Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-09-09
From Harper's Magazine.

]
the worlds estimation between civil and mlltary
Hero. But some deeds have been recorded OF noble
heroism in private snnntary station, which nave
not been excelled on the hardest fought Held that
ever tasked the strategy tested the bravery OF the
most renowned Of the worlds great generals
| He was as brave as Napoleon, who, some three
or four yearsa CO. at an extensive IRE IN sonie a
town in Massachusetts, having heard that keg OF
| powder stored in an apartment OF bulldlng
that fire, entered through the gathering haie
and smoke, and without saying word to llnpar'
fear to those who endeavorg to quell the con
fagration bore from the burning building the AREA
dy half-charred repository of the dreadful elements
whose explosion would have carried swirl destF9e
ton" to score of his fellow-men, and deposlten
| in place of safety There was a brave man =
| brave in good, humane cause
| John Maynard was brave malone OF the Dfa-
vest Of the brave. p"
Do YOU remember him, reader? Probably not:
If you have heard of him at ALL you have 1orgotten
| him. But his name is recorded g in the despatch
es of Humanity He was nothing but helslns-
man, great many years ago. OF STEAMBOAT, eaileo
! ''The Jersey on Lake Erie. He was bluff wea-
ther beaten sailor tanned by many stormy tempest
| but he had a good and tender heart in his bosom,
| and was called Honest John Maynard from one
| end of Lake Erie to the other
It was about four O'Clock in the afternoon, and the
nearest land, in the neighborhood OF the town OF
Erie on the Southern shore of the lake, was ABOUT
| ten miles distant The captain, coming up from MS
! cabin, called out to sailor:
| "Dick Fletcher, what's all that smoke coming ou'
| of the hold?" -
| "Its from the engine room, guess, said the man.
go down quick and see" said the captain, p" and
! let me know No noise-no alarm-quletiy' now;
The sailor went below. and in a minute came back:
" The hold is on fire! captain"
The captain rushed down, and found the account
was but too true. Some sparks had fallen on bun
die of tow; one had seen the accident; and now
not only much of the baggage but the sides OF the
vessel were in smouldering fame.
All on board, passengers well as sailors, were
called together; and two lines being made, one on
each side of the hold buckets of water were passed
and repassed; they were filed from the lake, flew
along a line ofready hands, were dashed Kissing on
the burning mass, and then passed ON to the other
side to be re-fflled Fer minutes it seemed as
if tho flames were subdued.
In the meantime the women were clustering round
John Maynard. He was the only man unemployed
who was capable of answering their questions.
g low far is it to land !" asked one.
GLOW long shall We be in getting in ?" inquired
adother.
as ie Gerry deep?" asked third, in agony of
terror.
"Can they see us from the shore?' demanded
fourth, in tones of despair
The helmnsman answered as well as he could:
"There was no boat; it had been left at Buffalo
to be repaired;" they might be seven miles from
shore they would probably be in in forty min
utes he couldn't tell how far the fire had reach
ed" &C. but, " he added, 1--WE all in great
danger; and think if there was little less talking
and little praying it would be all the better
for US, and none the worse for the boat
How does she head ?" shouted the captain.
"West southwest, sill" answered Maynard.
"Kecp her SOU by west, cried the captain 1--WE
must go ashore any aohere?"
just at that moment draught of wind blew back
the flames which began to blaze up more furiously
against the saloon and the partition between and
the hold was soon on fire. Then long wreaths of
smoke began to find their way through the skylight
and the captain seeing this, ordered all the women
forward.
The engineer now put on the utmost steam; the
American in o
distress; and water flung the Sails to make
them hold the wind
And still John Maynard stood by the Wheel
though he was now cut off, by sheet of smoke and
flame, from the ships crew.
Greater and greater grew the heat The engineer
fled from the engne-room the passengers were cluS
tered round the vessels bow the sailors saw
ing off planks on which to launch the women the
boldest were throwing off their coats and wastcoats
and preparing for one long struggle for life.
And still the coast grew palmer and palmer; the
paddles as yet worked we'll; they could not be more
than mile from the Shore and boats were even
starting to their assistance.
John Maynard, " cried the captain.
cay, ay, sir!" said John.
"Can you hold on five minutes longer?"
"Ill try, SIR"
And he dill try. The flames came nearer, and near
er, and nearer: sheet of smoke would sometimes
almost suffocate him; his hair was singed; and his
blood seemed on fire with the fervent heat Crouch
ing as far back he could, he held the wheel firm
ly in his left hand, till the flesh shriveled and the
muscles cracked in the flames. And then he stretch
ed forth his right and bore the agony without
scream a groan?
1t enough for him that he heard the cheer of
the sailors to the approaching boats the cry of the
captain: The women tirst--every man for himself
and Cop for all ~
"And these were the last sounds he heard " How
he persisted was never certainly known. Whether
dzzed by the smoke, he lost his footing in endeav-
orng to come forward and fell overheard or wheth-
er he was suffocated by the dense smoke his COM
rades could not tell
AT the moment the vessel struck, the boats were
at her side; passengers sailors, and captain eaped
into them or swan for their lives. AW save he to
whom they all owed every thing escaped.
The body of John Maynard sleeps in peace by the
side of green Lake Erie; his spirit was commended
to his Fathers hands
Better than fame at the lannon's mouth in
the ardor of conqust-far better than battle for
that which perisheth, is the lasting renown of this
soldier of Humanity
rolled away his memory will be perpetuated even
in these desultory pages.
SHORT LETTERS. The Memphis EAGLE gives the
following letter from at-boat man to his father
He and his brother "Bl" had 1atted load ofcorn
to New Orleans:
NJ ORLBENs Gune s.
DEER DAD,-Markets is dull corn is nifty 10 and
Bills dead Your affectonate son. II r
This is short and to the purpose: It reminds us
of the celebrated correspondence between stay at
home mother and her absent son.
PENoBscoT MAINE.
DEAR JoHN,-Come here A rolling stone gath
ers no moss Your loving mother,
The answer not long in coming back and WAS
not long when it got back: -, sy
RED RIVER, TEXAS.
DEAR MoTHER-Come here A setting hen meyer |