Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-10-26
TIE DESTRUCTION OF TIE
conn ATCHT.

The \. J. Commercial a few days ago
contained an account Of TIE action taken in
New York and Boston to procure testimO-
NAL to Capt. Wilson, whose little vessel with
Its humane captain and crew were the means
Of saving SIX hundred persons from horri-
bic death in the burning Counaurht. At
meeting in the Chamber of Commerce for
the purpose above mentioned, the following
vivid account Of that event was made
Mr.. Hurry's description Of the disaster was
deeply affecting No one present could refrain
from displaying the emotion which it produced.
lie remarked that although the vessel had been
partially submerged, and fears Of shipwrcck be-
gan to prevail, it was only when the danger Of
fire became apparent that very serious alarm had
seized upon the people Hope gave away to des-
pair at nine O'Clock in the morning, when smoke
arose, and continued to increase the deck getting
hotter and hotter every moment spray dashing
over the bulwarks fell upon the deck as upon a
not iron furnace, Kissing and steamins with omin-
Gus forebodings Of the roasting scalding death
that seemed about to fall upon tho doomed six
hundred, should the vessel keep aAoat, and not
drown them, within few hours. The people had
TO move away step by step as tho burning heat
extended along the deck; they were at last hud-
died together near the stern, where the most
painful scenes took place. Mothers clasped their
babes 10 their bosoms, with fond kisses and long
farewells; brothers and sisters parents and chill
dren, relatives and friends, took leave Of each
other In what were then deemed last words; dy-
ing messages were exchanged, to be conveyed to
loved ones, should any Of the parties escape at
last.
Four hours passed away amid these heart rend-
ering scenes; death eve y moment seeming inev-
table. Yet there was no panic, no covardice, no
confusion. Captain Leitch maintained perfect
and aif lie
yielded to his manly control, and were thus the
means Of accomplishing great good At length,
at o'clock, the cheering cry Of 'sail no ~ from
the masthead. 1t sent thrill Of indescribabe
JOY to every heart Nearer and nearer came the
heaven-sent little brig Oh what gadness
spread among the six hundred on that burning
deck. At length Captain WiIson-'the noble
Yankee skipper he was called by the Irish pas
sengers-hailed with the cheering words Come
aboard - and then, oven stand by till every
soul comes aboard ?' Speedily, cheerfully, heart
lily and well, he performed his work. aided by
Captain Leitch and tho crew and passengers -
There were many narrow escapes from drowning,
but all were saved-saved at last
Then, escaping from long imprisonment, the
lurid flames broke over the Connaught, ran up
the masts and shot into the air, as il in rage at
having been deprived Of fiery feast upon the six
hundred bodies now hUddled together on the deck
Of the Minnie Schiller So close were the people
pached on the dech OF the little brig, that they
could only sit upright, and the sailors working
The vessel, had to walk around on the pavement
Of human bodies which covered the deck. Thus
wo days and two nights vera spent, with daily
allowance Of only little biscuit and cup Of wa
er for each person. heartless captain Of q |
chooner meeting them, refused them assistance |
1t length they got safe to Boston, full of graft
ude to Capt. Wilson, the means, under Frovi- |
ence, of saving them. Mr.. Hurry SAID that in |
eaving the burning vessel, go anxious were the |
eople to escape, that the most valuable articles |
7ere left behind-had the deck been covered with |
ank notes, no one would have waited an instant |
o pick them up"