The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-10-19

river, burst her boilers a few DAYS since,
killing some some fifteen or twenty persons,
allude to the Concordia; J but rs | pre-
sumo yon have full accounts of it before
this, will no, give YOU the par,icalars.-
In lieu however, and by way of finale 10
my epistle, will give YOU "Reminiscences
of poor old Laurent, (or Lor.rah, as the
French pronounce i,.)
About i've years ago noble steamer lay
at the Bayou Sara wharf. She was the
belle packet; the iavoriie; perfect man
sion OF elegance and beauty. Her cargo
was all on board, and from every pore OF
her staunch boilers, whiz'd the mpa,ien,
steam. The bell was tap'i: the lines cas-,
of; the plank hauled in. kcrchicis were
floating in the breeze, as warm hearts es.
changed the fond farewell. Every thing
seemed TO proclaim the noble craft "a thin.
ct iiie." Near the wheel, upon the upper
deck, stood her commander, an old French.
man, around whose hardy frame the blasts
oi live and sixty winters had spen, their
!ary, leaving but few traces Of their s,or-
my visits, save the si!very locks which
were now sporting in the air. Upon every
lineament Of his face was stamped the as
snrnncc Of good, old. homes, mn. Turn
ing to his pilot, he cried as he waved his
hand, ''Gise her n turn back. Armada
The escape pipe bclched forth its snow
white cloud, aud in an instant, u crash
more awful than the fiery bolt of heaven,
pealed forth in deaicniny thunder tones, and
rolled over the vast bosom OF the stream
Fragments Of the proud structure were
hurled unto the very Clouds The happy
souls, who but moment before, were blcs,
with the enuobling image of the Creator;
and exulting in strength and beauty; were
now blown 10 atoms, Or dashed in CHASTITY
masses ofdeiormi,y upon the earth Seine,
4 ~ Wv Ns'ih~ eAp'hsiuHs were tuIOWn
through roofs and walls or like bombs from
mortar, driven n thousand wards! And.
scattered throughout the town lay vast plates
oi the strong iron boilers. twisted and torn
Ike paper leaves in childish sport. The
magnificent saloon with its rich furniture
and chnice carpets, was scattered to the
winds heaven, like chufi upon the tenn
pest blast. The main deck from check to
engine, was rip'd and shattered into ten
thousand splintcrs; and beneath il. the sol
I'd planks Of ouk were wrenchcd from the
tough ,imbcrs. From an hundred ragged
rents, the muddy current Of the Mississippi
ri was silently streaming in. Slowly and
steadily she sunk within the water, like n
dismal vision Of ioverish brain; until with
one lurch, tho wreck If the beautiful "Clip.
per-" the pride Of the Crcoles, was buried
in the bosom Of the Father OF waters.
Alas, poor old Laurent! Who that has
ever brca,acd for month, the balmy mir
fihe ''Coast," bu, remembers old Laurent.
the fortunate, until now and ever popu-
lar commander for quarter Of a century |?
Within foot Of whore he stood upon the
clippers" deck, the roof was blown to
atoms; and the old man, whom death had
spared through three score years and five,
stood unscathed ia tho midst Of the terrible
devastation. But SO bewldered was ne
with establishment, that he stood like one
in dream, and when friends from the
shore rushed upon the sinking wreck, and
urged him 10 gain the bank, Inc cried in
amazement, "What ish dc matter shcn,lc.
men? What ish dc malter?' "Your boa,
is blown up and is sinking Capt LAURENT
I"Ncvnre! ncvare! lhave see no,hing!r--
Mechanically he followed them TO the shore.
Here, locking round he began to enquire
earnestly for "Baccy' (his clerk) md for
"Arnaud" (,he pilot.) Men whom he had
raised from boyhood's merry hours, and
around whom, years Of confidence and init
macy, had caused the warm tendrils of his
heart to twine 10 friendships purcst
wreaths. "Whcrc is Baccy?' "IIe is
killed. was the sad and solemn response
''Eaccy dcad!' he mut.cred unconsciousIy
to himself; then, starting, as ray Of hope
heamcd, like tho bow Of promise through
the gloomy tempest, he cried. like one los,
between fear and hope; "and Arnaud !?
where is Arnaud?" The sad truth was