Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-01-16
miscellaneous.
EXPLOSION ON THE OHIO RIVER.
A Singular RencOunter.


On the first day of March, ten years
ago, the new palatial and powerful steam
boat "Siren," foated away from her
wharf at Cincinnati, bound for the port
of New Orleans, and carrying gay
crowd Of passengers, who had been at
tracted by the splendor of her appear
ance ard the renown of her speed, safety
and luxurious accommodations. As she
moved off, walking the sunny waters so
truly like thing of life, smiling throng
stood on the hurricane deck waving their
handkerchiefs to friends on shore, and
everything even to the very air, seemed
eloquent of hope and happiness.
The multitude consisted of the usual
miscellaneous character to be found on
Western vessels. There might be seen
in close proximity thriving merchants
with their staid ledger-like look, politi-
clans with sculptured courtesy in every
feature, mere pleasure seekers in easy
attitudes, and sprinkling of black whis-
kered gentry; whose restless eyes, over
dress, and profusion Of jewels betrayed
their acquaintance with the history of
the four queens. Besides these, num-
Der of coarse featured genuine speci-
mems of the backwoods hunted the fore
part of the cabin in the neighborhood of
the bar.
Nor were the angelic sex unrepresented
in their end of the hall. Every descrip-
ton of beauty might be studied there as
in a picture gallery-the blue-eyed and
bright-haired belle of the North, daz-
cling daughters of Kentucky, and the
charming Creole with languid air and
face like the love light Of dream. All
on board seemed joyous in their particu-
lar ways. No doubt darkened the gen.
eral festivity, and almost every one APP
peared to have companions or friends fol
social converse and the interchange Of
civilities.
| must, however, mention an excep-
ton to the remark. There was gentle
man of fine form and strikingly hand
some countenance, with brilliant grey
eyes and high, white, intellectual fore
head, who had no acquaintance, and, If.
deed, did not appear to desire any, az
he continued to walk the hurricane deck
in state of profound and somewhat
mournful abstraction. long after every
body else had gone below. He wal
dressed in suit of costly black cloth
entirely without ornaments, and wore ;
piece Of Grape round his hat as toker
of recent bereavement. Several of thu
curious had noticed the stranger when h
came on board and saw him register hi
name as "Capt. NJ. Thomas, Of Texas !
but some of the inquisitivc parties hap
pened to be old Texans themselves, ant
they all concurred in the declaration tina
they had never heard of such man il
the territory illuminated by the lone star
and one or two suggested that he mus
be an imposter.
At length the dinner bell sounded ,ant
the handsome captain descended TO th'
cabin, but he found all the seats at TIN
upper end of the board occupied, ant
was turning W IeIiie, mhcn oh0 SVo"de
interposed, and conducted him to thu
lower part of the table, when he discov
cred vacant chair among the ladies'
A brief and involuntary glance showed
that he was on the verge Of constella
ton of radiant faces; but they all seemed
to have society and protection in com
panions Of the strong gender, save only
one.
She was a girl some eighteen years Of
age, robed in deep mourning; and whcth'
er it might be this circumstance, exciting
sympathy by calling to mind his owr
sorrow, or the peculiar charms Of her
person, which fascinated his soul, Capt
Thomas did not attempt on the instant,
to determine; but he felt an immediate
and almost magical interest in the sad
visage shining from the opposite side.
It is true he did not at first think her
very beautiful. Her form and features
though cxquisitely symmetrical, looked
too small and childlike for such poeti-
cal epithet; for the term haie might be
applied to her as whole and apparently