Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-10-28
A HERO IN WANT.


ish Consul at New Orleans, writes
as follows to the Republican of that
city:
"0n the 9TH of October, 1859,
the British steamship Connaught,
1000 tons, sprung a leak which
gained upon her SO rapidly that by
the next morning the water had
cxtinguished her engine fires, leav
ing her a coffin for Col human be-
ings, sinking slowly but surely in u
heavy sea. In this condition, and
while $50 miles from Boston har-
Dor, fire (which had been shoulder
ing for some days, unknowD) burst
out, and doubled the chances for
death. She was an iron ship, and
soon her sides became so hot that
they hissed and steamed as she
rolled, deeper and deeper. There
was race between fire and water
for all those lives, and do the best
they could the boats would not be
able to save a third of them from
one death or the other. The
American brig Minnie Schaefer, 1913
tons, Captain John Wilson, saw the
blazing, sinking steamer, and bore
down to her assistance. So low and
difficult was the labor of getting
the passengers into and out Of the
boats that only 200 could be trans
fcrred to the brig before sundown.
Then John Wilson said ut is a
horrible thing to see the sun going
down and so many people yet on
board the wreck, settling down and
burning up. | will do all in my
power to save them He nobly
kept his word. AS good a sailor as
he was a man, he came down to the
leeward of the wreck, made fast to
her, and before midnight the last
man on her deck-the captain-had
passed into the brig safely. Try to
picture it. A great ocean steamer,
with water pouring in from without
to fill her up and fire roaring within
to burn her down; over 400 lives
in the balance. Any lurch she
made might have been her last, and
if she had rolled over and sunk
what hope for the little brig She
did not sink just then. John Will
son left her, a sheet Of flame, and
landed his priceless cargo safe at
generous Boston, In recognition
Of his courage, humanity and good
seamanship the British government
gave him u gold watch and
chain. The company to which
the Connaught belonged pre-
sented him with $500; Boston
added a silver service and medals;
testimonials and subscriptions in
plenty came in. Nor were his
crew forgotten in the general en-
thusiasm. Then came the war.
Some sums granted to him were
withdrawn; property in which ne
had invested his money was cap
tured or destroyed. But which
side? When / state that he is now
sixty-four years of age, is disabled
by failing cyesight from following
his profession that his wife is a
confirmed invalid; that all his testi-
monial gifts have been sold or left
in pledge for bread, and that this
once self-reliant and always brave
and true man is utterly destitute
is it worth while to ask? When he
made fast to the burning Connaught
he said nothing about politics. HUI
manity has no politics. Shall we
not paraphrase his own words and
say: This is a horrible affair, TO
see the sun going down upon the
wreck with so much good yet on
board. We will do all in ourpower
to help him Before make an
appeal abroad for this afflicted hero,
it is only fair that his countrymen
shoUld be given the opportunity
may almost say the privilege-Of
assisting him. His residences No.
$40 franklin street, New Orleans,
and subscriptions may be sent to
Mrs. Hill, No. 306 Baronne street;
Mrs. Creeyy, corner of Union and
Carondelet streets, or to your obedi-
ent servant,
ga. DE FoNBLANQUE,"