Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-10
Lieut.. MAYNARD.

Y,
From boy he has been accustomed to exposure
al sea and is familiar with its perils. Characieris
ed by cool seEpossession, decision, strength aud
selfendurancc and by the nobler qualities Of gem
grossly and heroism, who could have been selected
better fitted for the emergencies oil such dread
occas,onl
was drifting from her moorings, on Thursday fore |
noon, his praciised eye discovered the certainty OF
wreck, aud he set about the work, which few
seemed to know how TO perform, of preparing
means Of escape from destruction. His first alien
ton with that OF Dr. Hassler also Of the Navy, was
turned TO the helpless women aud children. With
the aid Of the officers Of the Army on board, he
wrenched the doors from the state rooms, prepared
them properly for floats. and distributed them a.
mong the objects OF his care. AT lime. when
he supposed the vessel would strike, he adjusted
the women and children, aud an old man (Walton)
who was too in6rm TO help HIMSELF upon the floats,
ready for the anticipated conclusion The females
and children came TO regard him as their protec-
tor and TO each he gave directions as 10 their cou
duct in particular emergencies.
For the sake Of protection from cold and bruises
while in the water, he tied strips Of blanket about
the head, keeping them in place by linen bandages.
While engaged in this service, little child Of IL
months in the OF its MOTHER pst,ed him on the
cheek using the only word lis nant lips could ut
ter, Papa, papa 1" The fathers aud the sailors
heart bounded OF TO his only child, Of the same
age, at Washington and TO the unspeakable CON-
fort Of the mother, he promised 10 save her child,
aud bear il TO its father, at Newark, N. ]. lie
placed pieces Of blanket around the lilIle body,
with long ends intending to tic them around his
breast, with the child upon his back, and thus, If
saved himself redeem his pledge 10 the agonized
but now couIforted woman. The sudden parting
of the ladies' cabin al the instant Of the boats slrk
ing and the destruction Of all within it, defeated
his noble purpose, and mother aud child found a
waiery grave.
When the vessel struck, Lieut.. NJ. was sitting
near the ladies cabin with his fellow officers his
thoughts upon the child he had vowed 10 save
The keel Of the boat resting the rocks the deck
careened at a sharp angle. seward, and the wave
that stranded her, ia its ebb swept Dr. Hasser and
! Lieut. Norton into the ocean. Lieut. NJ. sprang
The door Of the ladies' cabin but felt the cabin
1 itself giving way, aud as he dashed himself from it
to more secure position on the slopng aud slip
perry deck, II was swept against the rocks, with
every soul il contained With difficulty he gained
position on the guard near the wheeI-house. and
! leaped thence into the water, and swan 10 the
rocky shore. But two had preceded him.
/ This the scene o his heroic efforts. Lieut..
NJ, with WILLIAM EDWARDS, and they alone, re.
NAMED in the water more than two hours, aiding
aud rescuing one person after another, until all
/ but two, (who would not leap from the wreck, were
| sdteu. ma iot tiTec louftus OF an HOur ne re-
NAMED endeayoring by every means induce them
to escape from freezing by jumping into the sea
with the assurance that he would rescue them
When the daylight dawned, he LEFT the wreck. and
in company with Mr. Tarbox, whom be found on
the rocks, sympathizing with his efforts. proceeded
toward Mr. WInthrops house, on the FISHERS, Is
land On their way they found the engineer Of the
boat, blind and nearly frozen, muierng unintei
gibly. Lieut.. NJ though immersed for two hours
proposed 10 stay by the poor man, while bis com
paniou should seek help at the house-the man be-
ing too heavy for them to carry Fearing at last
that Mr. L. had lost his way. lie piled up rocks for
landmarks, and ran to the house, which Mr. T. had
! reached before him. They returned and the man
was saved.
Two little circumstances worth noticing
Lieut.. NJ. had taken the precauion TO roll his bank
notes very closely and put them in his wallet Ia
consequence Of his long stay in the water. those
bills became worthless PHip-no, a word could be
deeiphered Of the mass, and not dollar recovered
And his limbs bear the marks Of bruises from the
floating iimbers which were constantly tossed
against him. When he q, last reached the house
what was the reception OF the preserver Of many
life Il is slated that he could not gain place al
the fire TO thaw frozen foot, and that he was rud
ely repulsed by one individual 10 whom he turned
with the inquiry, "Are you no, the man ! pulled
out ofihe water this moningl' NO" was the
gruf reply. "Yes, SIR" said NJ, "a remember
you, aud be assured II is the most unsaiisfactory
part Of my mornings work % With this he turn
ed, aud sought by walking and running to restore
thu circulation in his limbs
II was Lieut. NJ. who discovered in the lamented
Dr. Armstrong his pastor in Virginia, when a child
The tone Of his voice IN prayer and the express
OF his counienance while speaking, in the meeting
of Thursday forenoon. revealed him. lie sough
him out conyersed with him adjusted his le-pre
servers; bandaged his head, and did all in his pow