THE CARTEL--CAPTAIN DRING’S NARRATIVE (CONTINUED)
“On his arrival in Providence Captain Aborn had lost no time in making
the details of our sufferings publicly known; and a feeling of deep
commiseration was excited among our fellow citizens. Messrs. Clarke and
Nightingale, the former owners of the Chance, in conjunction with other
gentlemen, expressed their determination to spare no exertion or expense
necessary to procure our liberty. It was found that forty British
prisoners were at that time in Boston. These were immediately procured,
and marched to Providence, where a sloop owned and commanded by a
Captain Gladding of Bristol was chartered, to proceed with the prisoners
forthwith to New York, that they might be exchanged for an equal number
of our crew. Captain Corey was appointed as an Agent to effect the
exchange, and to receive us from the Jersey; and having taken on board
a supply of good provisions and water, he hastened to our relief. He
received much assistance in effecting his object from our townsman,
Mr. John Creed, at that time Deputy Commissary of Prisoners. I do not
recollect the exact day of our deliverance, but think it was early in
the month of October * * * We were obliged to pass near the shore of
Blackwell’s Island, where were several of our crew, who had been sent on
shore among the sick. They had learned that the Cartel had arrived from
Providence for the purpose of redeeming the crew of the Chance, and
expected to be taken on board. Seeing us approaching they had, in order
to cause no delay, prepared for their departure, and stood together on
the shore, with their bundles in their hands; but, to their unutterable
disappointment and dismay, they saw us pass by. We knew them and
bitterly did we lament the necessity of leaving them behind. We
could only wave our hands as we passed; but they could not return the
salutation, and stood as if petrified with horror, like statues fixed
immovably to the earth, until we had vanished from their sight.
“I have since seen and conversed with one of these unfortunate men, who
afterwards made his escape. He informed me that their removal from the
Jersey to the Island was productive of the most beneficial effects upon
their health, and that they had been exulting at the improvement of
their condition; but their terrible disappointment overwhelmed them with
despair. They then considered their fate inevitable, believing that in a
few days they must again be conveyed on board the hulk; there to undergo
all the agonies of a second death. * * * Several of our crew were sick
when we entered the Cartel, and the sudden change of air and diet caused
some new cases of fever. One of our number, thus seized by the fever,
was a young man named Bicknell of Barrington, R. I. He was unwell when
we left the Jersey, and his symptoms indicated the approaching fever;
and when we entered Narragansett Bay, he was apparently dying. Being
informed that we were in the Bay he begged to be taken on deck, or at
least to the hatchway, that he might look once more upon his native
land. He said that he was sensible of his condition; that the hand of
death was upon him; but that he was consoled by the thought that he
should be decently interred, and be suffered to rest among his friends
and kindred. I was astonished at the degree of resignation and composure
with which he spoke. He pointed to his father’s house, as we approached
it, and said it contained all that was dear to him upon earth. He
requested to be put on shore.
“Our Captain was intimately acquainted with the family of the sufferer;
and as the wind was light we dropped our anchor, and complied with his
request. He was placed in the boat, where I took a seat by his side; in
order to support him; and, with two boys at the oars, we left the
sloop. In a few minutes his strength began rapidly to fail. He laid his
fainting head upon my shoulder, and said he was going to the shore to
be buried with his ancestors; that this had long been his ardent desire,
and that God had heard his prayers. No sooner had we touched the shore
than one of the boys was sent to inform his family of the event. They
hastened to the boat to receive their long lost son and brother, but we
could only give them his yet warm and lifeless corpse.”
OUR ARRIVAL HOME
“After remaining a few moments with the friends of our deceased comrade
we returned to the sloop and proceeded up the river. It was about
eight o’clock in the evening when we reached Providence. There were no
quarantine regulations to detain us; but, as the yellow fever was raging
among us, we took the precaution to anchor in the middle of the stream.
It was a beautiful moonlit evening, and the intelligence of our arrival
having spread through the town, the nearest wharf was in a short time
crowded with people drawn together by curiosity, and a desire for
information relative to the fate of their friends and connections.
“Continual inquiries were made from the anxious crowd on the land
respecting the condition of several different individuals on board. At
length the information was given that some of our number were below,
sick with the yellow fever. No sooner was this fact announced than
the wharf was totally deserted, and in a few moments not a human being
remained in sight. The Old Jersey fever as it was called, was well known
throughout the whole country. All were acquainted with its terrible
effects; and it was shunned as if its presence were certain destruction.
“After the departure of the crowd, the sloop was brought alongside the
wharf, and every one who could walk immediately sprang on shore. So
great was the dread of the pestilence, and so squalid and emaciated were
the figures which we presented, that those among us whose families did
not reside in Providence found it almost impossible to gain admittance
into any dwelling. There being at that time no hospital in or near the
town, and no preparations having been made for the reception of the
sick, they were abandoned for that night. They were, however, supplied
in a few hours with many small articles necessary for their immediate
comfort, by the humane people in the vicinity of the wharf. The friends
of the sick who belonged in the vicinity of the town were immediately
informed of our arrival, and in the course of the following day these
were removed from the vessel. For the remainder of the sufferers ample
provision was made through the generous exertions of Messrs. Clarke and
Nightingale.
“Solemn indeed are the reflections which crowd upon my mind as I review
the events which are here recorded. Forty-two years have passed away
since this remnant of our ill-fated crew were thus liberated from their
wasting captivity. In that time what changes have taken place! Of their
whole number but three are now alive. James Pitcher, Dr. Joseph Bowen,
and myself, are the sole survivors. Of the officers I alone remain.”