Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-30

persons, who looked, lhe one with dis
dain, and the other with sorrow and tears,
on the intoxicated circle around them,
should especially observe one another,
stationed as they both were, on serene
eminence, above the passionate tumult Of
the hour. William Grey gazed long and
often during the day on Tie pale, sweet
face, and dove-like blue eyes-mild, yet
intelligent and brilliant as the stars-and
yearned to know who the stranger maid
en- was and she, on her part, cast many
or oblique glance Of timid but irresistible
admiration towards that manly counten-
ance and noble form, which filled at once
the ideal Of her dreams, and made her in
wa.dly wish that she hads brother such
as he.
Love at first sight is-aa fiction Of ro-
NANCE" cries one; "a delusion Of the
Senses" sighs another. We will not
gainsay either theory. Yxt who has not
loved at first sight? Who has not seen
eyes glancing from stages and steamboats,,
through windows and from beneath walls,
thrilling the heart with aspirit-like token
Of kindlies. recognition, not wanton, or
passionate, but pure as the gaze of an an
gel through the starry halo? Then the
soul longed to hail its celestial mate but
the moments glimpse sufficed not for an
opportunity, and the vision faded Oh the
sight, leaving its memory fresh to all
eternity. He who nev.E loved at first
sight never loved at all--is not blessed
with the faculty Of loving. But enough
of such erratics, and now let us finish our
story.
The race still continued, and augment
ed in interest. The sun set, and the moon
and stars rose, but the spectators scarcely
noticed the fact. One problem monopo-
lized all thought-"Which will beat to S,
Louis? Who will win the ten thousand
dollars ?"
A short time before midnight storm
blew over the sky !, the moon became OBJ
scured with murky cloud<7 rain began to
patter on the hurricane deck, and the la
dies retired below. Still the excitement
was undiminished. The race was almos,
run. The boats were opposite the Mis-
souri. II was only twenty miles TO ST
Louis, and neither rival had ye. gained
any perceivable advantage.
Then the captain Of the Fairy Queen
yentured on desperate expedient. He
ordered barrels Of oil and turpentine to be
broken open and used to feed the fires.-
The s,ratagem succeeded. The new and
beautiful boat shot ahead of the Henry
Clay, and soon left her same distance in
the rear. Ms
AT this moment William Grey was seat
ed near the open door Of ;he ladies' cabin
ostensibly reading some ordinary book
-b.s. r--'.l;- kir.A~rss..is sAay-t - asrnsd.
stealing sidelong glances 4 the extraordi
nary beauty of Helen Harrison, who sal
a few feet from him employed in writing
letter, conscious without turning hel
head, that tender eyes were asking for
her own. Such revelations Of the heart
are made by intuition.
Suddenly boisterous shout all over th,
Fairy Queen announced the promise o.
certain triumph. And then sharp, hiss
ing sound was heard, then an explosion
loud as the roar of thunderbolt, had any
thunders power to strike into shivers tree.
of iron. a wall succeeded unexpressibly
mournful, as the hull Of the vessel, ca.
reened to one side, and then recoiled
rocking to and fro like a cradle. The
steam-quake, if we may SO term il, LASTED
but moment. Quick as thought it came
and went !; but left behind il scores ol
corpses, and as many living; some slight.
ly, and others seriously wounded. A
scene ensued, such as to battle all escrip.
ton. Here was wife calling in accents
of despair for her husband there child
clas ping with wild sobs the mutilated body
of its mother. Now maiden might be
seen covering her pale face with her jew.
eled fingers, exclaiming, "Oh, God! my
eyes !" And anon some strong mar
breaks into the cabin, tearing the clothing
from his breast, frenzied with excruciat.
ing pain.
Horrible! Still numbers escape un.
hurt. But worse catastrophe is coming
Sudden as the knell of death, awful as the
trumpet Of judgment, sounds the cry o.
Fire !'-that most appalling word, ever
spoken on board Of ship or in the cabin,
OF steamboat. Fire! Fire?' scream
more than fifty voices. The boat is or
fire! Treading SO swiftly on the heels o.
the previous calamity, no wonder that this
drives many to distraction. Some leap
madly into the stream some rave, mouth.
ing hideous bias phemies; others fall o,
their bended knees and utter has!y
prayers. There is infinite need Of haste
now. In few minutes the fore part Of
the boat is in bright hsa<; and as the
wind blows directly up the stream, the
flames are running rapidly towards the
stern. Somebody shouts to the pilot,
ssS,eer her ashore !" There is no pilot
He was hurled on high, 'orty feet into the
air, with the first explosion. Another
calls for the captain. The gamblers pale
clay is now asleep on its bed Of mud ii
the bottom of the Mississippi; aud hi:
beautiful wife, with bursts Of maniac
laughter, gazes on her affrighted babe
The rays of reason has Iorsaken her DARK
eye forever.
But why did not the other boat bea'
down and afford timely aid 10 the suffer
ers? A part Of the machinery had give'
way and although without the loss o
life, she lay powerIess as log on the wa
ter.
One might almost fear the ink woul'
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