The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-12-22
THRILLING NARRATIVE OF THE
LOSS OF A STEAMER.

LOSS OF A STEAMER.
The sad details of the loss of the propeller Jer-
sey City, or Lake Erie, the afternoon OF Satur-
day the 9th of November, have at length been
received. The annals of lake disasters present
few incidents that compare III intensity OF nor
ror with the simple narrative of the survivors OF
the wreck After describing the terrible gale OF
wind the binding snow-stOrm, and the final wreck
of the steamer, the account proceeds:
Captain Monroe Immediately ordered every one
to the hurricane deck the only chance OF safety
A number needless of his warnings, jumped into
the rfe-boat and made for the shore. They were
all lost among the breakers Soon after grounding
the propeller keeled over, broadside to the seas,
and with her deck exposed to the waves. Her
deck load was at once washed off, and the repeat
ed blows Of the huge waves stove in her decks
and dashed her sides into pieces The hurricane
deck with its load of half frozen sufferers, Heated
towards the shore.
About ) o clock in the afternoon, the hurricane
deck grounded within. a short distance OF the
shore in shallow water. At this moment boy,
who was on the wreck, was washed of by the
waves but was rescued by Capt. Monroe. After
this the boy became frightened for the first time,
and chung eagerly to his preserver. Capt. Monroe
fastened plank life-preserver to his body, aud
taking the boy in his arms, Ieaped into the water
and Waded ashore. As the boy was landed, his
suspenders broke and his pantaloons fell about his
ankles, whore they froze in solid mass, claiming
him to the spot where he stood. In few mo-
ments the hall-naked boy dead.
Capt. Monroe walked back to the piece Of
wreck and directed his comrades where to leap so
a. to strike in the shallOWest water. One by one
the leap was made in safety, until but one was
left on board. and that one Mr. \. H. Derby,
the clerk Of the propeller lie sitting
r;tl bis head hon I in
Monroe called him by name, but be did not
answer, although his mouth opened. To second
hail he again opened his mouth, without Civ
ing any articuate sound. Capt Monroe and en-
giEeers Manchester and Cummings went to tie
wreck and after considerable difficulty got off the
helpless man.
Capt Monroe took Derby on his back, while the
two engineers steadied his legs to prevent
the waves washing him off. In this way the par
ty waded through the water, ice making on them
at every step, the surf dashing around them, the
bitter wind freezing their hands and faces, and
the binding snow oh5curing their view.
On reaching the shore, Capt Monroe attempt
ed to lower Derby to his feet, but found it impos
sbe to let him down. The living bearer had
frozen fast to his dead burden.
The captains arms were frozen stiff, and clasp
ed around the arms Of the dead man. The two
engineers were also So froze about the hands that
they could render no assistance. Finding it i'm
possible to rid himself of his terrible burden in
any other way, Capt. Monroe flung himself to the
ground, head foremost, and thus ''splitted" the
dead man from bis shoulders But he had escap-
ed from one horrible dilemma only to find himself
in another. His trousers were frozen SO stiff up
to his hips that he was unable rise if his legs
had been encased in lengths Of stove pipe, and his
companions could rel der him no assistance. At
short distance was the body Of man, frozen IN
sitting position. CAPT. Monroe managed to roll
himself to the body, and by it climed to his feet.
This little party OF survivors now set out on
their painful march towards the lighthouse, which
was at great distance. They had got safely
along until within about three hundred yards OF
the house, when a sm; creek impeded their pro-
cress First Engineer Manchester attempted to
cross the creek, but abandoned it and returned to
the shore, where he sat down exhausted and des-
pairing Second Engineer Cummings came up
and endeavored to encourage him to further efforts,
but in vain. Captain Monroe begged Manchester
20 rise and make an attempt to get around the
creek, telling him the lighthouse was close by.
ats Of no use Captain" said the unfortunate
man, Il can't 90 any further"
Cummings placed his around the body of
his comrade, in order lift him to his feet, but at
that moment the icy hand of death was laid on
both, and claspcd in each other arms, face al
most touching face, with words of friendly cheer,
frozen in the utterance, these two brave men-
Manchester and Cummings-perished within
few minutes walk of safety. In this position they
were afterwards found by the party sent in search
Captain Monroe succeeded in reaching the light
house in safety, although badly frozen. Out of
twenty-five who had formed the crew and passen-
gers of the Inflated Jersey city, but FIVE survived
being Capt. Monroe, two fremcn, the wheelsman,
and one passenger. The others either persisted in
the waves or were frozen to death in that awful
death march.