The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-12-14

! from the shore, in shallow water. At this
moment boy who was on the wreck vac
washed off by the waves, but was rescued by
Capt. Monroe. After this the boy became
frightened for the first time, and chung eager
ly to his preserver. Capt. Monroe fastened
plank life-preserver to his body, and taking
the boy in his arms, leaped into the water
and waded ashore. AS the boy was landed
his suspenders broke and his pantaloons fell
about his ankles, where they froze in solid
mass, claiming him to the spot where ne
stood. In few moments the half-naked boy
was dead.
Capt. Monroe walked back to the piece of
wreck and directed his comrades where to
leap so as to strike in the shallowest water.
One by one the leap was made in safety, I'M
til but one was left on board, and that one
was Mr.. A. II. Derby, the clerk of the pro-
peller. He was seen sitting on the wreck
with his head bent down, as if in despair
Capt. Monroe called him by name, but he
did not answer, although his mouth opened.
To second hail, he again opened his mouth,
without giving any articulate sound. Capt.
Monroe and engineers Manchester and Cum
mings went to the wreck and after consider
able difficulty got off the helpless man.
Capt Monroe took Derby on his back,
while the two engineers steadied his legs so
as to prevent the waves washing him of. In
this way the party waded through the water,
ice making on them at every step, the surf
dashing around them, the bitter wind freez-
ing their hands and faces, and the binding
snow obscurins their view.
On reaching the shore, Capt. Monroe at
tempted to lower Derby to his feet,but found
it impossible 10 let him down. The living
bearer had frozen fast to his dead burden
The Captains arms we're frozen stiff, and
clasped around the arms Of the dead man.
The two engineers were also so frozen about
the hands that they could render no assist
ance. Finding it impossible to rid himself
of this terrible burden in any other way,
Capt. Monroe flung himself on the ground.
head foremost, and thus spilled the dead
man from his shoulders. But he had escaped
from one horrible dilemma only to find him.
self in another His trousers were frozen
so stiff up to his hips that he was much
unable to rise as his legs had been encased
in lengths of stove-pipe. and his companions
could render him TO assistance. At short
distance was the body of man, frozen in a
sitting position. CAPT. Monroe managed to
roll himself to the body, and by it climbed
to his feet.
This little party of survivors now set out
on their painful march towards the light
house, which was at no great distance. They
had got safely along until within about three
hundred yards of the house. when small
creek impeded their progress. First engineer
Manchester attempted to cross the creek. but
abandoned itand returned to the shore, and sat
down exhausted and despairing. Second en-
Sineer Cummings came up. and endeavored
to encourage him to further efforts, but in
vain. Capt. Monroe begged Manchester to
rise and make an attempt to get around the
creek, telling him the light house was close
6y. Its of no use. Captain said the unfo-
turate man. 4 can't go any further
Cummings placed his arms around the
body of his comrade in order to lift him to
his feet. but at that moment the icy hand of
death was laid on both, and, clasped in each
others arms. face almost touching face. with
words Of friendly cheer frozen in the utter
ance, these two brave men-Manchester and
Cum nirgs persisted within few minutes
walk of safety. In this position they were
afterwards found by the party sent in search.
/ Capt. Monroe succeeded in reaching the
lighthouse in safety, although badly frozen.
Out of the twenty-five who had formed the
crew and passengers of the Inflated Jersey
City, but five survived, being Capt Monroe.
two iremen, the wheelsman, and one passen-
ger. The others either persisted in the waves
or were frozen to death in that awful death
march. Six of the bodies have been recov-
cred, some being returned to their former
J 81 81 d.: