Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1841-09-09

g - s.i - n
The Beslaa Post pruuouacss a SsnA~. |
leg. WAich . fpraished ~ enrsespoa-
deaf. the best story ever sosA = ggs !
hare had hearty laugh ever 4. sad Do |
not feel disposed 70 deprive our r~adsrs
Of similar s1sEeiso Of THAR caehinatsry
faculties.
- We had a pS,..aSsi
tnp from New Orleans TO Cineinnsii. aud
had scarcely lsodse a The later plses
when the bell al liiliO steamer. fos at,,,
the FiveF,'' eouaasd. Oar party hufriea
on board and iound The dishin1lIve erall
already er3wded; bat, as ne nsver ex-a
Peet very good accommodation a ,h.,
part d ,As river. and no other OPPcrsoai.y
offered TOT teavlng s1on, Ws eonciuded %
rsnain. Upon tsokiag around 70 see
what chance there vas Cor amusement
on our trip from my fellow passengers. I
was particularly stuck Filh the appssr-
anes OF an elderly lady. sho seemed verv
~ a ease. Every time steam vas allow.
ed 10 escape from the boiler she appear
ed 10 taaey 4 the prelude 10 q Rrand ex-
plosioo. add was evidently in : state Of
eoahnual excitement. AZ she il 10 be
my hsEoins, I may a. well attempt 10 de-
scribe her. although shall hardly do her
tnil justice. She vas ons Of the talIess
women ever say. but the ehSct Of her
height was taken away By her Immense
breadth. Sao was onb Of Mcdonald
Clarkes style Of besuiies-"with . " Iist
like eotisn bag sne loot like q aoun.
DEF Never did ] see such a mOvin =
mass q hssh eneiIelsd by peIlieoat.-
Oh abe Vas v0y fat. Upon inquiry I
learned that she had been 4 passenger on
the steamer p. at the time L uas
burned. q few years before. add narrovly
escaped With her life. Oaly . few weeks
had elapsed sines the eataSlFophs Of the
Ben. SherFOd. by which some scores az
hsPless nOrtals were hurried into eteruitv
through the combined SReaey Of Gre and
water. What voadsr that the vom.0
vas alarmed At the Pro'peei o! . steam
Aftsr We lsft the liading. the principal
topic OF conversation among the passen.
gers was the hUmeEo1s seeidents uhich
had lately happened. Nssrly every per-
son was equipped with life prsServer.
and some we're 20 cautious az 10 hang
'hem nP in their bsrihs SLED with air and
ready ioF use At . momOnrs warnibR.-
Night came. aad all were spuely enseone-
ed IN their beFihs, when there arose the
cry OF Gre. The wood on the bow Of he
boat had caught IRE, and vas blazing
heTesly up lhisiLs through the rI,,,
doors 81 the social hall and The cabin vim
d0ES until the whole boat seem envelop.
ed IN q sheet 81 fame. 10 an instant al
vas confusion AID alarm. PassenRers
dumbied out Of their beTlhs, add over one
snoiheF some grsIped their prsseTvers-
sons ran for their .basgaEe--soms for
theu WiVes-iho wise ones kept quiet
10 The midst Of the hubbub. The doors Of
the ladies', cabin asv vide open, ard ont
burst ous fSt lady dFrssed eli in white
her face - map UbeTeon Ierrer vas
drawn 10 ell tie shapes" and aroaad her
vast hoge life preSerVeF. not Inflated.
Ssizing This By The nipple with both
hands, she rushed from one 20 another
e4elaiming, IN voice Of agony, "Eio,g M
UP clos ne ~ Tor God sake BEo,s a.,
eP'i will oobO9y 5ioU ne Hp!r' Had
ne old lady actually exploded, ! must
have done as I did. roll Oas the door ia !
at OF ineEiinguishsbks isnghier, with bslf
the Witnesses Of the seene for nv com.
Panions. The beat wss stopped. The Gre
got under, aad, not the least difieu;l ops.
Iai'S0, The fat lsdy's alarm spbdaea'-
The next day We landed her st her place
Of Destination. since which time I have
never Ssen her, bot the recollection Of
TIE scene has coat me many q at Of the
eide ache.