Litchfield enquirer., 1845-11-13
THE HELMSMAN OF LAKE ERIE..

I Erie is one of those sea-lakes for which America Is 80 famous and. as you stand on it's shore. and
 see the green waves dashing in one after another, you might well think that you were looking at the
 great ocean itself. The Jersey-for that was the
 name of the steamer--was dressed gaily out with
 many bright flags; the Blue Peter, the signal of
 immediate sailing, was at her mainmast head por
 ters were hurrying along the narrow quay that juts
 out into the lake; boatmen qnarreling with each
 other for passengers; tfavellers hurryng backwards
 and forwards to look for fheir luggage; friends shaking hands, and bidding each other farewell
 idlers lonnging about. with tAeir hands in their
 pockets; drivers angling for larger fare and
 all the various kinds of hustle and confusion that
 attend the departure of apacket from watering l place. '' '. sH .'. ........
 But presently the anchor was heaved, the pad.
 dies began to turn, the sails were set, and leaving
 broad track of foam behind her, the Jersey stood
 westward, and held on her course for the town of
 Erie. It was bright blue day; and. as hour after
 hour went by, some mingled in the busy conversa I tiOn politics; some; sat apart. and calculated
 the gains of the shop or the counting house; some were wrapped up in the book with which they
 were engaged; and one or two. with whom time seemed to hang heavily, composed themselves to sleep. In short, one and all were like men who thought that, let danger come to them when it. might, at least it would not be that day. '' .'.. ] It drew towards four in the afternoon, and the steamer, which had hitherto been keeping the mid die of the lake, stood southwards; Erie, the place to which 1t was hound, lying on the southern side Old John Maynard was at the wheel; a bluff. weather-beaten sailor, tanned by many burning summer day, and by many winter tempest. He had truly learnt to be content with his situation; none could ever say that they had heard him repne at his hard labor and scanty pay. He had, Tn the worst times, cheerful word and a kind look for those with whom he was thrown; cast, often enough, into bad company, he tried, at least, and generally succeeded, to or do something tor its good. Hewas known from one end of lake Erie to the other. by the name ot honest John Maynard; and the secret of his honesty to his neighbors was his love to God. 'A The land was about ten miles off, when the cap tain coming, up from his cabin; cried 10 sailor Dick Fletcher, what's all that smoke see com ing out from the hold "' 7 f''' v. .'." l-1l.t .
 "It's from the engne-room. Sir, guess" said the man., e...-... ,s..f, ...... | "Down with you, then, and let me know" a | The sailor began descending the ladder by which you go to the hold but scarcely had he disappear ed beneath the deck, when up he came again with l much greater speed '..''s
 ..The holds on fire, Sir" he said to the captain who by this time was standing close to him,
 The captain rushed down, and found the account | too true. Some sparks had fallen on a bundle of tow; no one had seen the accident; and now not only much of the luggage, but the sides of the ves- sel were in smouldering flame.
 1 All hands, passengers as we'll as sailors, were called together ;and, two lines being made, on each side of the hold, buckets of water were passed and repassed they were filled from the lake they
 flew along line oi ready hands. were dashed hiss, 1 ing on the burning mass, and then passed on to | the other side to be reflied. For some few mo- ments it seemed as if the flames were subdued. l Tn the meantime the women On board were clus- | terng round John Maynardsthe only man pnem- ployed who was capable of answering their ques-. | tons "Fow far is it to land }" "How long shall we be getting ?' '" Is it very deep" |" Is | there no boat:" Gan they see us from shore ," | The helmsman answered as we'll as he could, There was no boat; it has been left at Buffalo to be mended they might be seven miles from shore; | they would probably be in in forty minutes; he could not tell how far the fire had reached. " But, to speak the truth,' he added, we are all in great danger; and think if there were litte less talk
 ing and little more prdying, 1t would be the bet 1 ter for us, and none the worse for the boat B., | "How's her head s' shouted the captain.
 "West sou west Sr,' answered Maynard.
 "Keep her sou and by west." cried the captain. We must go on shore anywhere" .e | It happened that draft of wind drove back the flames which soon began to blaze up more fuI Ious
 ly against the saloon; and the partition betwixt it | and the hold was soon on fire. Then long wreaths | of smoke began to find their way through the sky light; and the captain seeing this. ordered all the | women forward Tke engineer put on his utmost steam; the American flag was run up, and rever- sed. in token of distress; water was flung over the sails, to make them hold the wind And still John | Maynard stood by the wheel, though now he was cut off, by sheet of smoke and flame from the | ships crew. |-s. ..f. .r... t...- ...- .' Greater and greater grew the heat; the engineers | fled from the engine-room; the passengers were clustering round the vessels bow the sailors were saving blanks on which to lash the women; the boldest were throwing off their coats and waist coats and preparing for long struggle for life. l And still the coast grew plainer and plainer; the paddles as yet worked well ; they could not be more than mile from the shore; and boats were I kx..s .soln | "John Maynard!" cried the captain. -'i "Aye, aye, Sirw said John. .,.. "Can you hold on five minutes longer" .
 "Fll try, Sir" .....'t ...,..F. F..r ..-'
 And he did try; the flames came nearer and
 nearer; a sheet of smoke would sometimes almost 1 suffocate him; his hair was singed; his blood
 seemed on fire with the great heat. Crouching as
 far back as he could, he held the wheel firmly
 with his left hand, till the flesh shriveled, and the
 muscles cracked in the flame; and then he stretch
 ed forth his right, and bore the agony without | scream or a groan. It was enough for him that he
 heard the cheer of the sailors to the approaching
 boats the cry of the captain, The women first
 and then every man for himself, and God for all "
 And they were the last sounds that he heard How l he perished was not known; whether. dizzled by the smoke. he lost his footing in endeavoring to come forward, and fell overheard. or wheteer he was suffocaieL by the dense smoke, his comrades could not tell. At the moment the vessel struck.
 the boats at her sde passengers. sailors, and
 captain leaped into them, or swan for their lives;
 all. save he to whom they owed everything, es- capped. ... .-.,...... ... ,..- He had died the death of christian hero--T had
 almost said, of martyr; his spirit was commend
 ed into his Fathers hands. and his body sleeps in
 peace by the green side of Lake Erie. l 4 White Fugit,ve from Slaoey.-A MT. P.
 Lee, of Maysville, Kentucky advertises seven run
 away slaves, and offers reward of seven hundred d.llars cor ,ha;r annrehensiOn and arresf. Among