Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-28
1flI5reIlal,colls.
From the Utica Observer.
d hOBLE AND TRUE-HEiRTED lRISHNly

The name of William G Bennett. til
naval engineer who was met by Lieuten
ant Strain on the Isthmus of Darlen
should be widely published and universal
y cherished by all who respect the high
est 4uailtleS OF generosity and humanity
Mr Headly, has in several numbers 0
Harper's Magazine, given the readin.
fpubhc au account Of the awful suffering,
OF the gallant men who were engaged il
the Darien Exploring Expedition-man,
OF whom perished by absolute starvation
10 the almost superhuman energy of the
ofhcer in command-LieutS Strain-is e
be attributed the safety of those who sur
ViVed, when Strain had at length found
his way through to the settlements. he
fortunately encountered Mr. Bennett. a
.tali / we'll formed manly, noble Irisbman >
STRAIN, says the account, was reduced bv
long starvation from one hundred and
forty hive pounds in weight to seventy i've
| covered with sores; aud clad in such ha-
blllments as the negro Aclade could fur
nsh him, looking like beggar. he ap-
preached the table where Bennett was
engaged with his drawings As Strain
drew near, Mr. Bennett accosted him
rather sternly. saying
Well Sir, what do you want ?"
The former replied Il am Lieuten
ant Strain, Commander of the United
States Darien Exploring Expedition"
Ny G'0d ~ exclaimed the warm hear
ted man as be caught him in his arms, and
pressed him to his bosom, while the tears
rolled down his cheeks "Ah /" said he.
+" We had given you up long ago as lost :"
He ordered dinner at once; told Strain
that he must remain there and recruit
while he, himself, though then lame would
go back for his comrades Strain declined
He then supplied bim with provisions
brought out nearly all the clothing he had /
forced on Strain his poucho, turned his
medicine chest and his pockets inside out
saying, to him "Take these to the poor
men
This was o'clock in the afternoon.and
at 2 II, Strain was on bis way back
to the rescue. Bennett remained to meet
the Yirago, a British war vessel, which
was soon expected, as soon as her guns
were heard he hurried on board the ship,
and by bis earnest presentations hur-
| ried forward with Lieutenant Forsyth and
company who had been sent TO Strains
assistance Having joined Strain at va
visa, the party pushed forward to suceor
! the perishing; The difficulties enconn-
tered were so great, that when it was
/ found the exploring party 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 hardly escaped with. his
life Bennett knew the danger, and spoke
of the anticipated crisis of revolt. advi-
sing Strain to try and accustom his swo
len feet to the use Of a boot, saying, \ GU
know whea ali shall turn back, you and |
must shoulder our havresacks and take
10 the woods alone till we fud your men. "
This noble self devotion. says Headly.
iaf a strar Ger and foreigncr-thjs grand
high purpose to cast his lot in With the
idlstressed commander and save his party
or perish with them-reveals one ofthose
El1f5v. elevated characters which sncd ius
tres on the race
Tie natives gave out the next day. and
Strain was compelled &c draw his revolver
aEEt- lt-#EatLi tLIt -. AZ GBtst pei
t. proceed Two days after they fortu
nately overlook the remains of tae party
five of whom had perished. We have
never read Of a more thrilling scene than
that Of this rescue-four or five of the
party only were able to keep their feet,
land meet their commander on shore -
Several afterwards died from the effects
lof their privations The whole party
we're reduced to mere skeletons-there
thew Law. lascerated. liberated, frames OF
men half covered with rags. Some were
so changed from emaciation, that Strain
himself could not recognize them as they
were stretched upon the ground, unable
to get up As Bennett, the noble Irish
man. Jumped ashore. and saw the hideous
spectacle of SCARED and almost naked
skeletons, he seized each one by the hand
while tears poured like rain down his
cheeks
The reader will be glad to hear that
this noble stranger received IN a letter
from the Secretary of the Navy,the thank:
of our Government for his devotion anc
services.