The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-10-06

to the wind. He hesitated, as he was n
native of Hamburg. Got German gen.
tleman to speak to him.
At this time saw some persons letting
down the boat from the port side of the
quarter deck what become of her / do
not know. but think she was crushed under
the screw.
Went with some others to get out the
boat from the starboard side of the quar-
ter deck The moment we laid hands on
the ropes, so many crowded into it that
we could not lift it off the blocks. Left
it for few moments until the people got
out, then returned and put it over the side
of the ship. They all rushed in again 1t
descended with violence into the water
and was instantly swampcd, and all the
people were washed out but three, who
held on. We let down a rope and pulled
up one who proved to be the steward
another in the act Of being hauled up, was
strangled by the rope. The fire came
on too fercely to attempt to get up the
third.
All the first cabin passengers were on
the poop, with the exception of few gen.
tlemen who must have smothered in the
smoking room. Many of the second cabin
passengers were also on the poop, but
number of them got shut into the cabin
by the fire some Of them were pulled up
through the ventilator but the greater
number could not be extracted The last
women drawn up said there were six al
ready sufocated.
Now perceived that the ship had got
her head to the wind again, SO that the
flames came over the quarter deck. In
consequence of the crowd, could not get
to the wheel.house to ascertain the reason
but was informed that the helmsman had
deserted his post, and the vessel being left
to herself headed to the wind.
At this time the scene on the quarter
deck was indescribable and truly heart
rendering. Passengers were rushing to
and fro, husbands seeking wives, wives in
search Of husbands, relatives looking after
relatives, mothers lamenting their children
some wholly paralized by fear, others cry
ing to be saved, but few perfectly calm
and collected. The flames pressed 30
closely upon them that many jumped into
the sea- Relatives claspsd in each others
arms, leaped over and met watery grave.
Two girls, supposed sisters, jumped over
and sank kissing each other. A mission
airy and wife leaped into the sea together
and the stewardesS aud assistant steward
arm in arm followed.
One Hungarian gentleman, with seven
fine children, -four girls) made his wife
jump in, then blessed the six oldest child
rem, made them jump in one after the
other, and followed them, with an infant
in his own arms.
About this time l was standing outside
the bulwarks, holding on by the davits,
leaning out to avoid the flames which
were leaping towards me. Saw a swamped
boat under me spinning by rope still at
tached to the ship. As the oars were tied
in her, thought if I got to her I would be
enabled to save myself and some others.
Let myself down by the rope, passing over
man who was clinging to it, but who re.
fused to come with me. Took out my
penknifs to cut the tackle, when the large
blade broke ; then severed it with the
small blade. The ship passed ahead. As
l approached the screw, found the boat
drawn towards it tried to keep the boat
of but the screw caught and capsized her
over me. Owed away from the ship md
came to the surface near the boat, which
was keel uppermost. Got on her, aud by
pressing on one side, with the assistance
Of wave she rghted, but was still
swamped. The oars had been knocked
out by the screw. The only thing could
find in her to paddle with was some laths
nailed together as sheathinp for sides.
When | looked around, the ship was a
quarter of mile from me. Could see
ladies and gentlemen jumping off the poop
into the water in twos and threes-some
ladies in flames.
Several hesitated to leap from the
burning ship until the last moment, as
the height was % feet, and only at length
when compelled threw themselves off to
avoid more painful death.
In half an hour not soul was to re
seen on the poop. Pulled after the ship
and picked up German who was SWIM
ming strongly. Got him beside me on the
boat and pulled after the ship with laths.
Saw vessel under sail approaching
she reached the steamer about 5 P. NJ.
We continued pulling towards them, and
about half-past 7 o'clock, after being five
hours in the water, got within hail of the
sailing vessel which put off a boat and took
US on board. She proved to be the French
barque Maurice, Capt. Earnest Renaud,
of Nantes bound from Newfoundland for
the Isle of Bourbon, with fish. She had
up to that time, rescued forty passengers
of the burning steamer, chiefly taken of
the bowsprit but few were picked up
floating around.
About P. NJ, one Of the metallic
boats came up with about twenty-three
persons including LIST and Sd officers.
Afterwards three or four men were picked
up on piece of broken beat The I'd
officer was taken up having been swimming
with nothing to float upon, six hours. The
I'd and Sd officers were severely burned.
One male passenger was burned trightfully
and some other male passengers slightly.
There were but six women saved three
of them were burned-one of them in a