"It was wonderful how calm every one seemed at the time of that terrible crash. There was no panic, but the peculiar wailing of the poor Sardinians rings in my ears still, and the groans of those sufferers. Silence must be cast over the scenes of that sad day.
"If I thought of anything at the time of the accident, it was of Miss Macpherson's Bible, and I know her thought was for me and the children. It was most sweet at the time to see the way people thought of others more than of themselves; there were many little acts of kindness done then which will never be forgotten.
"Miss Macpherson said to me as we were starting on Thursday, 'I think this is going to be a most unusual voyage. I have never had such sweet dismissals before.'
"I did so feel as I stood round those poor sufferers. Why was I spared? All in the same ship, all exposed to the same peril, and yet we are untouched, and what are we better than they? We can only bow low before our loving Father with 'What can I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me?'.. I managed to get to the infirmary, where I paid a very interesting visit…. The third officer is so terribly hurt, quite unrecognisable."
On her return from Derry, whither she had hastened to give help to the sufferers, Mrs. Merry gave a thrilling account of how the waters had not been suffered to pass over them, nor the flame permitted to kindle upon them; and told how nobly that brave seaman and man of God, Captain Dutton, had acted; how he had instantly summoned all hands to his help in seeing to the safety of the children, so that in less than three minutes by the watch, after the shock, the whole of the forty little tones were around Miss Macpherson, having no more hurt upon them (with one exception) than a little singed hair and a few blisters.
Not only were their lives spared—they were not even called upon to "take joyfully the spoiling if their goods," for not one box or parcel either of clothing or gospel, tracts and books was lost or injured. The "Peruvian" was sent from Liverpool to take, the place of the "Sardinian," and the rest of the voyage was accomplished in safety.
When nearing Cape Race Miss Macpherson writes:—
"Many a touching scene have we witnessed. A company of between twenty and thirty Swiss Christians, with their evangelist, guided by a lady, to form a little colony in Canada, when passing through Liverpool, had spent all their evenings at the 'Sailors Rest,' so we, being I one in the eternal bond, sang together the same hymns, though in different languages, the first evening we sailed out. To see them drying their Bibles and hymn-books, all the covers gone, oh! it made me weep. How very precious those mutilated books were to them now! One dear German Christian showed me his Bible, and I was told the two front blotted pages were written by a dying mother's hand. Another young German, when he found his Bible was safe, forgot all else, and danced about with the most touching joy, but then he knew not where to put his treasure for safety and to get it pressed. Although I understood not his language, and no one was at hand to interpret, I put out my hand to help him; he took one long look into my face, and with a smile gave me his precious book. Five days after we met again, and he held out his hands, exclaiming 'Bibel!'
"You heard how very promptly the Deny Christians acted for the poor emigrants. Every minister intimated the need in his church, and the response was made before nine o'clock on the Monday morning. Cartloads of clothing were sent in and distributed among the emigrants, so that as far as covering for the present goes, all have been liberally helped to go on their way.
"Sunday.—A day of lovely sunshine, all on deck enjoying the warmth. The foreigners quietly reading their mutilated books; but—oh, how sad to see!—with the English emigrants it is beer—beer—beer—taking with them to the new land habits that will tell ill for them wherever they go.