The Trinity times., 1855-02-17
From IIarper's Magazine. ]
A True Hero.


asked the strategy or tested the bravery of
,he most renowned Of the worlds great gem
erals.
lie was 'as brave as Napoleon, who some
three or four years ago, at an extensive fire
in some inland town in Massachusetts, having
heard that keg of powder was stored in an
apartment of a building that was ON fire, en-
tered through the gathering flame and smoke
and without saying a word to impart fear to
those who were endeavoriDgto to quell the con-
flagration, bore from the burning buildi ling
the already half charred repository of the
dreadful elements whose explosion would
have carried swift destruction to a score OF
his fellow men, and Deposited it in place OF
safety. There was q brave man'-braye in
good, humane cause.
John MAYNARD was brave man-one OF
the 'bravest of the brave
DO YOU remember him, reader? Probably
BOT. IL you have heard of him at all you
have forgotten him. But his name is record
ed in the dispatches Of Humanity. He was
nothing but helmsnian, a great many years
ago, of steamboat called the Jersey, on
Lake Erie. lie was rough, weather-beat
en- sailor, tanned by many a stormy tempest;
bat he had good and tender heart in his
bosom, and was called Honest John May
nard' from one end of Lake Erie to the other.
1t 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 his cabin, called out
10 a sailor:
Dick Fletcher, what's all that smoke COM
ing out of the holdH
IT'S from the engine room, I guess said
the man.
Go down quick and see, said the captain,
'and let me knew. No noise, no alarm, qui-
city, now.'
The sailor went below, and in minute
came back.
'The holds on fire, captain"
The captain rushed down, and found the
report was but too true. Some sparks had
fallen on q bundle of tow; no 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, passen-
gers as well as sailors, were called together;
and two lines being made, one en- each side
the hold, buckets of water were passed and
re-passed; they were filled from the lake,
flew along line Of ready hands, were dashed
kissing on the burning mass, and then passed
on to the other side to be reiilled. For some
llluultS IL us IL TIC uhlIleS were SUI
dued.
In the meantime, the women were cluster
ing round John Maynard lie was the only
one employed who was capable of answering
their questions.
How far is it to landY asked cne.
How long shall we be in getting ini' in
qured another.
is it very deep'' asked third, in ON agony
of terror.
Can thoy see MS from the shore2 deman-
ded a fourth in tones of despair.
The helmsman answered all as we'll as he
could:
There ,rds no boat; il had been left at
Buffalo to be repairod;' they might be seven
miles from shore--tlcy would probably be
in in forty minutes couldn't tell how
far the fire had reached &c; but he ad-
ded, we are all in great danger; and |
think if there was little less talking and
little more praying, it wosld be all the better
for us, and none the worse for the boat
'liow does she head?' shouted the captain.
West southwest, sir, answered Maynard.
Keep her SOU by west cried the captain
'we ipust go ashore aay,rhereI'
just NJ that minute u drasghs of wind
blew back the flames, which soon began to
blsUe up more furlously against the saloon, and
the partition between it and the hold was
soon on fire. Then long wreaths of smoke
began to find their way through the sk Wight;
and the captain seeing this, ordered all the
women forward.
The engineer now put en- his utmost steam;
The American flag wis run up aud reversed,
In token Of distress; aud water was flung
over the sails, to make them held the wind.
And still John Maynard stood by the wheel,
flough he WAS now cut off by sheet of
smoke and flame from the ships crew.
Greater and greater grew the heat. The
engineers fled from the engne-room, the pas
sengers were clustering round the ships bow;
the sailors were saving off planks on which
to launch the women; the boldest we're strip
ping of their coats and waiscoats, and pre-
pairing for one long struggle for life.
And still the coast grew palmer and plain
er; the paddles as yet worked well; they
could not be more than a mile from shore.
and boats were even now starting to their as
sistance.
John Maynard3 cried the captain.
'Ay, ay, sir.' said John.
Can you hold on FIVE minutes lonoerr
'lll try sir!'
And he did try The flames came nearer
and nearer; q sheet OF smoke would some
times almost suiiocate him; his hair was singed
and his blood seemed on fire with the fervid
neat. Crouching as far back as he could he
held the wheel firmly in his left hand, until
the flesh shrivelled and the muscles cracked
ia the flames. And then he stretched forth
ms right and bore the agony without scream
or groan.
IL was enough br him TO hear the cheer
OF 'he sailors to the approaching boats; the
cry OF the captan-'the women frst-eyerv
man tor himself--and Cop for us all!'
And theee were the last sounds he heard. ;
How he perisied was never eertainIv tnown
Whether, dizzled by the smoke, he lost his
footing in sndeayoring to come Forward aud
fell overheard, or whether he was sufToeated
by the dense smoke, his comrades could
not tell
At the moment the vessel struck the boats
were along side; passengers, sailors and cap
tain leaped into them or swan for their lives
Ill save he to whow they all owed everything
escaped.
The body Of John MAYNARD slecns in peace