Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-11-10

prevent IFS following the longboat to
the leeward, lay about fifty yards "a
stern; three persons swan off and
were taken into her, though the wind
was blowing gale, and tremendous
sea running. He then bore away for
the land to windward about two miles.
AT this time great many persons
jumped overheard, and were drown
ed. The screams of women and chill
dren (; the horrid yells of the men the
roaring Of the storm, and the awful
confusion, battle description. The pi-
lot, Capt. Aikens, of Portland, the
mate, (Mr. Black, of st. John, with
those who still had their senses, after
hosting signal of distress, slipped
the cable, and made sail. The sails,
however, caught fire and were soon
burnt.
The steamboat then preached to,
and was shortly completely enveloped
in flames amidships. The fire inter-
rupted all communication between the
fore and aft-and neither those in the
bows nor those in the stern could see
or know the fate OF each other. All
but myself fed from the quarter deck.
| sat on the stern rail till my coat
caught fire. ! looked round, and see
ing not soul around me in the boat,
l fastened rope to the tiller chain,
and dropped over the stern, where 1
found about l 8 others hanging in diff
ferent places, mostly in the water. In
fact the water washed over us all al
most every minute.
While holding on I saw several
drown-some were beaten from their
hold by the waves, and some falling
into the sea for want of strength to
sustain themselves any longer. 1 had
fastened my rope to the chain, which
held out against the fire much longer
than the other parts to which many
others were suspended. wound the
rope round my neck and thigh, and
was enabled to bear up the additional
weight of three men and lady who
hung securely to me. Not far from
me hung Captain Aiken, the pilot-he
held ap lady with his foot; her arms
failed her at last, but he caught her
head with his feet, and held her full
five minutes, till the sea washed her
off, and she drifted by; kind wave
threw her up against an Irishman
hanging on my left, and she seized
hold OF him, and assisted, perhaps, by
our encouraging, and the Irishman's
also, kept up. When the cutters boat
passed under our stern, Atkins and /
begged for Gods sake that she would
take these two, even if they left US
as we thought we could weather it
little longer.
The gig passed within six feet of
those two, who we expected would be
lost every minute. The officer of the
gig was afraid, and left them and us
to our fate. We were all saved-that
is, the Irishman, lady, Atkins, and
those attached to my person-by Cap
tain Reed in his small boat, and con-
veyed to the cutter. The cutter was
not in sight when first went ON deck.
l had been in the water, beating about
under the stern two hours before l
was taken off. Thirty three lives in
all were lost, including six children.
l escaped without shoes, stockings or
hat, and lost every article of property
on board-as also did the others, who
were saved by Capt. Read. The en-.
tire loss in money and other property,
independent of the boat, was about
$4,000. The boat was worth $780,
600. Macomoer, WEIGH & Co.'S loss,
if the elephant be recovered, will not
be less than SIS, 900, besides the pri-
vate funds belonging to their hands
four of whom, by the by, were lost
Capt. Waite, of Portland, lost So, 900
In cash.
FROM THE Transcript.
The chief engineer had been up all
night, and was in his berth, and the
engine was under the direction of N.
Marshall, the second engineer, who,
at the time Of the disaster, had en-
trusted the care to a fireman, who was
acting as his assistant. The son of
the pilot discovered that the lowest
cock refused to yield water, which in
dicated a deficiency. The lad told
his father, who notified Marshall, but
the latter disregarded the information,
and gave both pilot and boy to under
stand that be Lneur his o,yn h,,c;noSr