I had been sitting without any clothing over my shirt; this was tom off, and I was literally skinn'd like a rabbit.
I was, however, well pleased to get out in any way, even without shirt or hide; as before I could straighten myself on the boat next to the raft, the one they pull'd me out of went entirely under, and I have never seen it any more to this day.

We all escaped on to the raft, where we were compelled to sit all night, about a mile from land on either side.

Four of my company were bareheaded, and three barefooted; and of that number I was one.

I reckon I looked like a pretty cracklin ever to get to Congress! "We had now lost all our loading, and every particle of our clothing, except what little we had on; but over all this, while I was sitting there, in the night, floating about on the drift, I felt happier and better off than I ever had in my life before, for I had just made such a marvellous escape, that I had forgot almost everything else in that; and so I felt prime.
"In the morning about sunrise, we saw a boat coming down, and we hailed her.

They sent a large skiff, and took us all on board, and carried us down as far as Memphis.