Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-29
A WOMAN OF NERVE.

=, Mrs Caroline Z. Stranburg, wife of p p
2, 2nranourg, Oh TINS city, says the Bloomington.
III fantagraph, was passenger on the Pam,
ynania. which was burned to the waters EDGE
In tne mississippi, sixty miles below Mempbis
vn SUNDAY morning, 18th instant Mrs. s left
and when she heard the report which shool
every piece of timber in the boat. she cauubt
noio OF her little child, which was only two
months old, and rushed into the ladies cabin
q. tne very moment that large piece of ma
ehinery came crashing through the hoor. She
ran 10 the captains room and told him that
tue ooat was on fire, but he said she was mis-
.shen, ana ADVISED her to be calm. She said
she was not mistaken, and her manner WAS so
earnest that the captain, thinking she mio6t
oe correct, went down to the boiler deck. He
returned In a short time, and remarked To
Mrs: There is no danger now-tbe fire has
been subdued.' Mrs. s., however. would not
De convinced she insisted that the boat was
In names, and told the captain to make prep
aIauons lot saving the passengers. As she fin
lsned speaking, the flames broke through the
cabin door, and in less than n minute the
cabin was filled with smoke She saw that
the time Tor action had arrived, and she knew
tnat her life and that Of her child depended
upon her own exertions; so she went down the
private staircase, and was fortunate enough tn
reach the boiler deck in safety knowing that
IL
boat, she determined to leave it and run the
risk OF meeting her death by another method
She accordingly seized board about seven
Iest long and eight or ten inches wide. and
grasplng her child with one arm and the board
with the other, plunged into the river.
Inc current, owing to the high stage of
water, was very rapid and Mrs s. had as
much as she could do to keep herself and child
above the surface; but she proved equal to the
dangerous situation in which sbe was nlo, al
ana her PerilOus journey down the river would
not have been attended with half the danger
that 1t was, If her unselish heart had not
prompted her to save a man who was unable
to save himself. A short time after leaving
tue ooa'' she saw man struggling in the
water, and she knew from his movements that
ne was TOO much exhausted to save himself
from going TO the bottom so she generously
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 assisted him
gettlng 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 hour and half, the three
were rescued by some men, who, having beard
the explosion, launched small boat and start
ed up stream to render assistance to the unfor-
tunate sufferers. When the man who was res
cued by Mrs. Stranburg placed his feet in the
boat he tried to express the gratitude which
ne felt for his preserver; but his heart was so
full OF thankfulness that his tongue refused to
give utterance to his grateful feelings Mrs.
Strandburg left this city about three months
ago, and went to Clinton, Mississippi, her birth
place, where her relatives reside She took
passage on the Pennsylvania ut Vicksburg,
and was fortunate enough to arrive at her own
house In this city, on Monday evening. Her
conduct entities her to the admiration of all
who can appreciate a noble act