The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-06-04 00:00:00

Hißoic reiwirrnitoey.

oinho Maynard was an hottest hardy pilot, who plied
his 04:41•Mti00 on the lake steentiors. He was sia
upright atmightforward man,. good father of happy
children, and his .if. loved and reverenced the hesui
that was in him, for she knew, and many knew that it
ea, as tender as it was brave and mealy. On Lakellrie
he skied at the wheel of the great two-story ste
and hundreds who bad watched his earefull eye an
eteady hand, and heard his calm voice when the sadden
etorma name down, felt that whatever any man Gould
know or do for the safety of a ship mantling with the
waves, John Maynard knew and mold do. He had
made hie reputation ea a pilot by many years of +Ma
and ward at the wheel. Thomands who had made a
voyage with him, when the dorm was on in its quick.
raiaed fury, maid tell, sad did tell, how John bone
himself in those hears of fear and danger.
Bat one summer day mese after slime yews of sailor.
chip, whew be was to show the Went forme of hie imam
nature to the full. He was Mending at his past that
afternoon on the passage from Detroit to Buffalo, wkee
a thin stream of smoke was men amending from balow.
..simpeon, go down and see what that smoke is," "add
the captein, in a quiet yoke, to one of the deok-handa.
He spoke in his ordinary tone, so aa not to betray a
sense of the danger to any of the bystanders knowing
what a panic the least manic:ion of ere would esase
errong the passengers. The MILD went down, and in
leas then a initiate he re-appoints' with red eyes and
face as pale aa ashes. "Captain, the ship is on
Ore !"

--That terrible word ran She lightning from deck
to deck, and from cabin to cabin, in a breath of time
dee hundred men, ',rumen, and ehildren were ig agony
of terror, some half•paralyed end dumb with mortal
fear, others shrieking in the fees of the awful death
before them. "Head her to the land @hooted the
captain. "Ay, ay, sir r came John's steady em..front the wheel. " Where away r Seven miles south•
east by east, sir." "What is the shortest you oan do
It?" "Three quarters of an hour, sir, at this rata."
"Engineer, put on every mines of atom she will beer!"
All these quick ineetions and commands were crowded
into a aninuVea space. The burning seasoner headed to
the land. BeeiT man and boy, and every woman too,
who could lift • pail, worked as with life's last desperate
whence in the effort to keep down the dames. And the
bravest mist well he appalled at the impending fate.
There were no boats slung to the steamer's side by whisk
• soul could recaps. Note life-preserver was on board
to aid a swimmer for life. They bad not yet been heard
of. The wooden vessel was as dry as • tinder, from
the summer sun. Over and shove all, as if to make
their destruction quick and sure, mcfeh of the lading
between decks wee resin and tar. This was reached
in a few minutes by the lapping tongue. of demo and
now the whole ship aft from the forward deck was ,
enveloped in pitchy smoke, dapped by the long red
wings of the eseending Ore. Crowded at the bows the '
rmoki-Alineled multitude crouched in utter despair.
Near them stood the captain, readied how many lives
most go down in death in a few minutes if they aould
not roach land in that epees. And at his poet,
invisible in the tarvinnoke, stood John Maynard, with
the very spokes of his wheel on ere, and the tiller ehaln
at bl.eic beat At this awful coomeat the lend appeared
at lees than half a mile sway. "John Maynard r
ihouted the captain through his trumpet. "Ay, ay,
sir" came John's voice thick and ehMerd through the
roar and actink•ol the towering dame.. "Can you bold
on five 'Monte* longer. John?" "He God's help I will."
Ilia hair eras scorched from the bealp. His eyelashes
were burst away, and his face began to blister against
the waves of dame beating against him.
G•oi hand was burnt to crisp. He had a home
too, and wife and children he loved with • love as pure
and strong as the rich. st man in the crowd at the boos
felt for his. But with one band left him be held to
the wheel. "Two =instal more Jobs!" "One
minute more, God bless you, John!" At the end of that
minute the blazing steamer struck its forefoot upon the
beach, and the whole multitude stood the next minute
upon it praising God and rejoicing with joy they eoald
not utter at stiehd•liveranee from a moat terrible death.
But before their feet alighted on the baba, the
burning wheel-house, with the blackened and lalistered
form of Jel.n Maynard, fell with a crash through the
charred treks into the hold of red ritie.—Ths Mirka's
cf Grua Saleriougs, by Blau lzarrtit