The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-04-30
A STORY OF SHIPWRECK.

"Teli us how your hair turned white, "
said one of the party at the fireside.
"In June 1851, ~ said the man with
the white hair, 81 left my home in Ohio
for Buffalo. Being in hurry to return,
took passage by the steamer G. p.
Griffith for Toledo on late Sunday af-
ternoon. The ship carried over 400, pas
sengers and crew. | must have slept
soundly for about two hours in my berth,
when | was awakened by the sound of
hurrying footsteps overhead, and, look
ing through the ventilator to the upper
deck, saw two or three sailors running
along dragging a hose pipe. ! partly
dressed and went forward to the prone
made deck, where / heard from the pilot
house above the voice of the captain cry
Ing, Starboard Hard starboard and
steer her for the shorep
"The ship veered from her course and
headed for the shore, five miles away. |
went back to my stateroom, awakened
the man in the other berth, and raped
on several of the doors. As | came out
again into the cabin saw smoke curling
out from the side. The command had
been given to call up the passengers, and
when | again reached the forward deck
they were crowding upon it, Just aroused
from sleep, they hurried out half dressed or
in their night clothes, many carrying chill
dren, bandboXes, bird-cages, carpet bags
and bundles, all anxious to save some
thing. l climbed up on the railing and,
taking hold of a stanchion, swung my
self to the main deck below. Stepping
over the forms of many who were lying
there still asleep, l went around to the
engine and. looking up, saw that the
fire had broken out near the smoke stack
in a spot so difficult to get at that in all
probability the ship was doomed. Hurry
ing back to the main deck, upon which
the crowd was fast increasing, l removed
all my clothing but my night shirt and
drawers. Taking my money and valu-
ables, rolled them up with my trousers
and laid them carefully away on deck
where might recover them if the ship
should escape destruction Climbing up
on the rail near the gangplank, held on
until the frantic crowd, pressing for
ward, forced me away. | crept along on
the gunwale to near the wheel on the
land side, where clung and watched
the crowd as they surged forward from
the approaching flames.
"There was scarcely a scream heard
AS the flames drove them further and
further forward whole columns of people
were pushed into the water. Husbands
caught their wives and children, and
throwing them overheard, jumped afte
them. Women with babes in their arm
went about piteously begging some ont
to save their children, and when thel
were pushed or jumped into the waite
held their infants high above their heads
After they were drowned their quilted
skirts buoyed them up, and saw babie
actually trying with their little hands t
catch the dancing light of the flames il
the water.
''The ship grounded at daybreak in
about ten feet of water, a little NOR
than half mile from the shore Tn
water all about the forward part of he
was full of drowned and drowning peo
pie. Many good swimmers struck ou
for the shores, but from all sides the poo
drowning wretches would clutch then
and drag them down.
"The flames drove me off at last. i
the water Just beneath me was a strug
Cling crowd of drowning creatures cling
ING to each other. Suddenly a space @
about twenty feet cleared instantly b
their sinking out of sight, dragging eac
other down. l determined to jump, swiI
toward the stern of the boat until out 0
reach of the clutches of the drowning
and then make a detour for the shore
Remembering how used to jump int
the water as a boy when learning
swim, 1 put my feet closely together
arms straight by my side, and plunge
down like a wedge to the bottom, wit
my eyes wide open. For brief secon
saw lying on the bed of the lake heal
of dead bodies in all positions. On risin
to the surface ! struck out with my arm
but to my horror found my feet boun