The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-09-12
FEARFUL
ucNrt-itNmdinm IncidnntS

the schooner Nctte Cushing" or
course there was conflicting reports as
20 "Acre blame attaches, as is always
lhc'aao in these ocean, river and rail
ROAD "accidentS,' which seem 10 ne
epidemic. like diseases. We could
Ill the Home journal, every now and
tncn, with heart rcnding details Of such
na~'aSlrophcS, but have never done 50
because our space was limited, and the
scenes OF disaster 50 far removed as 10
render them Of less interest than thous.
andS OF minor matters NEARER home.
Alas how little DO we all, in the peri
phcrY Of homc know about the fearful
sui'crIngs Of mankind at n distance!
But, reading the dcLaiIsorthis terrible
calamity, in which over fifty lives were
lost, there was IN incident which struck
us with peculiar force, and made us
forget the political strife between john
son and CIicmham, The account
states that the passengers had retired
TO rest, and with the exception that the
vessel was rolling somewhat, owing to
the r%Oughncss Of the sea, nothing Oc-
cured 70 mar the progress Of the trip
Shortly after 3 O'Clock, Il schooner
hove in sight. Al this time it was
raining hard, and Wa, very dark. Sud
denly 4 deep, duh thud was felt all
over the steamer Men and women
says a cOrrrSpOu lent, " were aroused
from their slumbcrs, and some less
frightened than the rest, rushed on
dcck half dressed and made for the hi
lot house to learn the cause Of what
seemed 10 he COLI sion. Fifteen min
utcs later and the death knrlI went
ringing throughout the vessel. The
Mcljs was leaking badly and the new,
spread like wild fire. State room
loors wer" thrown open and the pas
sGngcrs scrambled ont on the upper
deck to be fHrlhercst from the water.
1t was Il fearful scene. The deck hands
rushed up and down, warning passcn-
gers to look to their life prescrvcrs, for
the Mcti5 was gong down, and there
were some whom even the first shock
had not awakened, bat who, now that
the Ghricking and hammcring hat be
gan, quickly jumped forth to Il terrible
realization Of their peril. Down, grad
1alIy deeper, and deeper, went the YES.
until her bulwarks were under wa
ter, and the waves came sweeping over
the deck. Nearly every soul on board
had tried to reach the upper deck
Some succeeded, some failed and were
lost. others pIunged into the sea and
were w"shcd far away. A rush was
made for the boats which we're prompt.
" lOwcre |, and amid the Widest
,hrjcks, the terrified passengers made
desperate eXrrtlOn5 to crowd into them.
The MGtiS had now sunk below her
guards, and several person had just
'un up from their berlhs, only to meet
| terrible fate. The main deck was
packed with huge bales of cotton. As
hey began to float about, many Of the
passengers got hcmmcd in, and were
.ithcI drowned or crashed to death.
But the scenes above were truly ap
Death stared every one in
he face. or the entire number Of
ouls, only some fifty three remained
n the hurricane deck, the others had
disappeared in the darkness. At length
he deck upon which stood the terrified
parted from the hull, owing,
.oubtlcss, to the great pressure Of the
OttUn bales, and in Il few minutes the
let's sank to rise no more, leaving the
Dating deck with its huidlcd crowd {
, the mercy Of the waves. The COLI
ION had taken place at exactly twPEty
.linutcs to four O'Clock, and about 4
lrcc quarters Of AN hour elapsed from -
lat time to the complete separation &
f the deck from the hull of the steam t
1t is impossible 10 give any ilea '
f what cnsucd. Bewi!dercd and !
luddering at the surroundings, many q
|. once jumped off the floating deck
nd were drowEcd-womcn clung to
leir children, resolved that they ;
iould perish with them T.
And now for the incident which tells I,
f the distress Of II tender wife. The D
came into New York, "
several passengers and three =,
the deck hands OF the Mctis. In ;.
r. saloon, says a correspondent, sat
young woman, poorly but neatly
weeping silently near the spot ID
lere the dead body of her husband u
:. She was asleep when the coils !"
! occurred, but was awakened by 1t
, shock and told her husband to get
and see what was the matter. He -,