The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-06-16
From the Utica Observer.
a Noble and TIuo.Uppri.1 IrIs,,n

The name Of VIM. c. Bennett, the naval
engineer who was met by Lieutenant Strain
on the lsthmus Of Daren, should be widely
published and universally cherished by all
who respect the highest qualities Of gencr-
osity aud humanity Mr. IfC01Ty has, in
several numbers Of !Isrpor's Magazine, given
the reading public an idea Of the awful suf-
ierings OF the gallant men who were en-.
gagged IN the Dari exploring expedition
many OF whom pcrished by absolute stagva-
ton. 10 the almost Superhuman energy Of
the officer in command-Iicutenant Strain
:. L-. ,aitr.hntea tls saiety suf zsAaas whe
sufSiVeo when Strain lad at long,h found
his way through to the settlements, he for.
tunately encountered Mr.. Bennett, a tall,
we!l-ioImed, manly, noble lrishman."-
Strain, says the account was reduced by
long starvation from ono hundred and forty.
live pounds IN weight to seventy FIVE, cover.
ed with sores; and clad in such habilments
as the negro Alcade could furnish him, look.
ing like bcggar, he approached tie table
where Bennett was engaged with his draw
ings As Strain drew near, Mr. Bennett
accosted him rather sternly, saying, "Weh
sir, what do YOU wants' The former re-
piled, 81 am Lieutenant Strain, Commander
el the United states Darien exploring rxpe.
dItion. "My God.' exclaimed the NaIin-
hearted man as he caught him in his arms,
and pressed him to his bosom, while the
tears rolled down his checks! "Ahl" said
he, 1--WE had given YOU up long ago as lost"
lie ordered dinner at once; told Strain he
must remain there and recruit, while ho
himself, though then lame, would 20 back
for his comrades This Strain declined
He then supplied him with provisions,
brought out nearly all the clothing he had,
forced on Strain his poncho, turned his med
icinc chest and his pockets inside out, say.
ing, Take these TO the poor men,
This was at O'Clock in the afternoon, and
at >, p. NJ, Strain was on his way back to
the rescue Bennett remained to meet the
Nirago British war vessel, which was soon
expected. As soon as her guns were heard
he hurried on board, and hy his earnest re
presentations hurried forward with Lieut..
Forsyth and company who had been sent
TO Strains assistance. Having joined Strain
at lavisa, the party pushed forward to sue
cor the pcrishing. The difficulties cncoun-
tered were so great that when it was found
that the exploring company had turned back
towards the Atlantic, Strain had reason to
expect that his companions would give out
and refuse to advance. No one could tell
how far the party might be, and the search
involved the same dangers from which Strain
had barely escaped with his life. Bennett
knew the danger, and spoke of the antici.
patcd crisis OF revolt, advising Strain to try
and accustom his swollen feet to the use of a
| boot, saying, "Iou know when all shall turn
| back, you and must shoulder our ha,cr--
sacks and take to the woods alone, till VIC
find your men This noble selfdevotion,
| SAYS ilcadiy, of stranger and foreigner
this grand high purpose to cast his lot in
with the distressed commander, and savo
his party, or perish with them-reveals one
of those lofty, elevated characters which
shed lustre on the race,
The natives gave out the next day, and
Strain was compelled to draw his revolver
and threaten their lives, to compel them to
proceed Two days after, they fortunately
overlook the remains Of the party, five Of
whom had perishcd.
We have never read Of more thrilling
scene than that Of this rescuc--four or ivO
of the party only were able to keep their
feet and meet their commander on the shore
Several died afterwards from the effect Of
their privations. The whole party were re.
duccd to mere s<eletons-there they lay,
| laccrated, liberated, frames of men, half
covered with rags. Some were SO changed,
from emaciatiop, that STRAIN himself could
not recognise them as they were stretched
upon the ground, unable to get up. As
Bennett, the noble Irishman, jumped
ashore, and saw the hidcous spectacle Of
SCARED and almost naked skeletons, he
seized each ono by the hand, while tears
poured like rain down his checks
The reader will be glad to hear that this
noble stranger received, ina separate letter
from the Secretary of the Navy, the thanks
OF our government for his devotion md his
! services.