Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-15
from Tae Mse York am,,;.,.,


plosion Of the steam Frigat.. wh;,s s' /. e.
such gloom over our city, the mind sr .I 'aS
most in vain for single inciden, unon seeks Ks! a.
to dwell with complacency. We srs t., winch
one scene OF black, unqualified dsss,. u SGi
shattered wreck, the only remnsa, a'.0n-a
once was the pride of human i,c.rn; -. ShI
dies mangled, bloody, sundered. and " ~! Do
sole Sestiges Of the manly Iorms wh;.s
few momehls before thought. and m.' ol's
acted-ths noblest work Of D;v;nS ahs
genee; mother refusing TO recognize n, ' mt
ened and distorted features Of her ,,n ~ O'sI 8.
departing frantic from the corpse Of h., 'ss
band "a detail 10 DISCUS, scene IL ;,. "es
horror. Even the exrrlicns Of III. m'p"s
commander and his officers, however ,.,'' s'
rendered, we look on but as mere ob.d;sae4
duty, or, at best, TO the syrnpa,hise. Of oSs',
humanity yet, WIS there no, waplro nD' y:
stance Of stern and unmoved callrapr, y, ~
IRENE suffering, worthy Of all aGmira,,o,I = 81
Those who have visited the scene Of d;s,r,.
familiar with ifs details, know that. Of the s,r ls
killed and wounded, a few were drive n;a,..NS
the conclusion itself, whilst greater m,mt"hr
crushed beneath the descending fragment q,
and spars. Among the sufferers from III. w.. uth
was Midshipman Eckford. He was ,,,n,rrs enr
gangway with the boatswain; and, BY ,;ny'S .s he
ty, this man-haply good fellow, bot who H.. ha'
old sailors, would, may be, have liked po,hinn m
than wooden leg, pension, and some on. "a NV
with the story OF his adventures charging h, mna
non 10 tne last war; as ms memory grew defec,,.N
sustained no INJURY, whilst young Eckford, slrn.:
board at the moment OF the shock, was caught I, ~
descending beam. which crushed his leg a, The "a.
the vessel, and there LEI; him suspended "> zoe
When the boats called from every side h, ,b....,
Of the wounded and dying, arrived an oSce, "s
Natchez discovered young Eckford, srourI ~ w W
miserable men and women, who were slpnlic,,;r..E
sstance in heart.rending accents and mary # !
| asking it, who were rescued but TO exp;y. ~,
groan, not supplicaton escaped the Youth HE
was unbancked, his features not even exnre,.r. y
agony. His efforts were employed in pr,snn Il,
beam with his arms, to keep his head IN NJ u.
weight of his body from bearing upon the shaereIr,S
Though assistance was unasked, il was No, n. a.,
freely rendered. Instant endeavors wer. mad
the beam which confined him; but the excesIr.S,:I.
of the mass which loaded it, batfled ever, e,.r,ors
muscular force could move it. In this emer,,r,, Il.
ready ingenuity of the officer suggested the applcs
of the jackscrew, and one was SOC brought tr, 4,
shore. But all tins took time nor was i, n. vo,t u
| Hio"eht u apply tle screw, anu hnally 10 bnrp
into action. An hour went by ere the youth was,
treated; yet not murmur of Impotence, nor r,o.
escaped him. His only words were in direction =, a.
enlargement to those who were aiding hrn-e,cL,.
ing. from time to time llurra my hcsrtie,~ "The.
it moves" His only reprcof was to the sailor vb,
when the beam was raised, attempted rather rudek
TO withdraw the fr.ctured limb The sailor suppor;l
him whilst he performed the Office himself
We Can admire the early lerosm Of Spartan tins
we can wonder al the stole endurance Of The say,st
and surely we should not BE- backward in rendsrv
equal praise for equal endurance to an sfced YOU'D
of our own city, il il may aid him in bearing pane
| resisting misfortune. The laurel wreath rs trvsy
warded to him who nobl, dares in the cause q ha
countryi nor should We be backward in EXTENDING
to the less fortunate adventurer who that Smeeas
is only called upon to suffer with heoism.
A woman waiting on the bridge, and anio.s!
examining the dead and wounded as they went asiOt,
., length saw the mutilaed body of her husband pas
ed over the side, AMI only kept ogetherby The clothes
she uttered one piercing shrek, tell on the neck
the oman who accompanied her, and was caried'SF
in delirium.