The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-01-14
PANIC At SEA.
Terrible scene or Board n British
steamer-A Courageous American
Engineer.
lpondence Of the New York World.

TsrrIble scene on Board a British
stesmer-A Courageous AmsricSn
Correspondence Of the New York World.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, December.-A sad
accident has happened to the British steam
er Twinkling Star, late American steamer
Estrella, which left this port on the Goth
ultimo for Cape Hayti, with q valuable car
go on board. At about 0 o'clock on Satur-
day, the 9th ultimo, when about fifty miles
rom 81 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, thro'
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 oyertaken bv
a panic, when there was q rush to the life
boat, which was speedily lowered, and into
it escaped the United States Consul of this
port, MT. Aaron Gregg, and several others.
But the lowering of this boat was so badly
managed. in the effort of every one to save
himself, that the bow of the boat WAS ele.
waited out 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.
ID No sooner had this life-boat parted from
the ship than a panic overlook the fremep
and others who were left on board, and
the scene when the fromen forsosk the
furnaces, the oilmen the engines, the stew
ards the kitchens, aud the CAPTAIN took
leave OF his senses, was perfectly hollish.
Inc panlc-stticken crew seeing that the
Ife-boat had left them, believed that the
ship was about ready TO part. and ready 10
founder, and just at this critical moment
MI. 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 Englirhmen ?
who ny from your stations when there is n
little bit Of danger, and call yourselves
men, aud Euglishmen? Come back
here to your places; 1 am not
afraid. I'll stake my life, and back oil
lhave, that will take this vessel into port
with perfect saiety-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 ngan TO the fire.
men VINO stood with their bags ready to
quit the ship-"Go back TO your places
and do your duty, and il we are TO die. let
us die ike brave men, and not as cowardsl
am but a young man yet, aud do you
think am going unnecessarily to risk my
eAA AafN a NNhHk WHO ana n lttl0
family IN Jamaica, and do you think 1 am
going to leave them to want2 Not a bit of
It.. l mean to go back there, and not 10
run away in n little emergency like this"
Then addressing Ar. Nathan, n solicitor
who was buckling on a life Lelt. said: Take
that OIL, 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.. Lewis, 80
inspired confidence into the whole panic.
stricken crew, that they resumed their
places, and CURED the steamer successful.
ly into the harbor of st. Nicholas Mole.
and / nm informed by Mr.. Nathan, a paas.
enger ON board, that had it not been for
the courage and presence of mind of this
second engineer, the steamer must have
foundered, and all 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 n single shilling. The cargo was
valued ut Gl2, 00G. The life boat got into
port a few hours after the steamer, ard
MIR. Consul Gregg, with the other passen.
gers, came on TO this port in the American
schooner Lady Woodbury., of Portland,
Me-, performing the voyage of over go
miles in n little less than twenty.four
hours.