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There were also on board forty passengers, men, women and children; and, besides this immense load of human beings, her boiler deck was crowded with horses and mules.I first saw the Sultana as she rounded the point below Fort Pickering, in plain view from our deck, and she presented the appearance of an immense mass of human beings; it seemed as if every foot of space, from her hurricane deck down, was crowded. She was loudly cheered by crowds of people, who lined the wharves and levees. She steamed up by us, slowly, and tied up alongside of a coal barge, just above, where wo were moored. It being in the earl}' evening, and I having business ashore, thought no more of her for a few hours. I remained on shore until near eight bells, (midnight) and as I came on board by own ship, noticed that she was still there. I could distinctly hear the merry song of the roustabouts, as they trundled the c-.ai on board, mingled with the merry making of the soldiers. Ah, little thought they of the terrible doom that was soon to befall them!I slung my hammocK. in the port gangwaj:, it being the river side of the ship, and was soon fast asleep. It seemed to mo, however, that I had scarcely closed my eyes, when I was awakened by a confusion of sounds and discordant cries, that seemed to come from the river. Starting up, I distinctly heard the words, “My God, help!” and I supposed of course, that some unlucky sailor had fallen overboard. About this time the shrill pipe of the boat-s wain’s whistle sounded through the ship, accompanied by the hoarse call: “Turn out allhands!” “Man the boats!” and before I could get on deck, all the boats had been manned, and shot out in the murky darkness, it being impossible to see anything a cable's length ahead; but a more appalling scene can hardly be conceived. 'The river seemed to beto tHe goouoistersoi i/iiarityr^oon ite«after we were towed by a gunboat to our ship, and I heard nothing more of the lady until afternoon, when I received word.by a incsson- j011 ger boy that a lady wished to see J0;1 me at the Overton'hospital. I re-paired thither immediately, and j found the woman we had rescued lying bn a cot, in a very feeble condition, but tenderly cared for. She poured outlier thank for her lt;Ioliv-erance, but mourned deeply for her husband and little girl, with whom she was on her way up the river. They were on their way North from Texas. She said her husband had four thousand dollars in gold concealed about his person, and never could have kept afloat any length of time. Her little girl she had not seen since going, to bed in her j statcroon. When she was awaken- j. . ed by the explosion she found her- J/f* self alone in her room, and rushed j ‘1 out into the cabin, where the ut-j 1:11 most confusion prevailed. The fire j was already sweeping aft, and dri-j *-• ving liimdrcds^jnto the river; and her only escape from a lingering death was to jump into the river, already a surging mass of drowning horses, mules, men, women and children. What a leap for fragile woman! but desperate as it was shelorhowihananochbhcmtirhi;hoiivmust make it. Thrice she hadatfoiAcsinapCO.Lianoilrillexcured a partial support, in the shape of a door, or a bale of goods. j J'r but was each time rudely thrust 1,1 aside by strong men, frantic with terror. At last she secured the little bit of a board, which was her only support until taken out of the water some three hours afterward. God only knows what that poor woman suffered in those hours of terrible agony. Bereft of husband, child, fortune, everything gone, and nothing but a frail piece of board between-her and death.The scene in the hospital wasrethjcn1diheartrending. A large portion of these rescued were so badly scalded, or otherwise injured that they were in extreme agony, and afteremIIhiward died. Out of twenty-five liun-. w
Newspaper Details
Winchester Randolph Journal
Winchester, Indiana, US
Wed, Oct 11, 1876
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Gene S.
USA 27 Dec 2016
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