The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-08-11

I
aft.
BY this time the fire had reached the
ladies' saloon, and the smoke and sparks
were flying in every direction through
and out of the windows. The misery
and terror were intense and agonizing
but it is not my purpose to attempt any
description of this part of the scene. Ma
ny jumped overheard Immediately after
she grounded | clambered on to the
promenade deck and threw overheard as
many of the stools as I could reach.
then came down on to the starboard
guard and looked in every direction to
see whether assistance was approaching
None was to be discovered, and, as the
heat where [ stood was now becoming
powerful, / determined to throw myself
overheard | climbed over the rail and
intended to get hold of two of the stools
which | had thrown into the water This
missed and not being swimmer, |
Immediately found my way to the bot
tom. judged that the depth there was
some fifteen feet. | of course again
came to the surface, but it is not my
purpose to detail my adventures or my
struggles in the water. The great cause
of the drowning of those who lost their
lives in that way was the heavy sea
which was running at the time caused
by the high southerly wind which was
blowing. 1t was about the beginning of
the ebb. and as I understand it. the wind
and tide being contrary to each other,
the waves are heavier
At every flaw of wind thew would
dash against the steamboat as she lay
broadside to. and then reccde from her
side in a seemingly solid mass. almost
every time carrying off with them some
one who was clinging to the uuderside
of the guard for safety. Besides, the
boards. scttccs. stools, &c, which were
floating in the water were rendered al
most entirely useless by the difficulty of
holding on TO them in the heavy swell
which was rolling At one time while
| was holding on to the tiller chain un-
der the guard am satisfied that there
were in the neighborhood of forty per
sons clinging to the same or other SINH
lar supports.
If there was boat attached to the
Henry Clay. no use whatever was made
of it, and it must have been burned up
with the steamer herself The first
boat which approached the wreck did
not take off single person. She was Il
white boat with a green streak round
her side, and had in her two men. One
of them pushed while the other pulled
his oar, and she described circle within
few feet of the struggling and perish
, ing beings hanging to the wreck, and be-
fore our eyes, rowed away. Another
, boat, large black one, with red streak
rowed to shore with some seven or eight
, of the sufferers on board, when, to all
, appearance, she might with perfect ease
) have carried away at least twice that
l number At last | was picked up by a
yawl of topsail-schooner, which came
, too off our boat. was 50 exhausted by
that time that | was hardly consciou,
, of anything, except that was rescued
, and | know that | made the two sailors
t who saved me no acknowledgement ot
the service which they had rendered me
= | do not intend this for an advertise
mcnt, but | hope to see those men again
and to offer them a proper requital fol
r the assistance they bestowed You will
C of course, inform them where | can b,
found, and | trust that by this as wei
G as other measures which | shall take,
c may be enabled to meet them.
c The behavior of the struggling victims
c under the guards or floating near. seem
h cd to me at once wonderful and noble
l. | neither saw nor experienced any at
:. tempt on the part Of any one to attain
l. his or her own safety at the expense o
l. that Of any other person. was strug
t Cling in the water nearly or quite hal
c an hour Only once in that time was
c pushed or pulled off from chance fo
/. rescue by any fellow sufferer and then
c woman. who was clinging to brace nea
c by, enabled me to avail myself of TIN
: same means of support
5 The details which | have thus givei
have occupied SO much space and tim
as to preclude me from going into an,
J. considc ration of the causes of this dread
l. full accident. If you should deem j
r worth while, this subject, as well as tn
b. means to be adopted for preventing sucl
c occurrences in future, may be discussc,
G on another occasion. Newly York, Jul
= 20, 1852. Isaac DAYTON.