Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-30
THE LEXINGTON.

The New York Wing, in speaking Of
TERRILL, the captain Of u sloop who re-
fused 10 60 to the assistance Of the Lex.
ington, says" There are such monsters
in human form as this man TERRILL!
When the steamboat ri unix was burnt
on Lake Champlain, many years since
at the port nearest the sccne-there hap
pened to be but one boat Of a size 10 af-
ford relief. The owner obstinately refu-
sed TO let it 60, unless paid for The use Of
it, more than the boat was worth. The
crowd took the incarnate devil in hand,
and settled the financial question with
him on the spot, not much TO the comfort
of his bones. The boat was manned, and,
after rowing fifteen miles, saved some do.
zen lives"
Capt. HILLrARD was in the cabin when
he heard the cry Of fire, and ran on deck.
The fire was then blazing out through
the easement around the smoke pipe, aud
he thinks it might have been extinguish.
ed easily with a few buckets &C water, if
they had been instantly applied.
The New York Express says -" Up
TO Sunday evening, only five bodies have
been recovered OF the sufferers ofthe i'll ia.
teo Lexington. -Four Of these have been
identified and claimed bv their friends
The fifth is the body of a little boy, about
four years old, Of whom the name and re.
l%atives are yet unknown. When disco
vered, his face was covered with q lady's
green veil--tbe last act OF a mothers
love, e~ndeavorlng to screen the features
Of her boy from the advancing flames"
The New York Journal of Commerce
says:-"Capt. HrLLIARp, whose account
has furnished our chief knowledge Of tho
disaster, left the boat at 8 o'clock, p. NJ.
That was half an hour after the fire broke
out. The Lexington had run within two
miles Of the shore, and ten minutes more
would have laid her on the beach but
the helm gave out !; the boats had been
thrown away, and each one was left TO
take care OF himself. Capt. HmLIARD
then made a CO partnership with Mr.. Cox,
one OF the hands Of the Lexington, for
life or death. They took a large square
bale of cotton, and in the first place cut
some sail cloth into strips, and passed
them round the centre Of the bale, to hold
OF by. They then passed a rope round
each end of the bale, and the other end
of the rope around the rail Of the boat,
and SO gently lowered the bale 10 the wa
ter. Then, each with the slack end OF
bis rope in his hand, they let themselves
down upon the bale, and, having taken
their position, cast of, hauled in the ropes,
and hoafed away. They might have
built a raft of cotton bales, bur in the con-
sternation which then existed, they sup.
posed that any such craft being discover
ed would be instantly overloaded, and
that so their own feeble hopes would be
destroyed. They picked up a piece Of
board directly, which, being used as a
paddle, enabled them 10 keep their vessel
head on the sea, and, in this way they
rode, nearly dry, sitting face to face, for
several hours. Then a sea heavier than
the rest, or striking more unfairly, capsi-
zed the bale, and threw them both into
the sea. They were, however, fast by
the ropes, and, by means Of the strap
around, they were both able TO recover
their position. They were both wet,
however, which made a vast difference in
the power OF the cold upon them, and be-
sides, their paddle was lost. Mr.. Cox
began not long afterwards to speak des-
pondingly. Capt. HmLIARD endeavored
TO cheer him up, and sustain his spirits,
but they continued 70 drooP, and at eight