Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-07-10
A TRUE HEROINE,


Mrs. Caroline G. Stranburg, wife of p. +,
Stranburg, of Bloomington, Illinois, was
passenger on the Pennsylvania, which was
burned to the waters edge in the Mississippi;
sixty miles below Memphis. on Sunday morn
ing, 18th inst Mrs. S. left her berth Just 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 rushing through the floor She ran to
the captains room and told him that the boat
was on fire, but he said she was mistaken,
and advised her to be calm Che said she was
not mistaken, and her manner was so earnest
that the captain thinking she might be cor
rect, went down to the boiler deck. He re-
turned in short time, and remarked to Mrs.
s., "There is no danger how-the fire has
been eubdued.' Mrs. S.. however, would
not be convinced she insisted that the boat
was in flames, and told the captain to make
preparations for saving the passengers As
she finished speaking the flames broke through
the cabin floCri and in less than q minute the
cabin was filed 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 e1ertions so she went down
the private staircase, and was fortunate
enough TO reach the boiler deck in safety.
knowing that she would probably perish by
hre II she staid on the boat, she determined
to leave it, and run the risk Of meeting her
death by another method. She accordingl.
seized a board about seven feet long and
eight or ter inches wide and grasping her
child with one arm aud the board with the
other, plunged into the river.
The current, owing to the high stage of tho
water was very rapid, and Mrs S. had nc
much as she could do to keep herself and
child above the surface but she proved equal
to the dangerous siltatlon in which she was
placed, and her perilous journey down the r.
yer would not have been attended with half
the danger that it was if her unselfish heart
had not prompted her to save man who was
unable to save himself A short time after
leaving the boat, she saw a man struggling in
the water, aud she knew from his movements
that he was TOO much exhausted TO cave him 4.
self from going TO tie bottom so she geheti
ously and nobly jeopardized her life to save
his she grasped him by the arm, at the risk
OF Being pulled from her frail support, and as
sisted him in getting upon little piece Of
plank that was hardly sufficient to keep her,
self and child above the surface Of the Father
of Waters.
After floating for an hodr aud half the
three were rescued by some men, having
heard the explosion, launched a small boa,
and started up stream to render assistance tc
the unfortunate sufferers. When the man
who was rescued by Mrs. Stranburg placed
his feet in the boat, be tiled TO express the
gratitude be felt for his preserver but his
heart was so full of ,hankfulness that bis
tongue refused to give utteraDce to his crate.
inl feeling Mrs. strauburs left this ciS
about three months ago, and went to lss -
Miss, her birth pliace, where her tnsylrsris
side. She took passage on the enorgh -
at Nieksburg, and was fH- IN this city, on
ARRIVE at her own i'9 HR) Plrf,r,I,,
: Monday syenigS