Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-01-14
Lieutenant Maynard.

STEAMBOAT AudntiC, III LouS lSiahu Souno, A>''
MAYNARD, of the Navy, displayed great GOODNESS,
courage, and selfdevoion, in his endeayors to aid
and rescue the unfortunate passengers, so many of
whom met an uDtimely fate. Speaking of his noble
conduct, the Journal of Commerce says:
From boy, he has been accustomed to exposure at
sea- and is familiar with Its perls. Characterized by
cool sefpossession decision, strength and self-endu
rance, and by the nober qualities of generosity and
heroism VINO could have been selected better fitted
for the emergencies of such n dread OCCASION
When Lieut.. NJ. ascertained that the Atlantic was
drifting from her moorings, Thursday forenoon,
his practiced eye discovered the certainty of wreck
and he set about the work. which few seemed to
know how to perform. of preparing means of escape
from destruction. His first attention, with that OF
DR.. Hassler, also of the Navy, turned to the
helpless women and children With the aid OF the
officers of the army board, he wrenched the doors
from the state rooms. prepared them properly for
floats and distributed them among the objects Of his
care. At time, when be supposed the vessel
would strike, he adjusted the women and children,
and old man (Walton) who too in6rm to help
himself upon the floats, ready for the anticipated
conclusion. The females and children to re-
gard him their protector, and 10 each he gave d.
rectons 10 their conduct in particular emergen-
ces
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 10
months in the of its mother patted him on the
cheek. using the only word its infant lips could utter
's Papa, papa." The fathers and the sailors heart
bounded off to his only child, of the same age, at
Washington; and to the unspeakable comfort of the
mother he promised to her child and bear 1t to
its father at Newark, N. j. He placed pieces of
blanket around the little body, with long ends intend
ing to tie them around his breast with the child upon
his back, and thus, if saved himself, redeem his
pledge TO the agonized, but now comforted weman.-
The sudden parting of the ladies' cabin at the instant
of the boats striking, and the destruction of all with
in it. defeated his noble purpose, and mother and child
found watery grave.
/ When the vessel struck Lieut.. M. sitting
the ladies' cabin with his fellow officers his thoughts
upon the child he had vowed to save. The keel Of
the boat resting the rocks, the deck careened at
sharp angle seward and the that stranded her,
in its ebb swept DIR. Hassler and Lieut.. Norton into
the Lieut.. Nj. sprang to the door of the la
dies cabin, bu; felt the cabin itself giving way, and
as he dashed himself from it to a posi-
ton the .lopng and slippery deck, it was swept
against the rocks, with every soul it contained With
difficulty he gained position the guard the
wheelhouse, and leaped thence into the water, and
swan TO the rocky shore. But two had preceded him.
This was the scene of his heroic efforts. Lieut..
NJ, with WILLIAM EDWARDS, and they alone, remain
ed in the water than two hours, aiding and
cuing one person after another, until all but two,
(who would not leap from the wreck,) were saved
And for three fourths of hour he remained en-
deavorlng by every means to induce them to escape
from freezing by Jumping into the sea- with the
rance that he would rescue them. When the day
light dawned, lie left the wreck and in company with
Mr.. Tarbox, whom he found the rocks, sympsthi-
zng with his efforts, proceeded towards Mr.. Win
tbrops house, on the (Fisher's) Island. On their
way they found the engineer of the boat, blind and
nearly frozen, muttering uninteigibly. Lieut.. M
though immersed for two hours proposed to stay by
the poor man, while his companion should seek help
h at the house-the being too heavy for them TO
carry. Fearing at last that Mr. T. had lost his way
he piled up rocks for land marks and TO the house,
which Mr.. Il. he'd reached before him. They return
ed and the man saved.
/, Two little circumstances are worth noticing. Lieut.
NJ had taken the precaution to roll his bank notes
\ very closely and put them In his wallet In conse-
quence of his long stay In the water those bills be-
t came worthless pup-not word could be deciphered
r of the mass and not a dollar recovered. And his
n limbs bear the marks of bruises from the floating
IS lmbers which were constantly tossed against him.
When he at last reached the house, what the
ceplon OF the preserver of many life 1t is stated
that ne could not gam place at the fire to thaw
frozen foot, and that he rudev repulsed by one
e individual, to whom he turned with the inquiry
Are you not the pulled of the water this
e morning!'' 'No, was the gruf reply. Eyes, sir,
IS said NJ, remember, you, and be assured II is the
@ most unsatisfactory part of my mornings work -
With this he turned, and sought by walking and
J., ming to restore the circulation in his limbs.
% 1t Lieut. Nj. who discovered in the lamente6
e DR.. Armstrong his pastor in Virginia. when child
The tones Of his voice in prayer and the expression
of his counenance while speaking, in the meeting
= Thursday forenoon, revealed him. He sought hin
OUT conversed with him. adjusted his life preservers
to bandaged his head and did all in his power for MS
N comfort and preservation. He parted with Dr. A
/. about 10 minutes before the wreck took place HI
calm and composed, but solemn and thoughtful
Eternity seemed near TO his vision, and be gath
ering strength for his last conflict.
ID Lieut.. NJ. seeks and needs other reward for hi
r heroSm than the consciousness of his having dom
e something for humanity in this extremity. But We
would suggest whether such deeds do not enttle pub
lie servants to promotion in their profession the
= hands of the Government much heroic acts II
re sea-fghts and 5attle-felds.
): A correspondent in Richmond, Va, where he wa
brought up, writes as follows: -
i 'Wben General Jackson President, young
J. Maynard, then residing with his father Stith May
o nard, at Richmond, lad imbbed a strong desire t.
enter the Navy, but knowing the difficulty of obtain
ing place account of the number of applicants
and the want of influence, his friends sought dis
e suade him from making the effort but the
4 little understood the stubborn stuff of which he wa
t. made. There railroads then, and the ex
Ipenses of trip from Richmond to Washington, wer
more than his slender finances could cover but t
give up without trial, out of question,-so
10 boy he was he determined to foot it the whole dis
- tance,-which he dd,-and one fine morning pre-
scented himself at the White House, asked see thu
e President, and preferred his request. Jackson to,
m him pretty plainly, that there no cha nee, tn
e Navy full to OVERLOOKING, and applications il
abundance. WELL said Maynard, its rather
hard case 10 have walked so far and all for nothing.
e Walked said the General; and where from : >
: Richmond, in Virginia. replied the boy Walked
: the whole way from Richmond! Then, Sir, you shall
e have your warrant if possess the influence get
T@ - that f,,r