Twas on Lake Erie's broad expanse
      One bright midsummer day,
The gallant steamer "Ocean Queen"
      Swept proudly on her way.
Bright faces clustered on the deck
      Or, leaning o'er the side,
Watched carelessly the feathery foam
      That flecked the rippling tide.

Ah, who beneath that cloudless sky,
      That, smiling bends serene,
Could dream that danger, awful, vast
      Impended o'er the scene --
Could dream that ere an hour had sped
      That frame of sturdy oak
Would sink beneath the lake's blue waves,
      Blackened with fire and smoke?

A seaman sought the captain's side,
      A moment whispered low;
The captain's swarthy face grew pale;
      He hurried down below,
Alas, too late! Though quick and sharp
      And clear his orders came,
No human efforts could avail
      To quench the insidious flame.

The bad news quickly reach the deck,
      It sped from lip to lip,
And ghastly faces everywhere
      Looked from the doomed ship.
"Is there no hope, no chance of life?"
      A hundred lips implore;
"But one," the captain made reply,
      "To run the ship on shore."

A sailor whose heroic soul
      that hour should yet reveal
By name John Maynard, Eastern born,
      Stood calmly at the wheel.
"Head her southeast!" the captain shouts
      Above the smothered roar,
"Head her southeast without delay!
      Make for the nearest shore!"

No terror pales the helmsman's cheeks,
      Or clouds his dauntless eye,
As, in a sailor's measured tone
      His voice responds "Ay! Ay!"
Three hundred souls, the steamer's freight,
      Crowd forward, wild with fear,
While at the stern the dreaded flames
      Above the deck appear.

John Maynard watched the nearing flames,
      But still with steady hand
He grasped the wheel and steadfastly
      He steered the ship to land.
"John Maynard, can you still hold out?"
      He heard the captain cry;
A voice from out the stifling smoke
      Faintly responds, "Ay! ay!"

But half a mile, a hundred hands
      Stretch eagerly to shore;
But half a mile that distance sped,
      Peril shall all be o'er.
But half a mile! Yet stay, the flames
      No longer slowly creep,
But gather round that helmsman bold
      With fierce, impetuous sweep.

"John Maynard!" with an anxious voice
      The captain cries once more,
"Stand by the wheel five minutes yet,
      And we shall reach the shore."
Through flame and smoke that dauntless heart
      Responded firmly still,
Unawed, though face to face with death,
      With God's good help I will!"

The flames approach with giant strides,
      They scorch his hand and brow;
One arm disabled, seeks his side,
      Ah! he is conquered now.
But no, his teeth are firmly set,
      He crushes down his pain;
His knee upon the stanchion pressed,
      He guides the ship again.

One moment yet! One moment yet!
      Brave heart, thy task is o'er;
The pebbles grate beneath the keel
      The steamer touches shore.
Three hundred grateful voices rise
      In praise to God that he
Hath saved them from the fearful fire,
      And from the engulfing sea.

But where is he, that helmsman bold?
      The captain saw him reel;
His nerveless hands released their task;
      He sank beside the wheel,
The wave received his lifeless corse,
      Blackened with smoke and fire.
God rest him! Never her had
      A nobler funeral pyre!