Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-08-26


From letter published in the New
York Commercial Advertiser we make
the following painfully interesting extract
j, scribing some Of the incidents which
belel Mr. Clemens, the mate ofthe steam
boa, Enc, al the time Of her ccnnagrailon,
as they were related by Mr.. G. TO the
writer. Alter mentioning the appalling
condition Of the boat, wrapped 10 sheet
Of lame, the letter says:--
Mr. Clemens then proposed to tie
captain thai :hey should look to ihair own
safety, which ives agreed upon, and the
latter Immediately leaped iniu the wptfr
the former seized a besch, which was Oh
fire, ana threw itoYerbaard, bui il was IN
media;eiy gfasped by two OF the Swiss
esngranls Ike attempt was made with
second beach, bat this was also taken
possession of by some OF the passengers in
the water. Mr.. &. then concluded that
his only hope wss ia swimming jumped
after swimming about ton rods il occurred
20 him lbai il woul 81. better 10 wait I'M
III the vessel burned toibe waters dye,
md II the wreck then lloated to remain
10y il with tbs view he Ia ned his face
toward The boat, bat the sight which then
met bis ry, 8 was one (tu use his own
words,} which though cannot fud words
10 desciibe It, neither lime nor Change oi
scene or eifcun stance ean ever ob.terage
from M memory.
"Ihe whole Of the vessel, with the ex-
cepiion of a emull part Of the fptwnrd
d, ok, was enc mass Of fire, Lighting Up the
Whole heavens; as the flames would
wave to and fro he could see the bodies 81
some oiatlc passsng rs whiting is il were
IN their gouy, aud cnJeagotug to throw
themselves overheard, bat apparently no.
possessing strength - get over the rsll-
while On the lere part OF the deck were
seen some G0Z CT more wildly throwing
abuut their urms aud Cling the ulr witt
cries and shrieks which seemed 10 ri, re-
his very heat. Ii fact, said MIR. C., Sc
horrible ard dreadful wgs tie sight, that
| at one tisne felt almost ret dy 10 suffer
nysel@ 10 sink beneata The water with
out making an effort to save mys IF
that the arena mlgtt be hid en- lrufn
ny view he again turned from the
boat aud saw p.ank floating about, on
which were two Of the crew. THev call.
ed TO HIM to gut on il. He did So, but II
barely sQpported them all fortunately be
perceived The drawer Of bureau n, n by,
which he reached, and placing il bottom
upwards under the plank, it ajaled with
more ease.
Gle had not been on the plank many
minutes before be perceived an elderly
man swimming by, nearly exhausted; he
called to him, aud rclinqUished his place
IN the plank To the Did man, while he
again trusted TO bis swimming. 1t was
not long, however, before he met one oil
the "ienders," and as he was securing il
he saw too more of the passengers; this
ha also gave up TO them. After swim
ming alone for some minutes lie WIS hail
cd by the captain, and turning round saw
him and four Of the crew on the yawl,
which was bottom upward. He a'sp got
on II, when the captain informed hun thai
there was lady floating by. He soon
discovered her. This was Mrs. Lynde :;
a life pr, server was about her neck, but
not one quarter filled with air her hnnd
grasped an oar, and she was to all appear
nnce dead.
"Mr. c. though, that by filing the
life preserver she must continue to float,
and if picked up be recognized by her
friends. With this intention he applied
his mouth TO the tube and commenced fill
ing it. While so doing, Mrs. l.. family
spoke and said. you are very kind, sir,
Finding she was alive he continued to fill
the life. preserver, but so exhausted was
he that he could do it but imperf -
He then drew her towards the yawl, when
she revived ll;tle and said, save me il
you can. but rather use all your efforts
for yourself, and let me die if cannot be
saw, d without sacrfc ng others Such
language from "A female said Mr.. G.,
'made me resolve that i'll were saved she
should be nlso, and his efforts were con
s'antlv directed to her, and successfully.
They continued on the yawl for about Two
hours, when the De Wiu Clinton rescue
Them.
The Buffalo Free Press states That the
following is a correct enumeration of the
sons nm hoard ri q Steamboat Eric nj