Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-07-22

A NOBLE DrED.-Mrs. Caroline C.
Stranburg, wife CT p. p. Stranburg of this
city, was passenger on the Pennsylvania,
which was burned TO the waters
edge in the Mississippi, sixty miles below
Memphis, on Sunday morning, the 18th
uit. Mrs. s.. Left her berth Just before
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 a large piece of
machinery came crashing through the
floor. She ran 10 the captains room and
told him that the boat was on fire, but he
said she was mistaken, and advised her
to be calm. She said she was not mis-
taken, and her manner was so earnest that
the captain, thinking she might be correct
went down TO the boiler deck. He re-
turned IN a short time, and remarked to
Mrs. S., there is no danger now-the
fire has been subdued." Mrs. s., how
ever, would not be convinced she insist
ed that the boat was in flames, and told
the captain to make preparations for saw
ing the passengers, As she finished
speaking, the flames broke through the
cabin floor, and in less than a 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 stair case,
and was fortunate enough to reach the
boiler deck in safety. Knowing that she
would perish by fire if she s,ald 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
i ten inches wide, and, grasping her child
: with one arm, and the board with the
r other, plunged into the river. The cur.
rent, owing to the high stage of water,
was very rapid, and Mrs. S. had as mach
= as she could do TO keep herself and child
e above the surface but she proved equal
e to the dangerous situation In which she
was placed, and her perilous Journey
. down the river would moi have been at.
tehded with half the danger that it was
: if her unselfsh heart had not prompted
h her 10 save a man who was unable tc
o save himself. A short time after leaving
y the boat, she saw a man struggling in the
: water, and she knew from his movement:
that he was too much exhausted 10 save
himself from going to the bottom SO she
d generously and nobly jeopardized hel
life to save his; she grasped him by the
arm, at the risk of being pulled from hel
frall support, and assisted him in getting
upon a little piece of plank tina, wa,
hardly sufficient to keep herself and chic
n above the surface Of the Father of Wa
l. tiers. After floating for an hour and ,
4 half, the three were rescued by som;
- men, who, having heard the explosion
e launched a small boat and started al
'r stream 10 render assistance 10 the unfor
is tunate sufferers. When the man whC
% was rescued by Mrs. Stranburg placed
his feet in the boat, he tried to expires.
~ the gratitude which he felt for his pre-
'e server; but his heart was so full of thank
~fulness that his tongue refused to give ful
utterance to his grateful feelings. Mrs
%Slranburg left this city about three month
ago, and went 10 Clinton, Mississippi, he
q birth. place, where her relatives reside
m She took passage on the Pennsylvania, a
lie Vicksburg, and was fortunate enough L
arrive at her own house in this city, OIL
A., Monday evening. Her conduct enlllle
" her TO the admiration cf all who can ap
H. P~reciate a noble act. bloomington Pan
ID tograph.