Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-01-25
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA: JANUARY ., 1914

/ tlemen's cabin had retired to their berths.
The ladies were generally undressed for
the night. Upon deck, so far as we
could ascertain from the officers and
passengers, there we're some sixty or
seventy passengers, young and old
Four or five men were sitting up in the
gentlemen's cabin at the stoye. In a
minute or two the water rose to the low
err deck, where most OF the passengers in
that part of the boat were asleep. One
of the pilots went into the hold, but had
scarcely entered before the water drove
him out. The captain, who was on du-
ty, ran to the ladies' cabin, and asssur-
ed them sfhere vas no danger. return
ed to the forecastle; which was the last
satisfactory account we could get of
him.
About this time, screams and shreiks
were heard from the deck below. and
one or two ladies who rushed to the stern
of the boat, say that they saw number
of persons in the water. Certain it is.
the water rushed in with tremendous ra-
pidity, and in about three minutes, was
up to the upper deck of the upper cabin. A
portion of those on the deck were saved
BY getting into the yawl, which was cut
loose and rowed to the shore with a
broom.
The water rose so rapidly that it soon
became. necessary for all to seek safety
upon the hurricane deck. Much diff
Guilty was experienced in doing so, for
the bow was sunk so deep that the only
access was by the stern. So far as we
could learn, we believe all the inmates Of
the cabin reached the hurricane.
After the boat struck the snag, it
drifted down the stream; and few hum
dred yarks below, struck another snag,
which was far out of the water. This
threw the boat nearly on the beams end,
on the iarboard side. Drifting from
this snag, she again lurched to the star
board and at each lurch, several persons
were washed of. Some of them reached
the shore, but many were drowned. A
short distance below, (just above the first
shot tower, the hull struck bluff bank
which again careened her nearly on her
beams end. Here the hull and the cab
in parted. The hull sunk and lodged on
bar above Carondelet, and the cabin
fioated down to she point Of the bar be-
low that place, where it lodged and re-
mains.
The Henry Bry was lying at the shot
tower above Carondelet when the cabin.
passed. The cries of the passengers a
reused the captain, and he and his crew
rendered efficient service i'll rescuing the
passengers in their yawI. We are told
that the captain of the Bry worked until
he vas entirely covered with ice.
About 3 O'Clock. the lceander tone oil
our ferry boats) came along, and went
I to the rescue, and took off all who re.
manned upon tina wreck. 1t is due tc
this company to say that, in addition tc
the service rendered by the lcelandel
upon her arrival at the wharf, three mer
in yawl were Immediately despatched
to the assistance of the persuns on thu
wreck, and they rendered essential ser
vice to them. In Carondelet and Caho
kokla, the kindest attentions were shown
to those who got on shore.
This is the general history. We nov
speak OF the matter particularly; and herr
we have so many instances OF disregar;
of personal safety in order to secure tina
OF othors, that we scarcely know which
to name. One instance deserves record.
A young man, Robert Bullock o
MaysvllIe, Kentucky, was up at the tim,
the boat struck. He seems to have a
bandoned all idea of himself, and turnet
his whole attention to saving the womel
! and children, When every male per
son had deserted the cabin, he went from
stateroom to state-room, wherever h
heard child cry, and took it out an,
passed it up to the hurricane deck. Ii
this way he saved several women AM
children. His last effort was to pass VI
the Ono fat girl-240 pounds. Wit
the assistance of one or two. others Of
the hurricane deck he. succeeded. 4
short time after getting on deck, the boa
made lurch, and Bullock took to tn
7 water and swan to the Illinois shore
: Ills coat he had given to a lacy on til
e wreck. When he had reached the shor
. ne found two young ladies' who bal
e been put ashore in skiff, and who, be
numbed with old, were determined t
go TO sleep. By great exertions he sur
ceeded in getting them to Cahokia.
we have several interesting incident
OF the heroic bearing of tins young mar
which we may give hereafter.
Most OF the baggage belonging to til
e cabin passengers will be obtained. TIL
ferry boat brought up all the passenger
at Carondelet and Cahokia. An Eng
fish family from Manchester, ten in mum
E Der, were all saved. Five succeeded il
; getting to the Illinois shore. four to tn
Missouri side, and one was taken off tn
wreck; they were all reunited on the fer
ryboat at Cahokia, at moment whel
each party supposed the other dead :
Such scene as that reunion we hav
e never before witnessed.
: Mr.. Muir, of Virginia, and his broth
J er, were on board, with their mother, an,
{ nine slaves. Seven of the slaves wer