Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-13
Newburgh,IFeb. 10, 1858.
burning of the Steamer GaIena--ThrilIing
Account BY one of the Passengers.

Burning of the Steamer GaIena--ThriIIing
Account BY one of the Passengers.
The steamer Galena, 4 fine Mississippi River
packet running from Dunleith to St Paul, was
burned at Red Wing landing on the night OF
the lst instant The fire was first discovered
about the smoke stacks, and spread with aston
isning rapidity. There were about seventy five
cabin and twenty-five deck passengers on board.
They were aroused, and all escaped but seven,
generally in their night dresses. A Ms. POr-
ter and three children were among the lost.
They had been placed beyond the reach OF
danger, when the mother in her bewilderment
rushed back past the flames into the cabin.
The children followed the mother and were
Overtaken by the flames before human exeriion
could save them.
Mr.. o. Everts, a passenger, has furnished
the Chicago Press with thrilling account OF
the midnight scene. About one O'Clock the
shout was heard, " The boat is on fire ;" Mr..
E reused his wife and child, and with them
rushed from the state room. He says:
Hurrying up and down the long saloon were
crazed women, and men almost as frantic
:. Where shall go ~ " Save me save me : -
90, my child, my child ~ " Fire, fire - 81 We
are lllOst ~ This way, I'll save you all -
mingled in one confused uproar; with piercing
shrieks and lacerating cries high over all. II
spake, l can not now recall more words than
these: "Quick, Mary, give me my boy" And
those little boy-hands are still clinging round
my neck, and the quick beat of that baby heart
stin meets the louder pulses of my own, around
which new veins of love have swollen rapidly,
sOftening, melting, until even nOw-nO, | will
not weep.
Just at this moment, when master was so
much needed, no one knowing Just what to DO,
Captain Laughton (of heroic memory Drawer
man never tTOd a deck-nor a more humane)
appeared like an apparition in the midst Of US,
and said firmly: q" This way, and you will all be
saved-steady this way J" The tide turned
in one direction at the master kfOmmand, and,
with a few exceptions, followed steadily and
without crowding, through the side entrance
next the sbOre-down the gangway, somewhat
obstructed by trucks which eager men were en-
deavoring to get ashore-or off the boat at least
and to our joy we found the bow near the
shore, and q plank launched. A group of ladies'
were in advance of me, and l set up siK-feet
Hoosier barrel against the crowd behind, hold
ing back with what ability was given me. In
the confusion, missed Mary, but thought her
in advance, and so was satisfed-so walked
the plank, teetering with IFS excited burden,
AMI struck foot on shore with my Jewel on my
breast There wss JOY in that moments expe-
rience. moment more and Mary was by my
side-and then our friends, all safe-and if but
halfdressed, bare-footed, with dishevelled hair,
more beautiful in this moment to my eyes than
tabled princesses in all the glory of their royal
attire.
We turned to look upon the scene before US
Already had the flames extended TO the extreme
ends of the long ship, reaching high above the
pilots house, still occupied BY the brave man at
The wheel, holding his charge hard on the
shore, and the whole heavens seemed lighted
by the eonhagration. Still amid the flames
could be seen fitting form, and heard wild
shrek of despairing agony; and now a man
drops down the guard into the stream, and
struggles for the shore; and now q boy-brave,
glorious boy Heaps from the cabin deck and
swims with vigorous stroke Gown, down the
stream; he cannot buffet it; and now the yawl
has reached him-savedl hurrah The cry Of
- Powder on board" startles with new fear,
and the crowd reeedes far up the bluff and
down the shore Down falls the deck-up shot
the flames renewed with strength, vaulting
high above the tall black chimneys; crash came
the huge black monsters themselves over the
deck. The river seettes and Kisses, as if
wounded and mad with p@in; the high wheel
house arches fame and tumble into the surge;