The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-02

iivane and large party of fellow travellers. on
the Ohio river. We find it Ia q recent number oi
the Western Episcopalian published 10 Ohio;
CINCINNATI, Feb 5, 1855.
On Thursday morning, January 80, Bishop Me-.
llvsine started for Cincinnati on his return from
aysit to Louisville He took the steam ferry bost
at Lousville for the purpose of crossing the river
and taking his seat In the Jetersonvie train The
day bitter cold, and Ohio was full of RUNNING
Ice, going down In large fields to the falls which lie
Just below Louisville. The boat became fixed In
| the middle OF the river, In large mass of soid
| ice, aud could neither advance nor recede In.
SANITY she was at the mercy of the current, and
began TO move towards the tails The imminebce
| of the danger, became at once apparent There
| were absut two hundred passengers on board
men, women and children-besides omnibuses wa
| gons, horses aud their attendants 1t now seemed
almost certain that all must be lost
| Under Bishop McIlvsne's care was daughter
| of Bishop Smith The Rev Mr. Sehou a Methe
dist minister OF Louisville, and his wife, were also
on board. Ii seemed impossible that a soul could
survive II the boat should be wrecked the falls
The current, the cold the breakers, the eddes tn
Ice breaking the falls. would have rendered
escape even for the strongest and hardest swim-
| mer impossible Help from either shore could not
be extended SO long as the drifting continued Moth.
ing could reach the boat in time to rescue a single
person. Inevitable death all that the most fear.
| less and confident could before them. The
| boat and passengers were given up on the shore
| Where was hep to come front Some there were
1 on board who did know where to look; and did
look there where all true hep is found In time of
| need.
| The Bishop then said to Mr Sehou tina, he would
! go into tho room where the women were aud draw
| their minds to prayer. They went together but
| though the utmost caution used to prevent
| alarm, the word prayer was sooner uttered
than the lamentations AID cries made impossible
tor prayer to be heard. After endeavoring In vain
to calm these poor people, some Of the calm ones
| with Mr.. and Mrs Sehnn and Mss Smith gather.
1nlnc v-K,Et t,a AtaIs,
and appropriate prayer Alter this there was more
| composure. And now the hand of the ord ap.
peared. Man could do nothing. The boat WAS
drifting on to lie apparent inevitable wreck. But
| was II not Gods guiding III answer 10 prayer9-Shs
struck t.s hidae1 reef at the commencement of the
rapids That WAS the salvation, though 1t was not
| then known or reC0g Missed such.
| How long the tbost could hold that place against
the pressure vi the current, and the prodsious mo
mentum OF the acres OF ice which constantly struck
| and ground against 1t, how soon she would be
| pressed over, or lifted up and turned over, or
| crushed under the accommodating mass of Ice where
| no help could reach her. no one could saw Each
new onset OF ice was watched with intense anxiety
But that which was terror to those board proved
| TO be one OF GODS instruments for their safety
As the ice struck against the boat it formed such
mass that IL rested on the rock beneath and formed
| breskwater; and the more violent was the onset
! OF the ice, the more strong and massive did II be
| come. The boat lay, as it were, under the lee OF
this hill Of ice though some OF her length was still
| unprotected.
In this passive resistance to the assaults OF the
current and Ice, the boat lay about two hours be-
| fore help came Meanwhile the passengers could
not see Ii any movements for rescue were being
| made on shore They were too far off 10 see what
| was doing.
| From the Louisville shore they were distant half
| a mile, and the Indiana shore there were no In
! habiants. During this time high rewards were
offered the Louisville side to any one who would
| attempt rescue. The clerk of the Jacob Strader
had son in the stranded boat, and offered large
| price for his deliyerapce. The 1fe-boat of the
| Strsder launched, and three men came out in
| her, aud took out the youth and two young women
connected with the officers OF the Strader II took
| the boat an hour to get back
| In the course OF another hour, some four or FIVE
boats cspabIe OF containing each from tour to five
| persons, came out from either shore. Meanwhile
| the women had become quite composed. Many OF
| them behaved in a very exemplary way through
| out the whole period As soon as these skfs came
near to the boat, the determination seemed unani-
| nous that the women should all go first, I'D this
observation-disclosures carried out The coiored wo
men were as kindly cared for as the while Who
| ever came first entered the boats first, The last
woman that white woman. Such as
had husbands were allowed to have them with
| them. The Rev. Mr. Sehon went as was proper,
with his wife, in the second boat and Bshop Me-
Ilysine consigned TO him the care Of Miss Smith
and bsde them farewell.
Our good Bishop was strongly urged by those In
the ski and on the boat to 60 with the lady 10 his
CHARGE but he resolutely refused to avail himself
, OF the privilege which all seemed anxious to sc-
cord to his age and character. One or two colored
| men were allowed to go la the skifs with their
| wives. Not a word ofinterference or remonstrance
| in reference to this arrangement uttered
| " Remember The Arctic, was heard the women
were put n All the while the ice was crushing
| against the boat, and none knew how soon she
would be driven where no boats could reach her
At length the last woman as it was supposed, had
been put on and the boat was not full. AT the ur-
| gency of these who were most active, Bishop Nc
Iivaine consented TO get into the skitf But before
II had pushed Oft another woman was found, and
he at once called to her to come and take bin
place.
Gill Smith e. Co OF Louisville, to whoever would
take il II manned by gallant crew, who
knew that such craft must take the falls. Two
falls pilots in her. One steered and The Other
commanded. Capt Hamilton, a cool and intrepid
man. took the command. On her flush deck, which
was even with her sides. and covered with straw
about fifty men, OF whom Bishop McIlvaine wa:
one were placed AS there were room to stand
because of the oars, nor room TO sit they were com
PEELED to kneel. By this time the boats which had
put off had been carried down, and were just able
to reach the island at the head OF the ialle wher.
there was n uch suffering from cold, and whence
the women with difficulty got TO the Kentucky
shore.
trial of the falls Captan Hamilton ordered silence
Let no one speak but me-" said he. He ordered
the draught of the boat to be meesrrsd-Ths answr'
was Itis fifteen inches" he answered: 1T is q
poor chance - and evidently thought the very
desperate. be had expected that the boat would
be loaded 80 heavily. His effort was to reach par
ticnsI chute of the falls that which alone afforded
any hope OF passage. All this had occupied but a
minute or two. The powerful current he'd broug ht
the fiat almost to the spot where in another instant
she was be wrecked, and all los: in the breakers
aud ice, they were to be safe. There perfect
silence. What solemn moment! How appropri-
ate was the kneeing position which was maintsined
The Lord those hearts that were before him in
corresponding attitude Of prayer and faith
| Our beloved shop sheltered poor, shiyerine
eoored boy under his cloak, and commended him
self and fello voyssers with composure and conf.
dsnce to his Lord and Saviour In the crisis
passing down the chute the boat struck Itsseu,ed
| then thst all was los.i The silence unbrok On
Grating over the rock. she was a moment free, and
then struck again. Again she was free, and again
struck. Her bottom grsted On the Teef-not word
was spoken--the boat noated on-the captain cried
out, "Try the pump" - Nc wsteI" was the an
swer. God had del yered them The gentleman
who kneeled next to the bishop heard him solemnl,
mucmur, The Lord be praised for bis mercles."
| Now the fearful eddies and breakers were dan
Lot to be thsught of after what bad been rsssed
Three miles below Louisville, at Pertisnd the pas
sepgers vera landed safely, with great sense O
gratitude to the intrepid pilots and their brave crew
and most deeply Indebted Co the mercy OF God Thel
had been about four hours on the water. After thi
soec1asfui passage larger boat, capable OF hoidn
more freight, and without too much drsught took Of
hA tv4ux H. L.