Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-18
4 TERRIBLE SCENE.


A ship going down in on instant while
all on board, is terrible scene one cacu-
lated to appall The stoutest heart. The
current Of the river at Memphis sets close
to the Tennessee side and rushes by like
strong man in a race. The plum,t gives
from segenty-fiye to one hundred feet Of
watea The Lowell being ii the middle of
tho current took in the gurgling, whirllng
waters through her torn sides. Down,
down, down-she settled like q lump ct
lead. Her crew became terror strickcn.-
They rushed hither and thithcr, bereft OF
reason. One poor fellow with his left arm
torn by cannon shot, with unspeakable
horror in his countenance was seen beck.
oning now to those on shore and to those
on the gunboats, and now looking up to
heaven to the Great Father of IS all, for
help! UnavaiIing the cry. A moment
later and the boat with lurch gave way
beneath his feet, and drew him down in
the eddying whirlpool.
A wall Of agony went up from the wa
ter Al from the land. Fifty human be-
ings ware buff ting the current, grasping
at sticks and straws and pieces Of the
boat, and such movable things as hoated
by them.
"Helpl helpl helpl' was the cry which
rose upon the air, and reached the ears OF
thousands, amid the interval Of the still
roaring thunder Of the cannonade There
was no help for them on shore No pen
can describe the agony of that moment to
thousands. There were their friends de-
feated, crushed, Inundated, drowning, and
they powerless to help! No wonder that
tears were shed on shore. No wonder that
women wept. They had been invited to a
different entertainment--to the annihila-
ton Of the "hirelng Yankees" They
had been promised an exhibition Of chigal-
ry and proves which should redeem all
the ground lost in the war. Aside from
the pain and agony Of the hour, prompted
by human sympathy, was the bitterness Of
humiliation terrible to behold by those
who have ridden rough shod over all who
did not choose to accept secession.
CALAMITY AND HUMANITY OF OUR FLEET.
No sooner was the cry for help heard
than by raiural impulse, there was q
rush made by the men of Ike Benton to
render assistance. The yawl was launched
in a moment, and so easerwas the crew to
save the drowning that it was swamped in
the rush, and two Of the noble-hearted men
were barely saved from watery graves.
Other boats put off from the fleet and sew
eral were saved when nearly exhausted.
Some BY their own efforts reached the
shore and crawl d up the bank, more deal
than alive, and were kindly cared for by
the crews Of the Monarch and Queen ofthe
West.
Brave, noble-hcarted men are the sailors
of the western fleet! Theirs all power to
crush, theirs AL effort to saye--to crush an
enemy. to save Wien crushed How gl7-
rious such conduct when contrlstea with
that which the poor struggling sailors Of
the Cumberland received II Hampton
Roads from those on board the Meriimac.
There, rifle shots. here, help Bright,
amid all tic distress. all the horrors, Ill the
infamy Of this rebellion, will shine forever,
like the stars OF heaven, these acts q hu-
man;sssi
The little rebel seeing ahat three of the
best best boats were disabled, ran down
to the Beauregard which ly helpless 'n
the stream, took On board portion q Ire
officers aud crew, and madstor the Asi.ssl- !.
sas shore. TLekow Of Tho boat was E''n