The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-10-20

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dsss and heroes has NOT passed sThs tsssim6n
of N sys-witoea ~Ill nos b unvsssoasts 80
rsAden Of the Hawk, Eye
left Dsblia at 10 O'clock On ~ mosaing 4
the asth SeptenbeE, ard ptled ssssas e u
dfearisst scenery, which heheld in ny ~
months travels-she bog Of Ireland -seachinl
GALWAY at o'clock r. 4, and In half an hou
vas embarked on tie sssAnief .Counazlhr hr uitl
4ss passengers and ! cre~ of ID pr sss bonn.
fer Boston. Il vas . pleassnt altesnoos, enc
having grown weary Of forsiea lauds and seenss
tie promise II 'the shortest ssa- passage tohona
and native-land on zone Of ths most magninoeal
vessels IN the world, and one Of the fastest,
as her advertisements declared, awakened cheer
fai expectations and hepes The nexs day, how
ever, wa rossh. stormy and vet. and confined
me 70 my berth, but as the ship made rapid pro
gress was easily reconciled to personal diseon.
fort. But soon harsh grating among the i'm.
mense paddle wheels indicated some disorder in
the application Of the propelling power and ex.
cited slight forebodings Of ILL., Nor we're our
apprehensions allayed, a. We found the derange.
ment increasing, and that there was NO skill or
wisdom on board the ship to rectify and remedy
II. Suspicious were also excited BY observing
general inefdciency and confusion in the ships
discipline. There was marked want Of system,
competency and cleanliness in various depart
menta Blundering ignorance and stupidity
from the West Of Ireland was fully represented
The 2sth and s0th September were very tenn
pestuous dsya The steamer strained and pitch
ed feasfully. One frightfal wave broke over the
ship, breaking the fore-hasches and spreading
food Of waters among the stscrage passengers,
multitudes Of whom were busy at the time ma
king confession and receiving absolution at
pr'estly hands But notwithstanding these things
wc reached St. Johns, New Foundland, before
daylight on the I'd inse. and being upon the
shores Of the New World, felt rebuked for our
fearsand were encouraged to think that the great
est dangers Of the voyage we're passed. With
in less than twelve hours repairs were made to
the Aoats and it was declared perfectly safe for
the ship to proceed on her voyage The assu-
rance was given that in four days We should be
landed in Boston, and the only anxiety Of many
Of the passengers was whether they would be
allowed to Land their baggage in that Puritan
city ON the Lords Day. Several declared their
preference, unless they could arrive in season on
Saturday afternoon TO take the late trains Of that
day, that the chip should not reach port in an
early hour of Sunday. The 9Th inst however,
was very stormy. The consumption of some
200 tons of coal and water left the steamer very
light, and when the engines were stopped for an
hour for repairs the heavy rolling Of the ship
seemed an augury Of i'll. Saturday night was
full of gloom. On that evening none Of the
priests ON board nor of the passengers lost their
money at the gambling table. Not till after mid
night did the ship seem to rise superior to the
winds and the wayea About 9 O'Clock Sunday
morning laid down in my berth, hoping
that the worst was over. Little did think
that IN few hours greater evils than I bad at
any time imagined were to befall u. The sun
rose pleasantly, but the wind blew roughly from
the North, ana the waves ran high. The passen.
gers generally were slow in appreciating the
danger. Gradually it broke upon all minds that
the engines were powerless, and that the mag
steamer was not only q wreck, but on
fire. I shall not attempt to describe the panic
aud alarm, the imploring cry for the priests, the
numbers on their knees at confession, the drum
ken priest the adjustment of life-prsservers, the
anxious inquiry, rs there no vessel in sight ?"
Twill none come to our relief?" We caught q
glimpse Of one vessel, but it was sailing away
from u.s. How hope and fear alternatedi Now
we were in the jaws of death. Through bap.
tism Of fire or Of foods We were to make our
exit from earth. To be burned Or to be drowned
was to be the manner of our death. Stout and
daring men expected to be saved by the boats,
The frst boat that was launched was immediate
ly swamped. life-boat was appropriated to the
mails, and when this was protested against, AZ
officer Of the steamer declared it to be by au-
thority. But will speak no more Of these de.
tails. For saw in the midst Of the appalling
scene not only the shame but also the glory Of
man.
Capt. JouS WLsoN, of the brigantine 'slNis-
ma Schter," Of New York, 50 days out from
Malaga, at noon Of that day told his mate that
they would continue four hours longer on the
course they had been for some time pursuing
Previously he had spoken of going on another
tack. Some slight change Of wind led him TO
defer the alteration Of his course. That pur-
pose brought him in sight of our wreck, and
with indescribable emotions We saw his vessel
approaching US. He stood by until every one
from the "Connaught" was safely aboard his
vessel. To his energetic and judic,ous measures,
in which his first officer nobly co-operated, We
are largely indebted for our preservation
Some Of the crew of the ''Connaught" told him
that it would be impossible to save sll-that his
vessel could not hold them and they refused to
go back in the boats to bring of any more
Some of his own men then volunteered and went
to the rescue.
When l thanked Capt Wilson and his mate
IS, under God, the instruments of the Preserva-
tion Of my life, they said that they had ''simply
done their duty" and seemed to have no con-
sciousness that they had acted noble and he
roic part, In accordance with resolution
adopted by the passengers on their arrival in the
harbor Of Boston, TO do honor to the names Of
these men in every portion Of the world, send
you this letter. .rss.
John Wilson is native of Maryland and has
been resident Of New Orleans for the last
twenty-five years. The Nisaa SeAi6sr is beau
tiful little craft and fast sAiler She is named
after lady of New York, the wife Of one Of he'
owners. Thomas H. Connanton, the frssofieer
belongs in Philadslphia, and ID young man, q
yesrs Of age. In acting from simple convictions
of duty these men have performed the part o.
heroes Boston i soon to welcome Prince Al
bert with pageantry and pomp. but there will b,
NO nobler arrival to her shores thar that Of Johl
Wilson and Thomas II Connanton with the 58'
souls delivered BY them from imminent death.
sSThAv that ON dnvn tn the nea In alma tha