St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-04-11
The Great Disaster.

among the first to get on the rock after
the vessel struck and. with others of
the crew and passengers who had pre-
ceded him, helped to rescue those who
were still on board. He SAYS that a
great many of the people were drowned
while coming from the vessel by the
rope to the rock. The cold was so in
tense that some of them, being bcnumb-
ed. were unable 10 hold on to the rope
and they let 90, and we were unable to
render them amy assistance. The rock
that We were on WAS covered with sea
weed, which made it very dangerous to
stand upon. and its edges were round.
All on the rock being soaking wet and
cold were unable to render any assist
anCe to those who were i'll the greatest
of peril. \ number of them We're wash
ed OF the rock and drowned, and IL num-
hcr who were trying to get from the
rock to the island by line were also
washed from it tnd drowned. We could
perceive people falling from the ships
side and rigging. Three boats which
were carried across the island rendered
assistance in conveying the passengers
and crew from the vessel and rock to
the shore. several persons who he
came completely exhausted lay down
on the rock and died. Some of the pas
sengcrS became maniacS. foamcd ut the
mouth and tottcrcd about like children.
Incidents of the most hcart-Iendmg
character occurred. y little fellow. the
only child saved from the wreck. rush
ed up on deck with the stream of pas
SengcrS when the first alarm was given.
His parents and other members of his
family were still below. They perish
ed when the ship filled and fell over on
her side. Hustled about along with
that struggling mass of excited human
ity. the pitcouS screams of the poor lit
tie fellow went to the StOuteSt heart.
He lcapcd upon the back of one OF the
men i'll the hope of being saved 10y him.
hut the man shook of the Wailing boy.
His cries at last attracted the captain.
who pcrccivium the tenacious manner
in which he was struggling for life. call
ed ont To the men who were surround
ing the lines that led to the rock and
safety To endcavor. if possible. to save
the boy. The poor little fellow immc-
I diately passed over the heads of the
/ struggling mass of beings and placed i'll
the boat. The kindly men who were
| struggling to save life almost wcpt for
. IL NV p''N 'lI' I'i'' WI Hll'l''
safe i'll body. though sadly afflicted hy
/ his parents loss.
/ The only youth saved from the wreck
makes the following statement: My
name is John IInlcy: | am about l.
. Years of age: | got on board the Attain
/ tie at Liverpool. with my mother. faith
eli and Young brother: We all belonged
to Ashton. Lanca>hirc. The tiIst thing
l.
was that he WAS asleep in his berth.
/ when Il great noise awakened him. Al
/ though he did not hear any voices. there
seemed great rush. and he stumbled
out of bed and into the crowd. The
/ greater portion passed him. hut he saN
six men crowding into Il top berth. and
he followed them. One of the men
broke through window and got out.
and the hoy did the same. som" kind
hearted Individual pushing him through
before he made cgrr>> himself. Ouc"
outside. h, held on 10y the ropes until
imSelf and his companions were rr~-
cucd. What became of his parents aud
brother hc did not know. but i now
certain that they We're drowned. The
family We're on their way t" New York.
ut the invitation of tw" married daugh-
itIS W no are >''lllt'l llltlt-
1t WAS extremely narrowing to behold
the >uttrIiIIwS of the unfortunate Great
urcs even after they We're rescued.
/ Many of them became insane. frothcd
at the mouth and topplcd off the rock
into the water and were drowned 9th
els were 50 chilled and exhausted with
the cold that they lay down and died.
Some died after they had been taken to
the maiulaud. Nv" lady cabin pa>~ru-
gers came on deck in the excitement
and ~tnud near the whcclhuII>r. They
hc~iiatrd Il moment. a. if Panlc->tlich
en-. and rrtUInrd into the compami"n-
way. H. If looking tor something. Pres
emily they came out and CudraN0rud Ia
reach the forward pant oi he ship from
where the passengers were being >cnI
ashore on the lines. -N that mumCit Al
huge wave swept over the ships quar-
ter. ! he men cliuging To the rigging
heard TWO hcart-icuding shrirk>. and
when ihrN locked again the women had
!, disappeared.
These are only few of the terrible
incidents OF HAT fearful wreck. Young
=, men H. well rs old became pIr;ll yzcd.
and. a. they clung to the rigging ur tc
the sides of the vessel. they seemed he
: ref of all IcasOn. and when spoken to
10y the others to make some effort tO
reach thc boat and save themselves they
would roll their eyes, then stare tiXediy
at the speakers and ask i'll whining
| tone. What boat p Many again who
. were aroused out of their bcrthS had
scarcely time to put their clothes on
and rush on deck ere they periShed
One cabin passenger, Il young man
came up with only vest on. lie clung
to the ships side for a time and finally
rolled oft into the sea and was lost.
Some of the incidents of the disaster
: as related by the survivors, aie harrow
ing. At one time, during the weary
watch before dawn, the fore boom broke
loose, and swinging around instantly
crushed to death about 300 persons who
were gathered on the house. Several
passengers are reported to have lei
down the life boats, which, not being
properly managed, overturned and
drowned the unfortunates before assist
, ance could he rendered. Some of them
who had life buoys and cndeavOred tC
reach the rock 10y means of the line
1 from the vessel, not having them prop
+ erly adjusted, were floating with theil
heads down, and i'll this way many
were drowned. One young man, with
no clothing save Il shirt and vest and
l two life buoys fastened around his body
I leaped into the water and attempted tC
reach the rock. The passengers say
that they endeavored to dissuade him
from the attempt, but lie persisted, and
} when finally they were rescued and
, landed Oh the shore, the body of the
a.