Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-26
THE BURNING OF THE NoRrHERx INDIANA.
Heroic Conduct OF Mrs. Elizabeth
KOvits, of this City.
INCIDENTS, &C.

On Tuesday last, in little paragraph, we
stated that among the passengers saved from the
burning wreck of the Northern Indiana, was Mrs.
Elizabeth Koertz of st. Paul. The lady alluded
to, was Mrs. Kovits, not Koertx, with whom we
had an interview yesterday, and from whom we
learned the following interesting particulars con-
corning the ACCIDENT
| Mrs. KovitS was in the Ladies' parlor, CONVEX
sing with several nquaintances, when one of them
remarked that she smelled something burning as
though it were paint, aud enquired of the cham
Der maid who passed at the moment, what it was
The maid made an Indifferent answer. few
moments after she passed again, and again the
| inquiry was made what was burning? She re-
marked that they were only firing up, and that
there was no danger. The smell becoming more
| perceptible, the inquiry was again made of the
chamber maid, when she remarked that the boat
was on fire, and that she was preparing to jump
into the Lake; and true enough, she had on her
| life-preservcr, and was about to put her threat
into execution. Mrs. Kovits and the other ladies
asked her for life preserv ers, but she told them to
| 60 into their state-rOoms and get them. Mrs. X.
entered her room, deliberately put on her bonnet
and cape, seized her travelling bag, and started
for the deck, where she saw boy endeavoring to
initiate lfe-preserver. He could not get the
knot through the button hole, when she ssked him
for it and ne gave it to her. She put it about her
person, walked to the after part of the boat,
rolled herself The railing, and there succeed
ed in fastening the preServer to her body.
By this time the flames had reached the place
where she was standing, and the sparks fell upon
her dress. Selling rope, over which the flames
were creeping, she was gradually letting herself
diatelv after, a man came sprawling down upon
her. He doubtless had seized the same rope, in
hopes Of saving himself, but drowned. Mrs.
kovts then foated out into the lake. scarcely
conscious of where she was going or what would
be her ultim.te end. At the expiration Of half
an hour she was picked up by boat from the
Mississippi, and every attention paid her. Her
hands were much burnt by the fans that were
creeping over the rope at the time she seized it,
and the long time she was in the water has caused
her much pain #...-
While Mrs. Kovits was standing on the deck,
celebrating what to do. she observed mother
about to throw her beautiful child, which had
been the pet Of the passengers, into the water
1t seems his father had placed preserver around
his body, had descended into the lake, and had
requested his wife to throw their boy in and he
would catch him. After the father had got into
the water, he lost his life preserver and hoated
under the boat and had taken refuge on the
wheel. 1t WAS at this unfortunate moment, that
the mother not knowing the circumstances and
needless OF the mploring petitions OF her son,
cast him INTO the watery element and the little
fellow went down never to rise again. Both
father and mother saved. but oh the an.
Gush OF those parents hearts
a young lady, aged twenty years, from Wa
verify, Illinois, the companion of Mrs. Kovits
and under her care, could not be persuaded to
get into the water with her, and save herself
She became almost frantic. When the sad
scene was over, her hfcless body was picked
NY to be conveyed to that home where bright
eyes and glad hearts were waiting her, but we
will not picture the sad meeting.
A widow, with FIVE children, had life pre-
server in her hand, but not knowing how to in
hate it. she asked the Stewart, by the name of
Goodwin. to do it for her, when he seized it, and
although she caught him and implorcd him not
to take it from her, telling him that she had FIVE
children dependant upon her, yet the unheard-of
wretch hurried away with it, leaving the unfor-
tunate woman to save herself us best she could.
They were both saved, but how can the cowardly
man ever meet the eye of that woman?
The only boat, which was small one, IN the
lrdiana, was SEIZED by the crew, who crowded
into 1t In hopes of saving their lives. 1t shot
out from the burning steamer. but in a few mn-
utes upset, throwing the inmates into the water,
and but one was saved. Had they rendered the
boat to the females, doubtless every one at this
moment would be living.
Mrs. Kovits says that the screams and lamen-
tations of those on the burning boat, were truly
heaIt-rending. She desired to get away from
them. and did not where she went, if she
could hut shut out those heart-rending tones
She informs us that the fire took place from fric-
ton among the machinery, and that the hour was
II O'Clock in the morning. After being picked
up by the Mississippi, and conveyed TO Detroit,
she took passage again across the Lake for Tole-
do, where she has relatives residing, and where
the second time she arrived safely. Her heroic
conduct is commendable in the highest degree,
and is we'll worthy imitation by others who NAV
be similarly situated. 1t is needless for US to
add, that she lost her bonnet, cape and carpet
bag, bu' is once more among us with whole
body and thankful heart.