Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-10-09
OF THE WORLDS HEROES.

u -.
The Detroit Free Press Of the 11th ult., COM
menting on the Lady Elgin disaster, says: .eff
From aconversation with one of the survivors
of the wreck, We have gathered some facts not
specially enlarged upon in the newspaper ac-
counts. A Lake Superior miner, Jas. Bellman,
an Englishman by birth, arrived in the city
yesterday morning to take the first boat from
this city for the haven which the Lady Elgin
failed to reach. He was on board the boat at
the time of the disaster, and gives a some what
confused account of the occurrence. When
tae vessel struck the steamer be was
lying down between decks, and was thrown
from his position several feet by the
conclusion. Unrayeling the bewidered and
disconnected tale which he gives we have
glimpses Of a terrible panic among the passen-
gers, in the midst Of which everywhere was the
self possessed commander, giving orders and
overseeing such measures as were most condu-
Give to the general safety. The cattle were
driven overheard, and the freight and lug.
gage Immediately followed. Passengers we're
wakened frem their slumbers by sturdy blows
of the axe. which dashed in their state-room
doors and called them to q sense of their danger.
All were finally collected on deck, and when
the steamer went down, the hurricane deck,
which constituted the roof of the upper cabin
aoated clear Of the hull and sustained the
crowd. Mr.. Bellman says that on this extern
pore raft not less than 300 persons were COL
lected, the majority of whom clung TO their
places until near daylight The raft was
mostly under water from the weight Of its
living burden, and very few who cIung to IL
but were above the waist in the turbulent sea.
The captain was constantly on his feet encour-
aging the crowd, and seems to have been the
only man who dared to stir from the recumbent
position which was necessary to keep q secure
hold on the precarious raft. He carried q
child which he found in the arms of an ex-
Qna tod oxxAu rhx~ oA
portion OF the raft, and left 1t in charge of
woman, when it was soon lost. He constantly
exherted the crowd to keep silent, and not
only to make no noise, but to refrain from
moving, in order that the frail framework
might last the longer. Bellnan says that du-
ring the time which elapsed while the raft
kept together there was scarcely sound from
places In silent terror, and neither groans nor
prayers were audible; no voice, save that of
the captain, raised aloud In announcement
and good cheer being heard amid the roar of
the wind and the ceaseless splash of the coming
waves. Finally the constant action of the
water broke up the raft, and large parties
foated of on detached pieces, and gradually
the multitude melted away by couples and
solitary individuals, until but tithe of the
whole number remained
The swell tumbled the light RATS about like
feather weights, aud weary struggle the help.
less survivors had during the long drift Of ten
miles intervening to the shore. Bellman was
ten hours on his raft, and says that he was cap
sized and thrown into the sea with his two
companions every third minute When they
reached the shore they were dashed about
helplessly in the surf, and, more fortunate
than their companions, were lifted upon the
beach BY the breakers, and dragged ashore by
the strong hands which awaited them Itwas
here that, having surmounted the perils of that
terrible voyage, the commander succumbed
and gave way to the Irresistible force which
had worn out his strength and vigor. Perhaps
he had rather died thus than to have lived in
the exercise Of more selfish motives than those
which marked his character through the whole
of this trying ordeal.