The Shasta courier., 1858-08-07

A BRAVE WoMAN.-Mrs Caroline C. Stran-
burg, wife of P. P. Stranburg of this CITY, was
passenger on the Pennsylvania which was burnt
to the waters edge in the Mississippi sixty miles
oeiow Memphis, on Sunday morning, inc 1ztf
inst. Mrs Stanberg left hero berth lust be-
fore the explosion took place, and when she
heard the report, which shook every piece of
timber in the boat, she caught hold of her little
child, which was only two months old, and
rushed into the ladies' cabin at the very moment
that large piece of machinery came crashing
through the floor She ran to the captains
room and told him that the boat was on fire, but
lie said she was mistaken, and advised her to be
calm. She said she was not mistaken, and her
manner was so earnest that the captain, thinking
she might be correct, went down to the boiler
deck. He returned in short time and remark
ed to Mrs Stranburg; " There is no danger now
the fire has been subdued." Mrs. Stranburg.
however would not be convinced; she insisted
that the boat was in flames, and told the cap
tam to make preparations for saving the pas
sengers, As she finished speaking the flames
broke through the cabin door, and in less than
Il minute the cabin was filled with smoke.
She saw that the time for action had arrived
and she knew that her life and that of her
child depended upon her own exertions so she
went down the private staircase. and was for u
nate enough to reach the boiler deck in safety.
knowing that she would perish by fire if she
staid on the boat she determined to leave it and
run the risk of meeting her death by another
method She accordingly seized a board about
seven feet long and eight or ten inches wide and
grasping her child with one arm and the board
with the other, plunged into the river. The cur
rent, owing to the high stage of the wafer was
very rapid, and Mrs. Stranburg had as much as
she could do to keep herself and child above the
surface but she proycd eoual IN tho fo nrero,s
situation in which she was placed, and her per-
Iions Journey down the river would net have
been attended with half the danger that it was
II her unselfish heart had not prompted her to
save a man who WAS unable TO save himself
a snort time after leaving the boat she saw a
man struggling in the water, and she knew from
MS movements that he was too much exhausted
TO save himself from going to the bottom, so she
generously and nobly jeopardized her life to
save him; she grasped him by the arm at the
risk of being pulled from her frail support. and
assisted him in getting upon II little piece of
plank that was hardly sufficient to keep herself
ana child above the surface of the father of wa
tiers. After floating about an lour and half.
the three were rescued by some men, who hav-
ing heard the explosion, launched II small boat
and started up the stream to render assistance
tc the unfortunate sufferers. When the man
who was rescued by Mrs. Stranburg placed his
feet IN the boat he tried to express the gratitude
which he felt for his preserver but his heart was
so full OF thankfulness that bis tongue refused
TO give full utterance to his grateful feelings
Mrs. Stranbnrg left this city about three months
ago, and went to Clinton, Mississippi, i, her birth
place, where her relations reside She took
passage on the Pennsylvania to VicksburQ, and
arrived at her own house in this city on Monday
Bloomington (IH) Pautdyrdph