Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-30
From the Liverpool Times.
Incident In the Career Of Captain Nye, OF
the Pacific.

From the Liverpool Times.
Incident In the Career of Captain Nye, of
the Pacific.
We had occasion, twelve months ago, to men
ton an incident in the career of Captain Nye,
OF the American mail steamship Pacific, which
redounded highly to his honor and humanity,
and which awakened at the time great deal
of sympathy. 1t was the rescuing of q number
of persons in mid ocean from laundering
vessel-rescuing them during severe storm,
of his own vessel. In referring to this thrilling
incident, we observed at the time:
" The part of the good Samaritan, when per-
formed on land, is always beautiful, and when
done quietly and unobtrusively becomes addi-
tionally ennobling. WHAT'S it then, when acted
amidst the bowling of the tempest, and the fury
of the waves; when death shrieks in the blast,
and the elemental warfare threatens to enguph
every object-crew, passengers, vessel, cargo,
all? Mr.. Disrach, in his plagiarised impromptu
on the Duke Of Wellington, from Theirs, dwelt
in strong and impressive terms on the necessity
for GOODNESS and Judgment on the part of a
great soldier, when bullets were whizzing about
his ears, and one false movement might end in
the destruction Of himself and those under him.
The same intrepidity, the same presence Of
mind, the same ready adaptation to cilcum-
stances, and nearly the same scientific genius,
must be possessed by the successful commander
Of the ocean. He has to face danger in q form
quite as appalling, and, it may be, quite as de-
structive for the war of nature, in her widest
moods, can only be overcome by strategy and
skill. But so accustomed are men to applaud
martial glory, and to undervalue risks not less
hazardous in the pursuit of the arts Of peace,
that we too often look with indifference at events
which really combine heroism with glory.
We quote this passage from our paper of
December, last year, because it will serve to ex-
emplify what follows. To the credit of the
British government, the noble act to which we
have referred was not suffered to go unre-
warded Soon after, the admiralty presented
Captain Nye with a souvenir, commemorative
of his bravery and devotion to human life,
arising out of the occurrence now noticed, and
bearing highly complimentary inscription,
which he can hand down with pride to his chill
dren. His officers and men received sums of
money from the same source, apportioned to
the part which they performed on this interest
ing occasion, and the circumstance elected
much commendatory criticism on both sides of
the Atlantic. These facts have been again
wildly recalled to our mind by the arrival, this
week, of the same steamer, and the same com
mander, from New York for, as the vessel was
pursuing her course, the anniversary of the oc-
currence drew from the passengers the follow
ing address to Captain Nye:
s. M. STEAMER PACIFIC AT SEA,
December a, 1853.
SIR: Your passengers on the present voyage
learning that this is the first anniversary Of day.
the remembrance Of which cannot fail TO be cher
ished by you of the most interesting (if not
the proudest) of your life, they have called on me-
as a countryman of those whose lives you then
saved, to convey to you their congratulations on
its happy return, which, with my own, now pre-
sent to you.
Not deferred on that occasion by the danger to
the ship, from that hazardous and difficult under
taking--still less deferred by your own delicate
state of health, you rose from bed of sickness,
and by your cool and judicous management amidst
the fury of the gale, you brought your ship along
side of helpless tempest tossed vessel Qhe Jessie
Stevens, of Irvin) and, with the assistance of your
brave officers and men, rescued sixteen of your
fellow creatures from watery grave-an act Of
disinterested humanity which, while il has brought
TO Your own bosom its own reward has been ac-
knowledged with admiration by the British gov
eminent, the Liverpool Humane Society," the Lon
don Fishermen and Mariners Royal Humane So
ciety, as well as by all who have heard of it,
Sir, we know we only express your own senti-
ments when we recognise, in this event. the hand
of a wise and kind Providence employing you and
your brave men as the honored instruments for
the accomplishment of this mercfu deliverance;
and tossed, as we now are. on the mighty ocean
the spot where the unfortunate vessel perish
ed, we think it becomes us, especially on this
sacred day (Sabbath) to acknowledge, at the same
time our entire dependence on Him whose
way is in the sea, and whose path is in the mighty
waters" And while we gratefully acknowledge
His goodness TO you and ourselves, we confident
ly commit ourselves TO His keeping praying for
speedy and safe arrival in port.
u The messengers also desire n con vev fhroyob
you, TO your officers and men, their hearty con-
gratulations on the return of this suspicious day.
OF which may you and they see many returns.
Signed in The name, and by order of the pas
sengers. VIM STEVENSON,
Captain NYE. Chairman.
We were not previously aware that Captain
,Nye, when he rescued the crew Of the Jessie
Stevens, rose from bed of sickness to super
intend the operation, and this new fact has
been brought out by the address which we have
give above. AS we said on the first occasion,
so we repeat on this" that the whole affair,
from first to last, was one of the most humane
and most praiseworthy pieces of nautical daring
which has occurred since steamers first plough
ed the Atlantic ocean. Nothing less manly
could have been expected from the gentleman
ly and accomplished commander Of the Pacific.
whose friendship we have had the honor Of en-
joying for more than twenty years. Some one
has said with great truth that valorous heart
is not incompatible with refined exterior-a
striking instance of which is to be found in the
case brfore us n
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Recent Foreign Inventions.