Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-09-28
SCENE ON BOARD A sTEAMBoAT


We had pleasure trip from New Orleans
TO Cincinnati, and had scarcely landed at the
latter place when the bell of a little steamer
for sup the river" sounded. Our party hurri-
ed on board and found the diminutive craft al
ready crowded; but as we never expectedvery
good accommodations on that part of the river
and no other opportunity offered for leaving
soon, we concluded 10 remain. Upon looking
around to see what chance there was for
amusement on our trip from my fellow passen-
gers, was particularly struck with the ap-
pearance OF an elderly lady,who seemed very i'll
at ease. Every time steam was allowed TO es-
cape from the boiler, she appeared to fancy
1t theiprelude to grand explosion, and was ev-
identity IN a state OF continual excitement
As she is to be my heroine, may as well at
tempt to describe her, although | shall hardly
do her full justice. She was the tallest wo-
man ever saw, but the effect of her height
was taken away by her immense BREADTH
She was one of M'Donald Clark's style of
bsauties--@with waist like cotton-bag,and
foot like founder" Never did see such
a moving mass of flesh encircled by petticoat
Oh! she was very fat. Upon inquiry learned
that she had been passenger on board the
steamboat p, at the time it was burned
life. Onlya few weeks had elapsed since the
catastrophe of the Ben Sherrod, by which
some scores of hapless mortals were hurried
into eternity through the combined agency
offire and water. What wonder that the wo-
man was alarmed at the prospect of steam
boat voyage.
After we left the landing, the principal topic
of conversation among the passengers was the
7 mn .frh hoI L., L.
ed. Nearly every person was equipped with
a lIie-preseryer, and some were cautious as to
| hang them in their berths filled with air and
ready for use at a moments warning. Might
came, and all were suugly enscouced in then
bcrths, when there arose the cry of fire. The
wood on the bow of the boat had caught fire
and was blazing fiercely up, shining through
the glass doors Of the social hall and the cabu
windows until the whole boat seemed envelop
cd in sheet of flame. In an instant all wa
confusion and alarm. Passengers tumbled on
Of their berths, and over one another; SOM
grasPing their preservers-some ran for thei
blggage--somef for then wives; the wise one
kept quiet nthe midst of the hubbub tn
door Ofthe ladies' cabin flew wide open, an
out burst our fat lady, dressed all in white, he
face ga map whereon terror was drawn In a
It's shapes" and around her waist huge life
preserver, not inflated. SEEING this by th
nipple with both hands, she rushed from on
TO another, exclaiming, in voice of agon
: "Blow me up blow me up for heavens SAX
blow me up! will no body blow me up!" Ha
the old lady actually exploded, must hay
: done as did, roll on the floor in fit of in
extmguishable laughter, with half the witness
7 es ofthe scene for my companions. The DO
was stopped, the fire got under, and not Il
least difficult operation, the fat lady's alarmsu
II sided The .next lday we landed her at h
S place OF destination, since which time ] ha'
II never seen her, but the recollection of Il
+ scene has cost me many aft of the side-ach
N. Y. Mirror.