The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-31
From the Mem Orleans Bulletin.

THRILLING INCDENT.-Eight young men rescued
from a oatery grnre.-An incident of thrilling
ture occurred at Vaudeville, on last Sunday after
noon OF which we were eve witnesses. Already had
large crowd collected upon the wharf the two ri
val steamers, the Walker and the Mazeppa, Juggling
hard for the mastery, booming up to the landing
The Walker obtained the inside berth when both boats
moored and the passengers commenced hurrying on
their favorite boats. Just at this moment gallant
little schooner called the Lilac with all sail sell and
colors streaming gaily to the wind, pushed off from
the wharf, amid the admiring congratulations of the
crowd, and turned her bow homewarJ Port Pontchar-
train. 1t will suffice, for all ineligible purposes to
state that there were eight Young men from New Or
leans board and that they had just finished an am
Pile dinner, prepared with true epcurian delcacy, and
comnendable profuson at Davis well known estab-
lishment. The Lilac had scarcely sailed one hundred
and nifty yards from the pier, when sudden gust of
wind struck her, she leaned nearly her beam
ends, then lutfed closely, and afterwards instantly
swung round full before the wind. Again another
gust struck her, and the same scene ensued. The
eyes of numerous spectators on shore the wharf
and on the two steamboats,, fixed upon he adven
tuIous little craft in fearful apprehension She
weathered third blast Of wind, but the fourth was
too strong for her-she leaned until her matches
hlled with water-her pennant dipped gracefully in
the bnny wave, and over she went upon her beam
ends. A scene of monenary but thrilling interest
occurred Those on board who retained their pre-
sence of mind instantly seized upon the larboard taft
rail- threw their legs the side gave three cheers
with triumphant waving of their hands, and es-
capped with nothing but their shoe-toes being wet ;
while Others less fortunate, foundered and spattered
among the rigging, until they perched themselves up
on whatever portion of the vessel they found
venient. The Mazeppa, being the outside boat, put
of and came up alongside OF the laundering vessel
and her saturated crew.
All hands were forthwith pulled on board amid the
jeers and laughter of their friends and thus rescued
from the untold horrors of watery grave in com
parison with which the loss of the President sinks
into utter insignifcance Then there arose an unan
nous cry among all the survivors for dry clothes, and
something to warm their chilled stomachs-in both
which particulars they were speedily gratifed Among
The missing II becomes solemn and responsible duty
to record-and our pen rembles, and hand shakes
convalsively while we do so-the following articles
Panama hats, Russian beaver, 3 summer coats
cravats, box of superior Regala segars, half a
demUohn of most excellent old Cognac and last, but
not least, one Of Hewet's latest and best cooked
turkes.
line was then made fast to the Lilac she was
lowed near the shore, and safely moored near the
whaIf. This thrilling bu, pleasant shipwreck detan
ed the Mazeppa about an hour, and after having &C
compIished all in her power, she blew off steam start.
ed her machinery, and dashed away for New Orleans