Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-09-21
For the Grant County Herald.
Melancholy Shipwaeck.

.Nr. Editor: | hasten to lay before
you for publication, all the particulars
have been able to collect concerning he
late wreck. It is ever painful to fee
ling mind to record instances Of great
destruction of persons or property, but
when to there is added destruction Of
character, it is intensely so. But, to the
particulars: It appears that a ship COM
monty known as the ship of State, and
named the Wisconsin, was lately wreck
ed at Madison, where she now lies deep
ly imbeded in the mud. She was own
ed by the people Of Wisconsin, as was
her cargo, valued at 10000 dollars, all
of which is reported total loss but
it may be some consolation to their
friends (if they have amy to know that
the crew were all saved, though mostly
in damaged state, many having their
conscsences torn completely off, from
stem to stern; others with their char
acters flying in shreds before the RAJ
ging elements, and nearly all more or
less damaged in their upper works, many
SO much SO that it is feared they will
never again be able to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong, justice or in
justice, though some of them had pres
ence of mind enough to secure the car
go as it drifted ashore, and in this they
appear to have been very successful, for
they took the precaution to invite ONE
wreck masters from a distance, to be
present upon the occasion; these men
by their experience in the wrecking bu-
siness were enabled to give much valu-
liable advice, as to the way in which the
wreck should be made; and they were
rewarded by the crew of the i'll fated
ship to the tune of $500 dollars head
for their valuable advice. The Wiscon-
sin was a staunch vessel, but six years
old, and reported fast sailer. The loss
of both ship and cargo will fall heavy
upon our young state. But stop, let us
think moment: is there not a way in
which the ship may yet be got off and
most of her cargo recovered. There
IS, and it Will require no more politica
skill to effect it than it did to run he1
into the mud. But if so desirable al
object is to be effected, wings and dem.
ocrats must for the time being dro1
their distinctive party names, and no
allow them to appear upon their tick
cts, and at the next election crew fol
the Wisconsin should be elected of mel
for the occasion, all of whom should be
pledged, not to follow in the footsteps O
their illustrious predecessors, but t,
. make it their first business to get th,
Wisconsin afoat, and fitted for cruise
their next to capture and bring to Jus
tice such of her late crew as had an,
agency in procuring the wreck, or VIII
took any share Of the plumber. If ;
distinctive party name is thought indis
pensible, take new ones for the occa
sion-say aUreckers and anti-wreckers
or any other that will serve to show
what you are contending fer but what
IS done must be done soon, and shout,
any think it best to attempt to get the
Wisconsin ahoat let them remember tina
both the old parties must pull at tn
same end of her or she wont bulge
But l look upon the moral, or rattle,
Immoral part of this wrecking bushes
as its worst feature, for it is law o
nature that like begets its like, and wit
such an amount Of political depravity a
is now being exhibited in this state
will be impossible to prevent it fror
spreading SO as to corrupt the great be
dy of the people, and make it even inn
possible to train up the rising genera
ton to be virtuous citizens, or goo
Legislators. In my next I propose t
say word to taxpayers, which teri
. includes the most of us.
LUTHER BRown.
Patch Grove, Sept. 18th, 1853.