Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-01-13
PANIC AT SEA.
Terrible Scene ON Board British
Stenmer-A Courageous American
Engineer.
N.rrpSrond - A.

steamer-A Courageous American
Engineer.
Correspondence of the New Yc1k World.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, December.-A sad
accident has happened to the British steam
er Twinkling Slar. late American steamer
Estrella, which left this port on the 10th
ultimo for Cape Hayti, with q valuable car
60 on board At about 9 O'Clock ON Satnr-
day, tie 9th ultimo, when about fifty miles
from st. Nicholas Mole and about 8 O'Clock
at night, the engineers discovered that the
iron plates about midships, and in front of
the paddle-wheels, had been strained from
the heavy seas through which she was pass
ing. and that large volumes of water were
coming into the hold of the vessel, tbro'
cracks on either side, below the water
mark. Some of the passengers on board
were advised OF this, and gradually the
passengers and the crew were overtaken by
pan'c, when there was rush to the life
boat, which was speedily lowered, and into
it escaped the United States Consul of this
port MIR. Aaron Gregg, and several others.
But the lowering of this boat was SO badly
managed. n the effort of every one to save
himself, that the bow of the boat was ele.
waited ont of the water, while the stern was
submerged in the foam which left the pad
dle-wheels, but they managed at last to cut
the rope, and so disentangled them from
the steamer.
No sooner had this life-boat parted from
the ship than panic overlook the firemen
and others who were left on board. and
the scene when the fremen forsoek the
furnaces, the oilmen the engines, the stew
ards the kitchens, and the captain took
leave OF his senses, was perfectly hellish.
The panic-stricken crew seeing that the
life-boat had left them, believed that the
ship was abont ready to part, and ready to
founder. and just at this critical moment
Mr. Thomas Lewis. the second engineer,
and the only American citizen on board.
seeing every post deserted and all hands
flying In the jaws of death, rushed upon
the deck, and with a voice of thunder and
thrilling earnestness. addressed himself TO
them in this wise: ..Halloo there where
are you, who call themselves Englif hmen
who fly frcm your stations when there is a |
little bit OF danger, .and call yourselves
men, and Englishmen? Come back |
here to your places; i am not
afraid Til stake my Iife, and back ali |
Ihave, that will take this vessel into port |
with perfect safety-if you but do your
duty" Then turning to the captain he |
said: You, captain, you've lost your |
head, and allowed these cowardly fellows
those lazy land-lubbers, who call them |
selves English, to take your senses from |
you. Go up to your place on the hurri-
cane deck. and order the wheelman back |
to his place" Turning again to the fire. /
men who stood with their bags ready to
quit the ship-'Go back to your places
and do your duty, and if we are to die let |
us die like brave men, and not as towards! |
| am but a young man yet, and do you
think l am going unnecessarily to risk my
life? And have young wife and little |
family in Jamaica, and do you think / am
going to leave them to wanti Not bit of
it. / mean to go back there, aad not to
run away in little emergency like this"
Then addressing Mr.. Nathan, solicitor
who was buckling on life belt. said: Take
that of, sir; not the slightest necessity for
any nonsense of that kind. You stand by
me, and everything will go we'll" And
that little American citizen, Mr.. Lswis, so
inspired confidence into the whole panic
crew, that they resumed their
places and csrried the steamer successful
ly into the harbor of st. Nicholas Mole.
and am informed by Mr.. Nathan, g psss-
enger on board. that had it not been for
the courage and presence of mind of this
second engineer, the steamer must have
and ali hands been lost, where
as the steamer was safely conducted into
one of the best harbors in the world, with
out her cargo having been damaged to the
extent OF single shilling. The cargo was
valued a xi2, ,00G. The life boat got into
port few hours after the steamer, and
MIR. Consul Gregg, with the other passen-
gers, came on to this pert in the America
schooner Lady Woodbury., of Portland,
Me-, performing the voyage of over 270
miles in little less than twenty-four
hours.