Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-09-02
OF twenty or more, launched inthe angry
waters. They were seen no more.

The boat being lowered from the 9TH
er end, filled and was useless. Now
came on the trying moment.-Hun-
dreds leaped from the burning wreck in
to the water Mothers was seen stan
ding on the guards, with disheveled hair,
praying for help. The dear little inno-
cents clung to the side Of their mothers,
and with their tiny hands beat away
the burning flames. Sisters called out to
their brothers in unearthly voices "save
me oh my brother !" wives crying to
their husbands to save their children, in
total forgetfulness Of themselves-every
second or two desperate plunge of
some victim falling on the appalled, ear
the dashing to and fro Of the horses on
the forecastle; groanuig audiblv for pain
ofthe devouring element--the continued
putting Of the engine, for it still continued
to go-the screaming mother who had
leaped overheard in the desperation of
the moment with her only child-the
flames mounting to the sky with the ra-
pidity Of lightning-shall ever forget
that scene-that hour of horror and a.
larm Never, were | to live till men,
ory shall forget all else that ever came to
the senses. The short half hour that sep.
arated and plunged into eternity 200 hu.
man beings has been SO burnt into my
memory that even now | think Of it
more than half the day
was swimming to the shore with
all my might, endeavouring to sustain a
mother and child. My strength failed
me. The babe was nothing--a mere
cork. "Go, 60" said the brave mother,
"save my child, save my-,'and
she sunk to rise no more. Nerved by the
resolution Of that woman, | reached the
shore in safety. The babe saved. Ere
reached the beach, the Sherrod had
swung off the bar, and was slowly float
ing down,the engine having ceased runn-
ing. In every direction heads dotted
the river. A new and still more awful
appearance the burning wreck now
bore. Mothers were seen clinging with
their last hope to the blazing timbers {;
and dropping off one by one. The
screams had ceased. A sullen silence
rested over the devoted vessel. The
flames had become tired of their destruc-
tive work.
While 1 sat dripping and overcome
upon the beach steamboat, the Colum
bus, hove in sight and bore for the
wreck. 1t seemed like one last ray q
hope cleaning across the dead gloom o.
the night. Several wretches were sa.
we'd. And still another, the Statesman
hove in sight. More, more, were saved.
A moment, to me, had only elapsed,
when high in the heavens the cinders
flew, and the country was lighted all a.
round. Still another boat came BOOM
ing on. was happy that more help had
come. After an exchange of words with
the Columbus, he continued on his way
under full steam. On my heart sunk
within me The waves created by that
boat sent many poor mortal to his long
home. A being by the name of Dough-
erty was the captain of that merciless
boat. Long may he be remembered
My hands were burnt, and | now be-
gan to experience severe pain. The
scene before me-the loss Of my two sis
ters, and brother, whom had missed in
my confusion--all steeled my heart;
could not weep-I could not sigh. The
cries of the babe at my side were moth
ing to me.
Again-another explosion land the
waters closed slowly and suddenly over
the scene of disaster and death. Dark
ness resumed her sway, and the stiffness
was only interrupted by the distant ef-
forts of the Columbus and Statesman in
their laudable exertions to save human
life. ..
Captain LOST, believe, father
and child. Some argue this is punish
ment enough. No, it is not. He had
the lives Of hundreds under his charge.
He was careless of his trust; he was
guilty of a crime that nothing will ever
wipe out. The blood of 200 victims is
crying out from the depth Of the Father
Of Waters for vengeance. Neither soci-
ETY. nor law will forgive it. His punish
ment is yet to come. May never meet
him [!
could tell of scenes Of horror that
would rouse the Indignation Of a stone ;
but ! have done. AS to myself, l could
tell you much to excite your interest.
1t was more than three weeks after the
occurrence before | ever shed a tear.
All the fountains Of sympathy had been
dried up, and my heart was as the stone.
As 1 lay on my bed the twenty-fourth