The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-11-16


some minutes, until the agitated surface
of the water was s.illed, it would have
been perfect madness and those min
utes were fatal to several. There was
one person, apparently an interesting
female, with short dark hair, and appar-
emily purple pelisse, who was uncoth-
monty buoyant. said to her, Take
hold of that piece of timber, and il will
save your lite." She heard me, and
clasped in her hand a mere chip. Some
one threw in an umbrella to her. but
she was too far gone TO reach il.
rushed to the other end of the basin, and
urged ii boat 10 come, and they wanted
no persuasion. As it passed the wharf |
Jumped into it, and pointed out the spot
where | had one moment before left
this female. was gone, but we
had the satisfaction to save an old man,
who was lifted ashore; and again we
proceeded TO the work Of mercy. The
female rose again, think from the
buoyancy of her clothes, and WAS rescu-
ed by the iutrepidity of two individuals,
whose names deserve TO be recorded a.
mongs; the most valuable members Of
society. One was Lieutenant in the
Navy, and the other a young man in
coloured clothes, who have ascertain
ed is a tailor of the name of Seagrove.
The Lieutenant { Purvis, with a cool
ness peculiar TO his profession, jumped
into the water and got hold of this fe-
male, who was still sufficiently conscious
TO lay hold of him, and 10 hold him with
firm grasp, aud it seemed extremely
doubtful whether or not both would
not have sunk together. He kept her
off from him, but still supported her for
long time, when Seagrove jumped in
TO the basin to his rescue, and effected
the safety of both, by conveying rope
across piece of timber. and all were
brought TO shore; and the female, un-
derstand, was restored. have heard
her name, but will not give it, lest il
should be mistaken. Whoever she is,
she owes her life 10 these two; and tits
difficult TO say which is most deserving
of praise.
In the bitterness of my mind, | went
with fear and trembling in search of my
own family, eight of whom had reason
TO believe must have been near the
spot at the moment of the disaster, and
one of whom had crossed the bridge a
minute before. 1t was near three-quar-
tiers of an hour before | found them, and
never shall forget the anguish of that
hour.
BY the most persevering activity,
the bodies of seven dead persons we're
taken to the Dock-yard Surgery in less
than half an hour, and six persons were
conveyed there who had been rescued
from the dock with bruises only. Not
one Of the inanimate persons presented
the least appearance Of mere suspended
animaiion, but they all had evidently
been killed by violent bruises, from con-
cussion among the wreck of the dock
gates, or against the sides of the dock.
In the course Of the night eight bodies
more were grappled OPP and on the fol-
lowing afternoon another was discover
ed, having hoated out of the dock into
the basin. 1t must be gratefully &C.
knowledged, that, under all the circum-
stances, as an affecting Providential oc-
currence, it has been attended with a
smaller comparative portion of human
woe than any could venture TO hope.
Had the accident occurred in the work.
ing hours Of any one day in the preced-
ing week, not less than three hundred
human beings would, most likely, have
been the victims, and upwards of one
thousand children Git is accurately as
certained) have been fatheriess. More
than this number of men were at work
in the dock. Habit occurred an hour
sooner than it did, nearly one hundred
workmen would have probably perish
ed.-They had happily completed their
work il getting the dock ready. and
had gone to be spectators the launch.
LongeUity.--The Oldest man in Essex
County is Pompey Lovejoy, Of Andoyer,
now aged Gil years the wife of his po-
som and partner Of his cares and Joys is
also living, aged XCIlL They are at
tended in their family by two unmarried
nieces, one aged LXXVIII, and the
other L: though these maidens have
thus passed beyond the age of sweet one
and-tweniy, still il is certain that the ro-
ses on their cheeks have not given place
10 the lilies. Pompey is native Of
Massachusetts. Salem Gazette.
An Irishman, comparing his watch
with the clock upon st. Paul's church,
burst into fit of laughter. Being ask