Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-03-28
A STORY OF SHIPWRECK.

lell us now your nalr turned White,
said one of the party at the fireside.
SIN June, 1851, said the man with
the white hair, "I 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. l must have slept
soundly for about two hours in my berth,
when I 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
a9ong dragging hose pipe. I partly
dressed and went forward to the prone
made deck, where I 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 I came out
again into the cabin I saw smoke curling
out from the side. The command had
been given to call up the passengers, and
when l again reached the forward deck
Whey 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. I climbed up on the railing and,
taking hold of stanchion, swung my
self to the main deck below. Stepping
over the forms of many who were lying
there still asleep, went around to the
engine and, looking up, saw that the
fire had broken out near the smoke stack
in 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, I 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, I held or
until the frantic crowd, pressing for
ward, forced me away. crept along or
the gunwale to near the wheel on the
land side, where l clung and watched
lhe crowd as they surged forward from
Che approaching flames.
''There was scarcely scream heard
AS the flames drove them further and
further forward whole columns of people
were pushed into the water. Husband.
caught their wives and children, and
throwing them overheard, jumped afte
them. " Women with babes in their arm
went about piteously begging some on,
to save their children, and when they
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 l saw babie
actually trying with their little hands tt
catch the dancing light of the flames il
the water.
"The ship grounded at daybreak in
about ten feet of water, 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. Il
she water just beneath me was strug
Cling crowd of drowning creatures cling
ing to each other. Suddenly space O
about twenty feet cleared instantly b.
their sinking out of sight, dragging eacl
other down. l determined to jump, swim
toward the stern of the boat until out o
reach of the clutches of the drowning
and then make detour for the shore
Remembering how l used to jump int
the water as boy, when learning t
swim, / put my f,et closely together
arms straight by my side, and plunged
down like wedge to the bottom, wit
my eyes wide open. For brief secon,
!, saw lying on the bed of the lake heap
of dead bodies in all positions. On risin
to the surface / struck out with my arms
sut to my horror found my feet boun
slightly together. The band Of my draw
srs had burst, and, slipping down, ha'
bound my ankles as securely as if tied
Turning on my back, carefully Olsen
tangled them from each foot. These et
forts greatly exhausted me- but, one
free, swan toward the stern until wa
quite clear of all distractions, and the
struck out for shore. One strong swim
mer passed me and spoke some encoul
aging words. / saw Others who mus
have become dazcd, swimming back int
the Lake,
II was not an experienced swimmer, by
! had passed, as / had judged, nearl
hall the distance to the shoye when
-N'fs