Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-01
Real Heroism-Wreck of the
Schooner Niagara. at Port Hone.

Real Heroism-Wreck of the
Schooner Niagara, at Port Hope.
The wreck of this vessel on Wednesday
iast was attended with loss of life under
singularly painful circumstances. In en-
deavoring to make the barbor, she struck on
fhe shoal to the east of it, and Immediately
careened over. 1t was blowing a terrific
60 at the time; and the frost was so severe,
taat every rope glisteneJ like so much crys-
tai. Tne hands first took shelter under the
oulwarks on the quarterback; but these
were soon carried away, and they were
obliged to take 10 the main sail boom, W h ich
vas literally covered with ice. Hundreds
upon hundreds of people were looking from
the shore at Port Hope, about two hundred
yards distant. at the painful and desperate
struggle of the brave tars elinging to spar
as 1t was swayed about BY the storm, and
washed by the surf. At length a jolly boat,
with Capt. Woods Of the Annie Msude, Of
Port Hope, in command. put out to rescue
the freezing and surf f-beaten crew. A cheer
rose from every voice as the boat gained the
deep water, and was gallantly cresting the
waves to resch the schooner. But after
repeated and almost superhuman efforts to
bring the boat alongside, she was obliged to
abandon the attempt, lest she should be
swamped, or dashed to pieces against the
vessel. Tears dimmed every eye, as the
bravo boat, which had again and again, until
she was nearly filled with water, and was
literally covered with ice, endeavored to
make FAST was seen making for land The
poor sailors, who were motionless during
fthe struggle Of the toat to reach them, again
waved their hands from the boom, for one
last effort to save them. The feelings Of
the hundreds of speeta tors at this time are
wholly indescribatle. In short time how
ever, another 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 the poor sai!oIs off the boom. Wave
after wave they crested, as hearts beat high
that witnessed them, and as hopes sunk and
rose as they disappeared between, and anon
rose above, the swells. At length they
reached the schooner, and one vast cheer
was heard as they made fast to the davits.
The crew of the boat, with the exception of
two men, climbed into the schooner to help
the half frszen sailors off the boom. One
was handed down; but ere second could
be lowered. fearful swell almost hid the
boat; another came, and she disappeared;
and the poor sailor who had been Just hand.
ed down TO what was his last hope of safety
was the only one of the three tina. wa, ever
seen. He rose, struggled with the break
ers, caught rope, was hauled on the deck
of the schooner, and was in a few minutes
afterwards frozen to death. A cry of des.
pair now rose from every one. The brave
crew of the boat " as added to the crew ol
the schosner-and wilder and wilder still
ragged the storm. From a point of land
above the schooner a scoW was sent adrift
in slender hope that it might float to her,
| 1t stranded in few seconds afterward.-
From the Grand Trunk Wharf, which was
| to the windwaid, their best boat was also
| floated off, but its fate was like their hopes
| it soon sunk. At last brave old skipper
| honor to his name aud to his heart-said
he would make one more effort to save them
or he would perish in the attempt. Daring
desperate as was the resolve, his boat was
named by sailors and fishermen 10 few
seconds; and literally amid cheers and pray
ers, they pushed her into the boiling surf
The previous boats having been too small
to live in the sea near the schooner. this
last was large and heavy boat; and for q
.leng xime it was one dead struggle to keep
their own with her. She rose nobly to the
waves, but she made little or no headway
Every nerve of the brave crew was strained
but they could only defy the storm; they
could not gain upon it. At last, as the erie.
Of the friends Of those who were on boar q
the schooner were growing wilder on the
beach, and the poor sailors were seen ireez.
ing to the boom, there appeared lull of q
few seconds, ard one vast effort brought
the boat under the stern of the schooner
A cheer rose from her crew. Men, wome \
anc children, as If they had all bat one
| heart, broke out into wild scream of ecstasy
and hope on shore. The poor frost-bitte 4
crew were safely handed down into the boat
and as she crested the waves and o0re them
triumphsntly to The shore, it seemed as i
all human symPathies were absorbed in one
intense feeling of admiration of those who
had behaved with all the generosity Of sail
ors, and more than the nobility of most men
The name OF the captain who commanded
the last boat was Stephen Woods of the
Annie Maude. He aud his crew deserve fal
mure Than this triHing tribute to their hero
sm.--Toronto ColoList, Dec. 5.