Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-03-04
Back from the Dead
W. J. 3.

"IeI Us how Your hair turned
white" said cGo Of the party at the
dreside.
In June, 1851, said the man with the
white hair, l left my home in Buffalo.
Being in hurry to return, took pas
sage by the steamer G. 2. Griffith for
Toledo, late on Sunday afternoon
The ship carried over four hundred
passengers and crew. l must have
slept soundly for about two hours in
my berth, when l was awakened By
the sound of hurrying footsteps over
head, and, looking through the ventil-
stor 10 the upper deck, saw two or
three sailors running along dragging a
hose-pipe. 1 partly dressed and went
forward to the promenade deck, where
heard from the pilot-house above, the
voice Of the captain crying, "Star-
board? Hard starboard? and steer for
the shore!"
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 l 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 1t. Just aroused from
in their night-clothes, many carrying
children, bandboxes, cages, carpet-bags
and bundles, all anxious to save some
thing. climbed up on the railing,
and, taking hold Of a stanchion, swung
myself to the main deck below. Step
ping 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
smokestack In g spot so difficult to get
at that in all probably the ship was
doomed.
HuTying back TO the main deck,
upon which the crowd was fast increas-
ing, removed all my clothing but my
night-shirt and drawers. Taking my
money and valuables, rolled them up
with my trousers, and laid them care
fully away on deck, where might re-
cover them if the ship should escape
destruction. Climbing up OH the raft
near the gang-plank, l held on until
the frantic crowd, pressing forward,
forced me away. 1 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 child
rem, and throwing them overheard,
jumped after them. Women with babes
IN their arms went about piteously
begging some one to save their children,
and when they were pushed or jumped
into the water held their infants high
above their heads. After they were
drowned their quilted skirts buoyed
them up, and saw babies actually try
ing with their little hands TO catch the
dancing light OF the flames ia the
water.
The ship grounded at daybreak in
about ten feet Of water, little more
than half mile from the shore. The
water all about the forward part of
her was full of drowned and drowning
people. Many good swimmers struck
out for the shore, but from all sides
the poor drowning wretches would
clutch them and drag them down.
The flames drove me off at last. In
the water beneath Inc was struggling
crowd of drowning creatures clinging
TO each other. Suddenly a space of
about twenty feet cleared instantly by
their sinking out of sight. l deter
mined to jump, swim toward the stern
of the boat until out of the reach Of
the clutches Of the drowning, and then
make detour for the shore. Remem-
6ering how l used to jump into the
water as a boy, when learning to
swim, l put my feet closely together,
arms straight by my side, and
plunged down like wedge to the
bottom, with my eyes wide open. For
brief second | saw lying on the bed
of the lake heaps of dead bodies in all
positions. On rising to the surface
struck out with my arms, but to my
horror found my feet bound tightly
together. The band of my drawers
had burst, and slipping doTT, bad
bound my ankles as securely rs If
ued. Turning on my back, care.
tully disentangled them from each
loot. These efforts greatly exhausted
me, but, once free, l swan toward
The stern until l was quite clesr of all
oostrucuons, and then struck out for
the shore. One strong swimmer
passed inc, and spoke some encourag.
fnx words. ] saw others who must