The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-15

yet become very general. and had hops
that the hire might not prove DISASTROUS
The first look gave toward the bow Of the
boat was sufficient. The red fame, made
lurid by the accompanying smoke, pierced
through the cabin like drowning tongue of
an insatate demon at the very instant.
One look. You may have read descriptions
OF burning ships-you may have become in
imagination participant in the sublime
horrors Of scene which human utterance
can never portray; but to stand, as stood
stood there, C living, present witness,
and a part Of the scene itself, is
fearfully and wonderfully different
One look, as ! said, at that mad, devouring,
hellish looking tiend.tongue, tapping with
hot greed the ceiling doors, curtains, glass
and stabbing through into the opposite
apartments, produced strange reaction in
my soul, awing Inc as it were into GOODNESS
and elaboration. 1t was but for an instant.
Hurrying up and down the long saloon
were crazed women, and men almost as fran
tic. "Where shall | go?" Save me
save me- 80 my child, my child - "Firc,
lire" I'VE are all LOST" This way!'
"Ill save you all ~ mingled in one confused
uproar with piercing shrieks and lacerat-
Ing cries high over all. If spake, can
not now recall more words than these
Quick, Mary, give me my boy.' And
those little boy-hands are still clingng round
my neck and the quick beat OF that baby.
heart still meet the louder pulses of my own,
around which new veins of love have swol-
len rapidly, softening melting, until even now
no, | will not weep.
aSs 81 tht'is q master sas
so much needed, no one knowing just what
to do, laughton, (ofheroic memory bra
yer man never troda deck nor a more hu-
mane) appeared like an appariton in the
midst Of Us, and said firmly This way
and you will all be saved steady this
way" The tide turned in one direction
at the masters command and, with a few
exceptions, followed without crowding,
through the side entrance next the shore
down the gangway, somewhat obstructed by
trucks which eager men were anxious to get
ashore--or of the boat al least and to our
joy We found the bow near the shore, and
plank launched. A group of ladies were
IN advance OF me, and set up siy.feet
ioosier barrier against the crowd behind,
holding back with what ability was given
me. In the confusion | missed Mary, but
thought her in advance, and so was satisfied
so walked the plank, lettering with its ex-
cited burden and struck foot on shore with
my jewel on my breast. There was Joy in
that moments experience. A moment more
and Mary was by my sde--and then our
friends all safe--and if but haf.dressed, bare
footed, with dishevelled hair more beautiful
IN this moment to my eyes than tabled
princessts in all the glory Of their royal at
tire.
We turned to look upon the scene before
us. Already had the flames extended to the
extreme ends oft the long ship. reaching high
above the pilots house, still occupied by tie
brave man at the wheel, holding his charge
hard on the shore, and the whole heavens
seemed lighted by the cOnfagration Still
amid the flames could be seen fitting form
and heard wild shrek OF agony and now
man drops down the guard into the stream,
and struggles tor the shore and now boy
brave, glorious boy leaps from the cab
in deck and swims with vigorous stroke
down, down the stream; he cannot buffet it;
and now the yawl has reached hm--saved
hurrah +! The cry of Powder on board
starties with new fear, and the crowd re.
cedcs far up the bluff and down the shore.
Down falls the deck--up shoot the flames
renewed with strength, vaulting high above
the tall, black chimney; crash came the
huge black monsters themselves over the
deck. The river seethes and Kisses, as if
wounded aud mad with pain the high
wneelhOuse arches fame and tumble into
the SURGE bang goes the cylinder head,
and the liberated stream outrushiDg, for
moment seems to rend the monsters bowels,
and then subdued by its own energy, is seen
no more. The boilers fall the flames be.
gin to droop; the hull is burning low; the
waters edge is reached in flows the ad.
verse element; she flls--she sinks, and with
one loud hiss Of defiance the flames expire,
and all Is dark and silent.
Among the more notable incidents of the
scene, was the Pilot standing bravely, cool.
ly at the wheel, developed by flame, until
the boat wa safe aground. lie made his
escape thu nee over the decks and down the
rigging. Captain Laughton was twice
knocked down by trunks thrown from the
decks, IN his passage up and down, endeav-
oring to save his passengers. He had scye-
raj children on board himself, all OF whom
were saved. A poor Norwegian emigrant
woman, who had COW tied on the lower
deck, in attempting to iberate the poor
dumb animal. lost her own child. There
were several oxen and COWS on board. most
OF which, after being badly burnal, broke
over board and swan ashore The greatest
distress and sympathy were felt for q poor
girl OF fourteen years, whose mother, With
two younger sisters and brother were all
lost. They were a plain, honest, earnest
looking family, going from Michigan to meet
the husband and father at Manknto, in Min.
nesota. This poor girl goes alone to con-
vey the sad intelligence to her father. She
sits near me as | write, her heart too fear;
fully wrung for much external emotion.
Perhaps no individual saved, suffered more