his lady love had entered into the engagement without proper consideration, and that the sight of land and of old friends might have caused her to change her views, waited on her and informed her, that if such was the case, he would not hesitated to release her from the engagement, and added further, that he had lost his all by the wreck of the Pulaski, and would henceforth be entirely dependent on his own exertions for his subsistence. The lady was much affected, and, bursting into tears, assured him that her affection was unchangeable, and as to fortune, she was happy to say she had enough for both. She is said to be worth $200,000. – American paper.

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