The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-01
THRILLING MARINE DISASTER.

THRILLING MARINE DISASTER.
Loss of the Steamer Express, I'm Chesapeake
BAY.
The steamer Express, bound from
Baltimore for Washington, was wrecked
III Chesapeake bay during the recent
terrible gale, and, of the crew OF twenty
two men and nine passengers, all but
the Captain and six of the crew per-
ished. The following details of the ter
rible calamity, obtained from the sur
vivors, We copy from Baltimore paper
On the way down the bay as far as
james point the weather was very
rough, and the steamer was pitching
badly, but no alarm was felt After
passing that point the wind increased in
velocity, and the steamer finally became
unmanageable and rolled in the trough
of the sea. Capt. Barker and the entire
crew remained on deck directing the
movements of the steamer during the
night. The gale increased during the
night, and the steamer was tossed help
lessly about, unable to make Roadway.
About o'clock fearful sea broke over
her on the port bow, staving in her up
per works, and the entire mass OF water
rushed through the saloon, carrying
away all the furniture and hfe-boats.
Again and again the fierce waves swept
over the Inflated steamer and the Cap
tain abandoned all hope of procuring
Hfe-preservers. He found two for the
lady passengers, Mrs. Bacon and Mrs.
Jones, and adjusted them. He then
carried the two ladies on deck and
placed them in the stern Of the vessel,
and warned them that the steamer was
about to go to pieces, and promising
to come to their assistance, if possible.
The Captain dashed his young son to the
saloon and again turned his attention to
his vessel.
The wind was still blowing at rate
that would not allow anyone to stand up
to it, while the only thing that could be
seen in the pitchy darkness was the white |
foam of the raging waters which swept
over the steamer. The second mate
Joseph Havey, was knocked down by
fearful sea which boarded the steamer as
he tried to cross her deck, and was swept
into the smoke-hole. Before he could |
be rescued the steamer rose on q wave
mountain high and pitched headlong
into the trough of the sea, the succeed
ing wave rushing over her and sweeping
her decks clean. Capt. Barker heard
the despairing shrieks of the passengers
above the wild roar of the waves as they
were swept away. In the darkness that
followed it was impossible to discover
or help anyone. About ten of those on
board chung to the saloon when it was
carried away and found thus temper
AIRY refuge from death. This frail sup
port was, however, swept by the waters,
carrying away one or more of those cling
ing to it every time. The Captain chung
to the saloon until it went to pieces, and |
then, getting astride of portion of the !
wreck, held on until daybreak.
When the dawn broke he found that /
John Douglas, one of the Quartermas- /
tiers, was clinging to the same piece of /
wreck with himself AS their frail sup
port mounted on the tops of the enor-
nous waves a glimpse of their surround
ings was obtained. At about half mile .
off was the steamer turned bottom up,
and scarcely visible above the water
Nearer TO them was portion of the sa-
loon, to which were clinging several
persons. The storm was still raging in .
undated fury, and there appeared little
hope of their being able to withstand
the buffetings of the waves. They could
see the numbers clinging to the wreck
gradually diminishing as one by one
their strength failed them and they were
swept away by the angry waters. After
clinging for eight hours to the wreck,
the Captain and his companion sighted
a small pungy near them, by which they
were rescued. They were nearly insen-
sible from the effects of their long ex-
posture. The other portion of the wreck |
drifted to barren island off the mouth |
of the Paluxent river, where the men
clinging to it were rescued by boat
from the steamer Shirley, of the York
River line, which was ashore on the
island.
OF the thirty-one persons on board
only seven were rescued. Among those
who persisted was Willie Barker, aged
Is, soon of the Captain. After the
wreck he was seen by his father cling
ing to plank some distance away.
There were no means of getting near
each other, although signals were fire.
quently exchanged. He continued in
sight Of his father about an hour, when
a wave washed the plank from the lads
grasp and he is supposed to have sunk
from exhaustion.
The Lynchburg Calamity.