402 LOSS OF THE PRESIDENT. 
to expect, ere long, the same end ; for many times tliey lay 
down at night, with their tongues swollen and their lips parch- 
ed with thirst, scarcely hoping to see the morning sun ; and 
it is impossible to form an- idea of their feelings when the 
morning dawned, and they found their prayers had been heard 
and answered by a providential supply of rain. 
In this state they continued till the Sth of April following, 
On the morning of that day they were in the woods as usual, 
searching for food and water as well as their weakness per- 
mitted, when their attention was aroused by a sound which 
they thought was distant thunder ; but looking toward the 
sea, they saw a ship in the offing, which had just fired a gun. 
Their joy at this sight may be more easily imagined than de- 
scribed; they immediately fell on their knees and thanked 
God for his goodness in thus sending deliverance when least 
expected ; then hastening to the shore, they saw a boat com- 
ing toward them. As the boat could not approach the shore 
without great danger, the mate, being a good swimmer, and 
stronger than his companions, plunged into the sea, and pro- 
videntially escaped a watery grave at the moment when deli- 
verance was at hand. His companions crawled out farther on 
the rocks, and by the great exertions of the crew, were taken 
into the boat, and soon found themselves on board the Surrey, 
commanded by Captain Raine, by whom they were treated in 
the kindest manner, and their health and strength were 
speedily restored. 
WRECK OF THE SHIP PRESIDENT, 
CHARLESTON LINE PACKET. 
The wreck of the ship President, Captain Wilson, on the 
east bank of the Romer breakers, on Sunday night, December 
4th, 1831, was accompanied with circumstances truly of an 
appalling nature. The wind had been, and was blowing vio- 
lently from the north-west, and although every precautioh 
was used by the pilot (who was taken on board in the after- 
noon) to get a sure and safe anchorage, the violence of the 
tempest increased to that degree by three o'clock on Monday 
morning, that she drifted with two anchors for some distance, 
and then first struck. The night was remarkably cold and 
