The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-10-18

'The holds on fire, sir, he said to The captain
who was by this time standing close to him q g.
The captain rushed down and found the account
too true. Some sparks had fallen ON q bundle of
tow; no one had seen the accdent; and now not
only much Of the luggage, but the sides of the yes-
sci were in srnoudering flame.
All hands, passengers as well as sailors, were
called together, and two lines being made, one on
each side of the hold, buckets of WAFER were passed
and repassed; they were filled from the Lake, and
hew along line OF ready hands, were dashed his
sing on the burning mass, aud then passed on the
other side TO be reflled. For some few moments
itseemed as If the flames were subdued ~
In the mean time the women Oh board were
clustering round John Maynard the only maj, un.
employed who was capable of answering their
questions. "How far is it to aEd!'' 'sHow long
shall we be getting in'" "Is it very deep7" Is
there no boatH Scan they see us from the shore'
The hemsnan answered as web as he could
There wasno boat; it had been left at BufsIo to be
meDded; they might be seven miles from shore;
they would probably be in. in forty minutes, he
could not tell how far liie fire had reached "But
TO speak the truth he added, swe are all in great
danger; ard think if there were less talking and
little more pruy1ng, it would be the better for
US, and none the worse for The boat"
'How's her headi" shouted the captain.
"West sou west,' answered Maynard
"Keep her SOU and by west" cried the captain.
"We must go ashore any where" 'Ts.a
ltbappened that draft ofw ind drove back the
flames, which soon began to blaze up more furi-
ously against the saloon; and the partition be,wixt
it and the hold was soon OH fire. Then long
wreaths OF smoke began 10 fild their way through
the skylight; and the captain seeing this, ordered
all the women forward. The engineer put on his
utmost steam; lhe American flag was run up, and
reversed as a, token Of distress; water was flung
over the sails, 10 make them hold lhe wind. And
still John Maynard stood by the wheel, though
now he was cut of BY sheet OF smoke and flame,
from the ships crew.
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 fanks on which 10 lash the women, the
boldest were throwing off their coats and wais-
coats ndpreparing for one long struggle for life
And still the coast grew palmer and palmer; the
paddles, as yet, worked well; they could not be
more than a mile from the shore and boats were
evennow starting to their assistance r
"John Maynard" cried the captain.
"Aye, aye, Sir'' said John. f;g .4,
'Could you hold out FIVE minutes Iongerl"
s'l'll try. SIR
And he did try the flames came nearer and near
er; sheet ofsmoke would sometimes almost suf.
tocate him; his hair was singed; his blood see med
on fire with the great heat Crouching as far back
as he could, he held the wheel firmly with his left
hand, till the esh shriveed, ana the muscle creak-
ed in the flame, and then he stretched forth his
right, and bore the agony without a scream ora
groan. II was enough for him that he heard the
cheer of the sailors to the approaching boats the
cry oil the captain, "the women first, then every
man for himself, and God for US ALL" And thew
were the last sounds that he heard How he per-
lshed was net known, whether dizzied by the
smoke, he lost his footing in endeavoring to come
forward, and fell overheard, or whether he was
suiocated by the dense smoke, his comrades could
not tell. AT the moment the vessel struck, the
boats were at her side; the passengers, sailors, and
captain leaped into them or swan for their lives.
all, save he to whom they owed every thing, es.
capped.
He had died the death of a christian hero-Ihad
almost said of martyr: his spirit was commended
into his Fathers hands, and his body sleeps in
peace by the green side of Lake Erie.