The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-11-14

The following thrilling sketch, which Wi
doubtless be read with interest by thu
friends of Mr. Murray, and by people gen
orally. In letter received by neighbo
Higgins, and dated since the one frien
Murray sent TO the Advocate, he stated tina
he had lost the main castings Of his Pres!
and abou. 300 in other property.
SHORE OF LAKE ERIE. EVANS, N. Y, }
Oct. 20. 1914. !
Storm on Lake Erie.
WREcK OF THE STEAMER ROBERT
FULTON.
Extract Of letter from On SON S. MUIR
RAY, to his family and friends.
Dear Family and Friends:
Iwrte ofterrible things. Such as
have not before experienced or witness
cd. | have often read of storms upon
the waters, and wrecks accompanying.
now know what they are, for the first
time, by experience and observation. No
language can describe the awiuness of
the one am about to speak Of. 1t was
known to many of my friends that my ar
engagements, on my way from New York
to Ohio, with press and types for publ
cation ofthe Regeneration, required me
to leave Buffalo on the 18th. | accor-
dinghy left, on the steamer Robert Full
ton. We started att o'clock, p. NJ
The wind was favorable, as to amo unit
and direction But the indications were
that it would rise. 1t did rise. About
10, went upon deck, threw myself on
my back, on box, to prevent sea sick
ness. No danger being apparently pre-
sent at the time, | fell asleep. 1t was
not long, however, before was walked
by the tossing of the vessel on the waves,
and by expressions Of fearfulness on the
part of passengers. About half past l
the tempest became terrible. We were
then near Dunkifk. But the port could
not be reached. The wind had changed
its course, in connection with its ad
yancement, and we were driven back
At ~, the raging Of the elements became
awful beyond any power of mine to de-
scribe, or of any one to conceive, ex-
cept such as have witnessed such things,
and I believe the number to be COM
paratively small who have had the op>
portunily. The scene was such as
desire not again to be placed in. The
shrieking, the grooming, the praying, the
confusion, the distraction, the frighttul-
ness Of the exposure. It was enough
for the stoutest. 1t was overwhelmingly
distressing. The careening of the YES
sci, as if it would and must capsize,-
The diving of it from its mountainous
height into the awful chasms, as if it must
plunge to the bottom. It's occasional APP
parent stopping and trembling, as if it
must be parted into fragments. The
washing Of the surges over it, as lift must
be overwhelmed, swept 10 the shore and
dashed to atoms. TWAS appalling to
the last degree. The chimneys and es-
cape pipe were blown down, and the en-
CINE was stopped. The jib was carried
away, which rendered the vessel less
manageable. 1t was with the utmost
difficulty that the foresail was kept in
its place The helm was brought to the
desirable position, and the wheel was
lashed hard over. In this perllous con-
dition, we were driven, tossed and shaken
for hours, every moment in fearful sus>
pence. AS early as IL, the baggage,
barrels and boxes on the deck, were
thrown from side to side with such vio-
lence as to carry away the bulwarks. -
Property was then swept overheard by
winds and waves without stint. But
what was property, while life was in such
peril1 Trash; only trash. was situa.
ted where could she it 60 over from
time to time. But care for that was
rot the thing then to employ my atten-
ton How could human life be saved?-
That was the inquiry. The upper deck
threatened to give way. The water fire.
quently dashed entirely over it'll am told
If it had gone many must have been
crushed and carried off. was on The
lower deck. The buwarks were gone
on either side of me. The box on which
l had fallen asleep was hurled off, and
one thing after another was swept from
under me into the deep. For a while, |
chung to the inclosure of the tiller rope
over my head-then to the tackle rope,
as [ receded towards the mldships. -
Once climbed over remaining goods,
into the vicinity ofthe engine, after it had
stopped. But soon returned, and seiz.
ing again upou the tackle rope, placed
myself upon my feet upon the open and
swept deck. Here l stood, and sat, and
swung, the water frequently dashine
completely over me. Thus dreadfully
situated, the alternate drenching Of the
waves and piercing Of the winds, fol
hours, so benumbed me that | was il
great danger ofIosiug my adherence ant
being washed inlothe pillows. Toward
the latter part of the time seized on ;