The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-10-13
From the Empire Cry
7 Z Z Il ID ENGINEER
Thrill & Ep1acile ofIifa On the F&issiesipri
BY J wa0DHGFF LEWIS.

|
an uncaged wild bird, posing herself on the
wing ready to start on her flight up the mighty
Mississippi.
| l was not moment too socn, for ere [ had
reached the promenade deck the gang plank was
drawn in. Goodbye r' was said to those
gathered on the whsrf-handkelchefs futtered
in he breeze, waving On adieu, and we were
| off
1t was when the cholera was raging so fear
fully in the southwest, almost depopulating
whole cities in a single day AID carrying death
and desolation into nearly every family.
The panic was at its height in New Orleans
Business of all kinds appeared to be utterly
| Frustrated before the resistless march of the
| dread destroyer All, or nearly all, who had
friends or pecuniary ability, were intent on
placing themselves or families at a safe distance
from The deadly viStant.
As a natural consequence, every boat or other
conveyance which had not ceased running, was
GRO wded with the flying and fears stricken citi-
| zens
| The West eln Belle formed no exception to
| the general rule, aid on this occasion, as she
have readily seen that she was crowded to her
utmost capacity.
| Ere we had reached the channel, observed
the captain hurry past me, muttering to himself,
apparently in great agitation:
=" Had / only known before We cast off yet
something must be done-that is evident-but
| what 2"
Give me the charge ~
Captain Reynolds raised his eyes at the sound
| of the clear and sOnorous but somewhat i'm
peritive voice that uttered these words, aud be-
held tall, dark-festured, and strikingy hand
Some III Hn who had hastily approached from the
opposite direction, and who, Instantly Selling
his hand, exclaimed:
Captain, the engineer has left his postpone
upward dead-the cholera !" and his gestures
Were significant as he spoke.
" am already aware Of the fact!" said the
Captain. with anxiety in his tones but why do
| you evlnce such an interest IN the matter 7"
and his momentafy stern gaze rested upon the
countenance of the stranger, whose face was
partly concealed by heavy beard and moustache
Of glossy blackness.
am Lieutenant George Hilton, Of the
United STATES Army, but formerly chief engineer
OF the Prairie Bird your service !" said the
stranger, i'll a hurried manner, mentioning the
name Of a weli-known boat noted in years gone
By for her great speed and superior accommo-
dations.
" And your object is to offer your services to
me as engineer for the up trip Z" said captain
Reynolds, inquirngiy.
As you have insuitively perceived, it is"
"Sir-Lieutenant, thank you-doubly thank
you-and will avail mys If of your kind offer :.
accepting it i'll the same generous spirit in which
it is made, and without further ceremony ~ said
the captain, as he warmly pressed the hand Of
the other Knowing that the firemen were oil
green hands / was just Fastening to take
charge, and manage, as beat l might, the engi-
neer's department--but now l shall feel at
ease"
" Ihen let me at once enter upon my duties
there is no time to lose ~ said the lieutenant,
and there was strange CLEAN in his restless
eyes, aud nervous peculiarly in his gesture.
Ii was unnoticed by the captain-or, if noted,
evidently considered the diosynoracies of ali
ardent tempersment-as he replied with salts
faction expressed in his voice
| True, true fear you will find matters in
somewhat confused state, but you can send
forward fox me at a y moment
They passed beyond my hearing, and, l
eisurely assembled 10 the harricane deck to en-
| joy siesa and cigar for an hour, after W h;ch |
sought out my sts,e-room-found, entered clos d
the door, and was on the point OF congratulating
myself on having been able to secure it, when
my attention was arrested by the earnest into
nation OF a musical voice of peculiar beauty
one that could never be afterward forgotten
though heard mid the wild beauty and grandeur
Of an ocean storm--lhe roar ard carnage OF
battle, or The discordaHt murmurs of an assem-
bed universe. Spell-bound, listened
Oh. sir, whatevG you are, for the love OF
heaven, assist ne to get out Of this room-and
at once Our safey-aye, the iiaes of every
one on board is pending OIL shudder to think
perhaps the issue Of few moments p
There was an indescribable earpestness in
the utterance of the words that thrilled me to
the soul To think to act, and knowing
by the sound, that only thin board partition
separated me from the fair pleader-for that she
tcas fair, l would have staked my existence-I
Immediately drew my heavy" bowie and first
assuri. & her of speedy delivery, commenced
cutting away the Top Of of the boards.
Ii minutes it was loose-in four took it
out. and stepped through the opening
What picture was revealed
Seated on low stool, with her auburn rnglets
floating over shoulders of aabrster wilderness
" In ali the wildness of disheveled charms"
was gloriousiy beautiful maiden of seemingly
not seventee', summers, and eyes as brigh,
as the jewels of regal diadem.
Her hands were tied behind, and in her strue.
giles to free herself, the delicate flesh was cruelty
lacerated
One stroke of my knife, aud the cords were
severed in an instant, and observing the increas
ing palor Of her features, quicker than it takes
me TO tell ii, 1 had caught her in my arms. and
borne her through the entrance which my good
blade had effected. To dash open the window
and to lave her feverish brow with water, was
out the work Of monent.
She soon revived, and to my eager question
ing as to the cause OF her painful situation re
pied, that all her family had fallen victims to
The cholera with the exception Of her eldest,
brother, WHO had recovered from the disease
only to exhibit symptoms of that dark anomaly
of The human mind-insanity That she had
used her utmost influence with her brother to
get him to visit the north, hoping that the change
Of climate and travel would completely restore
him to his former strong MIND and health Tba: