Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-07-07
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JCLf T. 1885
A TRUE HEROINE.

Mrs. Caroline q. Strarburg wi'e oi L. +.
S.raubury, of this city, was passenger On
ths psnpsylysuia. which burned 10 the waters
cdpe in the Mississippi, sixty miles below
Memphis, on Sunday mCri ing. l2.h uitimo.
Mrs. S. left her berth just before the expio'
aiop took place, end when she heard the re-
port, which shook every piece of timber 10
the boat, she caught bold OF her little chic,
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 nre;
but he said she was mistaken, and aoViseu
her to be calm. She said she was not mis-
taken, and her manner was 80 earnest 'na'
the captain thinking she might be correct,
went down to the boiler deck. tie returned
in a .bort time, and remarked to Mrs. 81
"There is no danger now--;he fire has oeen
srbdued." Mrs. S., however, wOn'd not DC
convinced; she Insisted that the boat was III
flames, and told the captain to make prepaf-
atoms for saving the passengers. AS she
finished speaking, the flames broke through
the cabin floor, and iD LEES than minute the
cabin was filled with smoke. She saw that
the time for action had arrived, aud che
knew that her life and that Of her child de-
nended her own exertions; so she went down
the private staircase, aud was ior'uuate
enough to reach the boiler deck in safety
Knowing she would perish by fire IT she stand
ON the boat, she determined to leave 1t, and
run the risk Of meeting her death by anoth-
er method. She accordingly seized board
about seven feet long and eight or ten iucnes
wide, and grasping Der child with one arm
and the board with the ether, plunged into
the river.
The current, owing to the high stage OF
water, was very rapid, and Mrs. 5. bad as much
she could do to keep herself and chiid above
the surface; but she proved equal 70 the dat
gerous situation in which she was placed,
and her perilous journey down the river
would not have been attended with halt the
danger that it was, if her unsel6sb heart ad
not prompted her to save man who was un-
able to save himself. A short time after
leaving the boat, she knew from bis move
meuts that he was too much exhausted to
save himself from going to the bottom; go she
generously and nobly jeopardized her life &c
save his; she grasped him by the arm, at the
risk of being pulled from her frail support
and assisted him in getting upon little
piece of plank that was hardly sufficient tC
keep herself and child above the surface o.
the Father of Waters.
After floating for an hour and half, the
three were rescued by some men, who having
heard the explosion, launched q small boa
and started up stream to render assistance
to the unfortunate sufferers. When the mar
who was rescued by Mrs. Stranburg PLACED
his feet in the boat. he tried to express TIT
gratitude which he felt for bis preserver; bu
bis heart was so full Of thaDkfuluess that bi
tongue refused to give stterance to his CRATE
full feelings. Mrs. Stranburg lett this Cit.
about three months ago, and went to Clinton
Miss, her birth place, where her relatives re
side She took passage on the Penpsylvani'
at Vicksburg, and was fortunate enough t.
arrive at her own house in this city on Mon
day evening. Her conduct entities Der to tn
admiration of all who can appreciate q nobl
Bloomington, (Iu.) Photograph.