Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-09-28

der by which you 60 10 the hold, but
scarcely had he disappeared beneath the
deck. when up he came again with much
greater speed.
"The holds on FIRE, sir" he said to
the captain, who by this time, was stand.
ing close by him.
The captain rushed down aud found
the account too true. Some sparks had
fallen on bundle Of tow; no one had
seen the accident. and no. only mucl, Of
the luggage but the sides Of the vessel
were in smouldering fame.
All hands, passenger. as well as sail.
ors. were called together, and two lines
beng made, one each side Of the bold.
buckets OF water passed AMI repassed !;
they were filled from the lake; they flew
along line Of ready hands, were dashed
Kissing on the burning mass, snd then
pa sed on the other side to be rehIled.
For some minutes il seemed as if the
flames were subdued.
In the meantime the women on board
were clustering found John MAYNARD, the
only man unemployed who was capable
OF answering their questions. "How far
is IT TO land :" How long shall we be
getting III 2" us it very deep 2" "Can
they see Us from shore ?" The helms
man answered as best he could There
was no b"at II had been left at Buffalo
10 be mendcd; they nigh, be seven
miles from shore; they would be in in
t"riv minutes. He could No, tell how
far the fire had reached. And to speak
The truth. he added, "we are all ia great
danger, aud | think. if there was little
less talking, and a little more praying II
", uld be better ior us, and none the worse
for The boat
'Ilow's head ;" shouted the captain.
"W est sou.west. sir," answered May
narJ
Keep her south by west" cried the
captain We mus, go on shore any
where"
IT happened that draft Of wind drove
back the flames, which SOON began to
blaze up more furiousIy against the sa-
loon and ihe partition between i, and
the hold was soon on fire. Then long
wrea,hs Of smoke began to find their way
through the skylgh,, and the captain,
seeing this, ordered all the women for
ward, the engineer put on his utmost
steam, The American flag was run up and
reversed. IN token OF distress water was
flung over the sails TO make them hold
the wind. And s,,ll John Maynard stood
by the wheel. though now he was Gu, of
by sheet oil smoke and flames from the
ships crew.
Greater and greater grew the heat, the
engineers fled from the engine room, the
passengers were clustering round the yes.
sells bow, the sailors were saving planks
on which to lash the women. the boldest
were throwing of their coats and waist.
V6ats aud preparing for one long struggle
Tor lille. And still the coast grew palmer
the paddles as ye, worked well, they could
not be more than a mile from the shore,
and boats were even now starting to their
assistance.
John Maynard"' cried the captain.
AYE, aye, sir!" said John.
Can you hold on 6ye minutes longer"
IL can try, sir
And he did Try; the flames came nearer
and nearer and nearer; sheet oil smoke
would sometimes almost sulocaie him ;
his hair was sinsed-his blood seemed on
fire with the great heat. Crouching as
far back as he could, he held the wheel
firmly with his left hand till the flesh
shrivelled, aud the muscles cracked in
the blame; aud then he stretched forth
his right and bore The agony without II
scream or a groan. II was enough for
him tha, he heard the cheer Of the sail.
ors to the approaching boats, The cry OF
the captain, 1.-The women first and then
every man for himself. and God Tor US
all |" And they were the last sounds
lha, he heard. How he perished was not
known; whether dizzed by the smoke
he los, his footing in endeasori"g to come
forward, and tell overheard, or whether
he was sufioca,ed by The dense smoke,
his comrades could not tell. A, the mo
men, the vessel struck the boats were al
her side; passengers, sailors and captain
Ieaped into them, or swan for t'.eir lives
- all, save he to whom they owed every
thing. escaped,
He had died the death Of Christian