Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-11-28

gent is tn take, without, however, being bound
to follow, the opinion of this Council.
From the Ne,p- Orteaps Bee of The 4th.
1t is with a feeling Of pain that we give the
melancholy details of the late dreadful catas-
trophe on board of the steamboat St. Martin,
as furnished us by young man, who was Il
passenger on board. He says that while read.
ing in his birth on the 3lst nlt., at about II
o'clock in the morning, information was
brought him that the boat was taking fire {:
that he Immediately resolved To throw him
selfinto the river, and used every means To in
duce Mrs. Willis, the lady of DR.. Willis, to
commit herself 10 his care; but that she ali
solutely refused, not having the courage, and
that she fell victim together With her hus.
band To the devouring element.
| Our informant cites a remarkable trait Of
heroic courageousness in Madame Meramond.
That lady not being able TO induce her hus.
band to follow her into the river, which affor-
ded the only sad alternative from shocking
death, seized hold and threw herself over.
board with him. Both would inevitably have
persisted had not E,rtune thrown in their way
a chicken coop that was floating down with
the current; by its assistance, after great and
desperate exertiOn, they succeeded in reach,
ing the land, drenchrd with water, aud more
dead than alive. Madame Meran,ond arriv-
ed in the city yesterday perfectly re.estab,
lished.
Mr.. j. F. Miller, who himself escaped most
mirac ulously, offered two thousand dollars to
any one who would save young slave whom
he had with him: but seeing the Impossible,
~ of auy such attempt. the flames having
progressed to an alarming extent. no one
could be found who would accept the offer
The slave persisted in the river, having thrown
himself overheard. after extending his hands
towards heaven as if in supplication.
1t is estimated that there were sixty pas.
sengcrs ON board-Of whom it is supposed
more than one half persisted.
The fire, he states, was communicated to
some bales Of cotton placed near the furnace.
1t would appear that the progress Of the
flames was very rapid, as the pilot had not
time 10 run the boat ashore, although he made
every possible exertion.
The boat seemed once about to heave round
to the shore, which caused the destruction of
many persons who in their eagerness TO cs-
cape thought they could reach land, which
appeared not SO far as it actually was.
HENRY CLAY.-It is now upwards Of ,hr-
ty years since Henry Clay, then friendess
and orphan boy, commenced his bright ca
reer of greatness and If glory. Since that
period we End his hopOreG name associated
with all that is elevated and noble in our ma
tional annals. His fame has penetrated to re-.
hottest parts, and wherever civilization has
extended, or friend Of freedom dwells, there
the name of Clay is known and reverenced.
The great wish Of his heart has ever been
that the liberties Of the people might be i'm
mortal. Who can forget his matchless elO.
qurnce, his superb, intellectual triumphs |?
Who can forget the food oflight that his ca
paciOus mind has she'd upon the m0ment0us
qnestinns that have agtated our country for
more than quarter 0f a century? Who can
behold the generous man who has twice step
ped forward in the darkest hours, when the
integrity Of the Union hung upon a cast and
rescued her. without admiration? Who can
look upon those great undertakings which
have placed our country in her present prom
inent position amongst nations, and which
continue to promote her happiness, prospect
ty and glory, without a deep aud abiding
sense of gratitude towards their noble hearted
author and supporter! Henry Clay began the
world frendIess and alone, without a patri-
mOny. without any OfthOse advantages which
fall To the lot Of n majority Of youth; but by
his talents, his genius, aud his eloqueDce he
has won for himself an exalted rank amongst
the brightest and most valued ornaments of
our wide spread land. He has literally cary
ed sut his own fortune, aud reared for himself
a colossal pillar Of honor and rrnown. As
the profound lawyer. the faithful representa-
tive, the uArivahed speaker. the dignifed SEN
atOr. the accomplished diplomatist, the skill
fal SECRETARY. thS unsurpassed orator, the en-
inent politician, The incorrupiible patriot, the
danntless advocate &c South American inde-
pendence. the ardent friend Of liberty and the
Savior Of the Union, he has been successfully
celebrated and honored Throughout a long, a