256 IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING SEAMEN. government of a board of directors, or governors, an nually elected by the society. "Let merchants who are impressed with the utility of such an institution, devote an hour for the consideration of the proposed object, whether for its rejection or its promotion. On the plan, order, government, resources, and application of funds, though I might offer some general outlines, it is not my province publicly to communicate them. However, I will venture to say, in relation to teachers for a Marine School, it has many years been my impres sion, that, experienced sea captains, disabled by age or by misfortune, are the most eligible, and the compensation allowed them may contribute to make them a snug harbour.' Whether this school be free or not, provision should be made for a certain number of boys, inclining to the marine life, whose parents are or have been captains or pilots, especially in our waters, but who are now unfortunately reduced in health or circumstances; that such youths be educated gratuitously. Thus public benefit and benevolence would happily combine. "Should this recommendation meet with approbation, and be adopted, it is possible that your example may be followed by other cities and large towns immediately concerned in commerce; consequently the object will become more extensively beneficial. At any rate, those whom you may educate, would more immediately be considered as your own sailors; and, of course, be more attached to your service and interest. "It is only necessary, gentlemen, for me to add, that this address is from the pen of a citizen, whose public station in life perfectly excludes him from the shadow of suspicion of any further benefit from the subject than the gratification of contributing, in some small degree, to the interests of the community. "AMERICUS, LETTER FROM CAPTAIN PERRY, U. S. N. 257 "P. S. Insurance companies, unquestionably, will be highly interested in the proposed institution. For it-will not be denied, that many a vessel has been lost for the want of able navigators; as, on the death of the captain and mate, no person on board was found competent to take the command. On the part, therefore, of the merchant, and the company, this object may produce incalculable advantages." The following letter from the brother of Commodore Perry, will be read with interest, and, at the same time, furnish an additional evidence that Mr. Stanford's efforts were not limited. He seems to have regarded the whole world as the field of his labours. "REV. AND DEAR SIR, New-York, January 26th, 1824. "I acknowledge, with great pleasure, the receipt of your valuable communication of the 24th instant, and feel highly gratified with your approbatory remarks, in favour of my plan for introducing apprentices into our naval service. I agree most cordially with you, Sir, that it promises the only way to procure a succession of able sailors for the navy,' and must (should the plan be adopted,) prove an incalculable benefit, not only to our maratime prosperity, but to the community at large, more especially to the population of our large cities. 6 "I see no reason why Court-Boys,' as they are termed, should be excluded from the advantages of the arrangement. For should their vicious propensities. prevent their rising above the rank of a common sailor, even in this station they would be extremely useful to the country. But, it is to be hoped, that the application of the sound and wholesome discipline of our navy, would have a tendency to check, if not entirely eradi cate, those juvenile faults, which, in most instances, grow out of idleness and the neglect of parents, 258 DEATH OF WILLIAM STANFORD. "The generally received opinion of landsmen, that a ' vessel of war' is a receptacle of vice and wickedness, is founded in error. Shut up as the crew must be, in a small compass, at all times under the watchful and superintending eyes of their officers, who are clothed with almost unlimited power to punish every violation of discipline, it is impossible for them to indulge their evil propensities; and, by turning their attention to the pleasing and active employments of a seafaring life, they will forget their early habits, and learn, at last, the old maxim, that 'honesty is the best policy.' "I thank you, my dear Sir, for the pamphlets you were good enough to send me. I have perused them with much attention, and am of the opinion that they are admirably calculated to do good aboard our ships of war. I shall make it a point to distribute those in my possession amongst the men under my command. "With sentiments of great respect, "I am, dear Sir, "Your most obedient servant, "Saturday, February 28th. Received the sad news of the death of my son William, at St. Kitts, West-Indies, which made a deep impression upon my heart." Yet, on the following Sabbath, he adds:"Notwithstanding the state of my mind, I ventured on the Lord's work. Preached in the City-Hospital in the morning, and twice in the State-Prison chapel in the afternoon, and again in the guard-house. The Lord was good and gracious to me in his blessed work." On the 23d of April, he says: I visited the hospital at Bellevue, and afterwards gave a discourse in the school-room, to nearly two hundred children." On the morning of the 16th, Mr. Stanford went to the City-Hospital, where an appalling scene awaited AWFUL STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION. 259 him. Nine persons, dreadfully scalded by the explosion on board of the steam-boat Etna, had been brought in on the previous evening. Two females died in the night, and four others expired in a few days. He immediately went up to converse and pray with each of the seven survivors, who were distributed in different apartments. On the 23d of May, 1824, Mr. S. delivered a sermon from Job xxiv. 22, intended as a moral improvement of the calamity occasioned by the explosion, by which several valuable lives were lost. The sermon was followed by an account of the last hours, and dying experience, of six out of the nine mutilated sufferers, who were brought to the Hospital.* *The following extract will, it is hoped, be acceptable to the reader :-"Had I been on deck at the departure of the vessel, opened my Bible, and then read to the assembled passengers, the words of Job- No man is sure of life,' possibly it might have been deemed premature; each one anticipating a speedy passage, a safe arrival at the city, and a warm reception to the bosom of their friends. How inscrutable are the ways of God with man! How unforeseen are the alternate changes of prosperity and adversity, of life and death, which attend our paths! So true it is, We know not what a day may bring forth.' "At seven o'clock, just as the sun was withdrawing his beams, and the passengers were within sight of the city, and anxious to arrive, the centre boiler, exploded as with the voice of thunder. So tremendous was the concussion, that the deck was torn from its timbers; the various accommodations for passengers were destroyed, and the fragments scattered in every direction, exhibiting a spectacle of complete devastation. But what were these, when compared with the horrible destruction of human beings! The impetuous steam, in its fury, rushed into the after-cabin, which was allotted for the safety and repose of the female passengers. Several of these were scalded to death, and lay prostrate in the most shocking condition. "This cabin was not the only place where destruction and misery were produced; the steam in a moment filled every other apartment, and destroyed every thing which obstructed its course. Some human beings were externally scalded and torn, while others still more unfortunate, by inhaling the steam, were literally filled with its direful effects, and incapable of expressing the anguish they endured. The cries and shricks of the sufferers penetrated the souls of the few on deck who had escaped the fiery deluge, and presented to their view a scene more dreadful than language can describe! The whole number of persons on board the Etna, is stated to have been thirty-four. "Of those who first fell in death, by this accident, the family of Mr. Job 260 DYING EXPERIENCE OF THE SUFFERERS. Wednesday, October 20th, he writes:-"This is my birth-day—arrived at my 70th year. My feelings Furman, well known and respected in this city, have been the greatest sufferers. Early in the morning of Saturday, Mrs. Sarah Furman, Mrs. Merserole, their daughter, Mary Furman, sister of Mr. Furman, and Miss Caroline Furman, neice of Mr. Furman, only ten years of age; all these, in the enjoyment of full health, left the city to pay the last expression of friendship, by attending the same afternoon, at Elizabeth-Town, the funeral of Mrs. Prince, who was a niece of Mr. Furman. While at that house of mourning, the infant of the deceased expired. It was immediately dressed in its shroud, and placed in the cold arms of its mother, in the same coffin, and both conveyed to the silent grave. Under the solemn influence of this scene of mortality, they entered on board of the Ætna, no doubt in the expectation of returning in safety to their habitation. We all know the lively emotion which expectation inspires for the return of absent friends; and such was the anticipation of Mr. F. as the day declined. At last the sun set-the curtain of night dropped-expectation grew stronger, and yielded to impatience-they arrived, not in health and activity, but fast bound in the fetters of death; while their mangled bodies exhibited a spectacle too appalling for description Dreadful was the domestic anguish-deep and heart-rending. A speedy interment was deemed indispensable, and on the next afternoon, the four bodies were buried in one grave. "At ten o'clock on Saturday night, nine of those unfortunate sufferers were brought to the door of the Hospital. Some of them, owing to their mangled condition, were conveyed on litters, and others in coaches. Their agonies and cries broke in upon the stillness of the night, and rendered the scene most awfully affecting Every exertion which humanity or medical skill could devise, were employed for their relief. "Ann Dougherty, aged about thirty, inhaled a large portion of steam, and was externally scalded in a shocking manner. She, however, was supported by the hand of her Saviour, and gave a happy evidence of the power of religion, under the sharpest distress. As this female died in the night on which she came in, I am indebted to the women who occupy the same ward, for my information, and from whose testimony the following statement may be received as correct. Previous to her entering on board the steam-boat, she had an impression upon her mind, that she should not live long; and, on taking leave of a Christian friend, she cut off a lock of her hair, and gave it to her as a memorial of affection, saying, 'I do not expect to see you again.' Soon as her wounds were dressed, she said, I thank God for this accident; shall the sooner go to my heavenly Father's home.' A pious woman went to her bed and asked her, Is Jesus, the Saviour, precious to you?' She replied, 'O, yes, he is precious to me;' and raising her voice as much as possible, she said, 'I want you all to seek and love the Lord.' A little after, she said to one of her attendants, I dare not say this is hard, though it may seem so." This person asked her if she could do any thing for her; to which she replied, No, the Lord will do all things well for me.' The nurse observing the position in which she lay, asked her if her pillow did not seem hard. With peculiar emphasis she answered, 'O, no; Jesus can make a dying bed feel soft as downy pillows are.' 'I am sorry to see you suffer |