Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-12-20
tFror the Toronto Coloni.t, Dec. 81
REAL HgROrsM.


The Wreck Of he Schooner Niagara at Fort
Hope. Canada.
The wreck OF this vessel on Wednesday
last was attended with loss Of life under
singularly painful circumstances. In endeav-
oring To make the harbor, she struck on the
shoal to the east Of IT, and Immediately ca
reened over. II was blowing terrific gale
1t the time, aud the frost was so severe that
every rope glstenvd like so much crystal.
The hands first took shelter under the hui
warks ON the Quarter deck, but these were
soon carried awsy, and they were obliged to
take to the mainsuil boom, which was liter
rlly covered with ice. Hundreds upon hun
dreds of people we're looking from the shore
at Point Hope, about two hundred yards
distant, at the painful and desperate struggle
OF the brave tars clingng to spur as it was
swnyed about by the storm aid washed hy
the surf. At length jolly boat, with Capt.
Woods, OF the Anne Mande, Of Port Hope.
10 command put out t9rrescue the freezing
and sarf.beaten crew.
A cheer rose from every voice as the boat
gained the deep water, and was gallantly
crestng the waves to resch the schooner.
But after repeated ann An,ast superhuinan
efforts to bring the boat alongside, she was
obliged to abandon the attempt, lest she
against the yes.sl Tears dimmed every eye
when the brave boat, which had again end
again, until she was very nearly filled with
water, and was literally covered with ice,
endeavored to make fast" was seeD making
for land The poor sailors. who were mo-
tionlpss during the struggle OF the boat to
reach them, again waved their hands from the
bu0nl, for one last effort to saw them. The
feelings Of the hundreds of spectators St
this time are wholly indiscrihable.
In short time, hoasver, sDother boat
with fresh crew put ont, amid cheers which
strangely mingled with the wild storm
GlOriously did they mount the swells, which
now threatened to sweep tho poor sailors Oh
the boom. Wave after wave they crested,
as bearte beat high that witnessed them, aud
az hopes sunk and rose ss they disappeared
between and anon rose above the ewelle. At
length thsy reached the schooner aud one
vast cbper was heard Ms they made fact TO
,hs daviis. The crew Of the boat. with the
exception Of two men. climbed into the
schooner to help the half frozen gaors OF The
boom. One was handed down; hut ere a
second conld be lowered, " feurful swell
almost hid the boat another came and sue
{ l,''sappaayed, ani the poor sailors who had
been Just NaIded down to what WAS his last
hope 0l safety. rss the only one of the three
that was ever sees. He rose, struggled with
| ihs breakers. canght rope. was hauled ON
the deck of the SCHOONER, and was III few
! minutes afterwards frozen to death. A cry
OF despuir Nv roee from every Que.
| The brave crew OF the boat were added to
the creW of the schooner aud wilder and
wilder still ragged the storm. From = point
Of land above the Schooner, scow Was set
adrift. in the slender hope that it might float
to her. 1t stranded in few seconds after.
wards From the Grand Trunk wharf, which
was to the windwsrd, tn, ir hest bnut was
| foated OF but it's fate was like their hopes
| il soon sunk. At last brave old skipper
! honor to his name and TO his teart--Said he
would make one more effort to save them. or
he would perish in the attempt. Daring,
! desperate ns was the resolve, hls boat was
manned by saiora aud GShermen in few
D"conis nnd literally, amid cheers and
| prayers they pushed her into the boiling sdrl.
| The previous boats having been too small
| to live in the sea near the schoontr. this last
( Was large and heavy boat; and for long
| tinl. it was IL dead struggle to keep their
run With her. She roro nuiiy TO the waves.
| but she made little or no headwHy. Every
Ennrve uf the brave crew WAS strained, bnt
I they could only defy the storm they could
not gaiu upon it. At last, as the cries oi
/ th.. Frivf.ds nf those who wG~e on hoard the
schooner were growing wilder on the beach,
! aud the poor sailors were seen freezing to
; the boom. there appeared n lull of few
seconds, ard one vast effort brought the boat
under the atern Of the schooner
! A cheer rose from her crew. Men. women
and children. as they had all bnt one heart,
! broke out into Wild scream Of ecstasy and
| hope On shore. The poor irost-btten crew
were safely handed down Into the boat Bnd
as she crested the waves and bore them
triumphantly to the shore it seemed as if all
human symputhes we're absorbed in ore
! Intense feeling of admiration Of those who
had behaved with all the generosity nf sailors,
ami more than the nobility of most men.
! The name OF the captain who commanded
the last boat was Stephen Woods, uf the
! AnIe Maude. lie and his crew deserve
far more than this trhing tribute TO their
| herlism.