Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-06-23

A NOBLE DEEp- Mrs Caroline G. Stran-
burg. wife OF p. p. Stranburg. Of this city
Was passenger on the Pennsylvania. which
was burned 10 the waters edge IN the Mis-
sissippi, sixty miles below Memphis, on sun
day morning. 18th inst Mrs. ). 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 cab
in at the very moment that large piece OF
machinery came crashing through the floor.
She ran to the Captains room aud told him
that the boat was on fire, but he said she
was mistaken, and advised her 10 be calm.
She said she was not mistaken and her man.
ner was 30 earnest that the Captain. think
Jug she might be correct, went down to the
boiler deck He returned in a short time,
aud remarked to Mrs ), There is no dan
ger now. the FIRE has been subdued Mrs.
) however. would not be convinced; she
Insisted that the boat was in flames, and told
the Captain to make preparations to save
the passengers As she finished speaking,
the flames broke through the cabin floor,
and in less than minute the cabin was
filled with smoke. She saw that the time
for action hal arrived, and she knew that
her life AMI that Of her child depended uron
her own ex~rtions 10 she went down the
private staircase ard was fortunate enough
To reach the boiler deck In safety. Know
ing that she would perish by fire If she staid
on the boat, she determined TO leave 1t and
run the risk Of meeting her death by anoih-
err method She accordingly seized board
about seven feet long ami eight or ten inch
es wide aud, graspng her child with one
arm and the board with the other, plunged
into the river
The current, owing TO the high stage Of
water was very rapid, and Mrs. S. had as
much as she could 60 to keep herself and
chic above the surface; but she proved
equal to the dangerous situation in which
she was placed, and her perilous journey
down the river would not have been atten-
ded W it'll half the danger that it was, if her
unseliish heart had not prompted her to save
man who could not save himself short
time after leaving the boat, she saw man
st: juggling in the water, and she knew from
his movements that he was too much ex.
hausted TO save himscl from going to the
bottom; so she generously and nobly je"p-
arlized her life to saw his she grasped him
by the hrn, at the risk Of being pulled from
her frail support, and assisted him in get
ting upon little piece Of plank that was
hardly sufficient to keep herself and child
above the surface of the Father of Waters.
After floating for an nour and a half, the
three were rescue by some men, who, hav-
ing heard the explosion, launched a small
boat and started up stream to render assis-
lance to the unfortunate sufferers. When
the man who was rescued by Mrs. Stranberg
placed his feet in the boat. he tried to ex
press the gratitude which he felt to his pre-
server, but his heart was So full of thankful
ness that his tongue refused to give utter
ance To his grateful feelings.
Mrs. otranberg left this city about three
months ago, and went to Clinton, Mississip-
pi, her birth place, where her relatives re
side. She took passage on the sylvaria
at Y icksburg, and was fortunate enough to
| arrive 1T her own house in this city ON Mon
| day evening. Her conduct entities her to
the admiration OF all Who can appreciate a
noble act.-Bloomington (M) Pautagroph