The New Hampshire Gazette

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

Extract of a letter dated Sackett's-Harbor, Sept. 4.

"In my last, I mentioned that a melancholy accident had occurred a few days ago in the neighborhood of Ernest-town, Upper Canada, by which eight young ladies and two gentlemen lost their lives.--While at Kingston, I heard the following particulars: The boat was about 250 yards from the shore; it was an old leaky vessel, and it took in so much water, that one of the passengers observed, he was filling;' in a moment of alarm, the gentlemen jumped over, and swam for the shore, except two. The names of those who perished are Mr. John Germain, and his sister Jane; Mary and Jane Detler; Matilda Robbins; Elizabeth M'Koy; Elizabeth Clark; Mary Cole; Huldah Madden, and Peter Bogart.

What added to the distressing scene, was the presence on the shore of several of the parents of the deceased, who were obliged to be spectators of this event, without being enabled to render them any assistance.

One circumstance occurred, which I will relate: Mr. Germain, when within a few yards of the shore, heard his sister exclaim, "Save; Oh save me, my brother!" He immediately observed, to one swimming near him, "I will save my sister, or perish with her." He made the attempt, got near her, and she grasped hold of his cravat; another young lady also caught hold of the collar of his coat. In this situation, he attempted to swim, but it is supposed the sister held so tight on the cravat, that it prevented him from breathing. 'In a few moments they were seen to sink to rise no more, until the vital spark had fled."