The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-09-20
THE NETS MISFORTUNE.
One of the Saddest Incidents Of the
Disaster.

Prom the Utica IIerall, September Oh
On the 18th Of August, at the home of
the bride, in Sharon, rchOharie county,
New York, Mr.. George w. Howard, of
Rome, was married to Miss Nance Enele,
AID started to visit friends in the East.
They left the city Of New York on the
fated steamer, the Metis. Mr.. Howard
SAYS that about clock on the morning
of Friday he heard an excited noise IN
the cabin of the steamer, which induced
him to believe that all was not right.
lie opened the stateroOm door to ind the
cabin filed with excited passengers, the
Indies screaming and crying for help. lie
then went back to his staterOOm, opened
the window and looked out, but could
see nothing save the rough sea and the
driving rain. He told his wife that there
was trouble, and that they had better
prepare for leaving the boat, If obliged to
do So just at this time there came an
officer Of the boat into the cabin, and said
all was right Ar. Howard went to the
! window of his room again, and could see
! that various articles were being thrown
! overheard from the upper deck of the
! boat into tue water Fearful that they
were in danger. he procured lie pres
| server and put it upon his wife, also his
! coat About this time he saw boat with
/ four men in 1t pass around the forward
part of the steamer, lie surprising at the
! time that they were going to examine IN
regard to the extent Of the damage. The
! next boat lowered was capsiZed, and be
saw one man jump on 1t. lie found an
other life preserver, and put 1t on, and
prepared to leave the sinking steamer by
getting out Of the window and standing
1. L. a. 4
/ inc on n chair near the window in the
| stateroom They remained in this posi-
ton some eight or ten minutes. The
boat was sinking very fast so that the
water had risen to the place on which
Mr.. Howard was standing. he then took
his wife out of the window preparatory
to leaving the boat Just at this moment
a lady came to the window and requested
Mr.. Howard to assist her also, which he
did, but SAYS that he does not know what
became of her afterwards. He then took
his wife in his arms and Jumped from
the boat into the water. When they
came to the surface they secured fUuI
chairs dashed together; also raft o.
boards about three f-ot square; upon
this he placed his wife. They remained
in this condition about one half houl
when he saw plank floating near them
While trying to secure this, wave
passed over them and washed Mrs How
ard from off the raft. lie then tried t,
get her on his back, but she was so IA
exhausted as to be able only to place ont
arm about his neck and rest her head oil
his shoulder, while with the other SIT
held on to the chairs, he holding her ant
the chairs also They remained In thu
: condition about one hour, all of whlcl
= time they did not know whether the
! were drifting to or from shore. Tn
waves at this time were running yer
{ high, 50 that every few moments the
9 were under water. Mrs. Howard, nc
] being able to hold her breath while un
n der the water, was strangied more or les
by every wave, and became very muc
exhausted and chilled, and it was evider
q that she coulG not endure the CXpOsur
e no longer, They were in this positio
about two hours, when u wave washe
her from her husband 1t was SON
L minutes before he could reach her, an
IS when he did she was dead. 1t was no
if daylight, and be saw the shore ut Wat,
~ Hill, about q mile distant,
lie then secured the body Of his wi
and started for the shore When he hG
x made about half the distance the wiz
ID changed and the tide sci out so that
-, found it impossible to reach the sho
with the body of his wife. There beiI
Is no prospect Of Immediate assistance, az
lie his o" n strength fast failing him, he T
,e solved to try and save his own i'll
q Knowing that the body of his wife Won
float, and would in all probability
&c picked up, he let it 90 and endeavorcd
is swim to the shore. lie found that
,k could make no Roadway aga nst wind al
20 tide, and was carried farther away eve
moment Conscious Of his situation,
"I used the best means to save himself un
ic he could be picked up by boat thus e
Nv gagged. At about half past l / o clock
the forenoon a life boat came to him, a
he was rescued from his perilous cOnc
10 ton, but did not reach the shore IN
r in the afternoon. The body of his W
Nv was brought back to her home in Share
-. and there buried The funeral was {
tended by large circle of friends a
:" relatives, made sad by the sheer carele'
he ness OF those who are entrusted with
re lives of the travelling public.
Mr.. Howard saved nothing but
=" pantaIoons and night shirt, and the G
oil put ON his wife.
1T, ---.-----
n Speaking at Siler's Store on the .