The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-17
From The LOui,vill. ccurier.Jsurna

From the Louisville CcurerJ surnsi
The ladies' cabin OF the United States had that
evening been the scene Of unusual gsyety. There
we're bridal parties on board full of the happi'
ness of their new love. young and beautiful girls
just blushing into womsDhood, gallant cavaiiers
paying homage at besuty's shrine. Conversation,
music and dancing, served to make the hours ny
among the brightest and fairest were the Misses
johnson and Jones. gentleman Of this city
who had been dancing with them, had given to
each young lady the address OF the other one
which they stuck in their belts. But the hours
increased and. weary at last the dancers mao JUST
| pleasant dreams. when shock was felt, and then
| the awful, sickening cry OF s-l
THE BOAT is ON FIRE AND SINKING.
In minute the scene changed from the gayety
of youth 10 q carnival of death. People. old and
| Young men, women and children rushed into the
cabin. partly dressed, husbands and wives broth
and sisters, fathers and children, looking At
| each other in agony. too many, alas taking
| final view of their loved ones. At this stage
TOUCHING APPEAL
was made by Miss Jones to gentleman on board.
| As the wood. work was becoming too heated 10
bear, and the flames were forcing their way grad
| usly into the cabin, she went to him saying,
"Oh Mr.. you have talked to me this even
| ing, you have danced with me. you know who
am and where come from, save me oh, save
| me oh, save me, !" He told her ne had wife
to save, and he could not help her. Poor girl, she
is beyond earthly help now.
| FRANTIC HUSBAND.
One of the gentlemen on board had the pres
| ence of mind to unhnge door, wh;h he threw
in the river and after his wife and he had jumped
| 10, placed her in q position TO reach the shore
Now stay here, DEAR" was his request. " uotil l
can fix myself some way, and We can pom De
had procured something that would Goat, to see a
man swim toward the frail support OF his wife and
knock her away from it. She was drowned.
A DOUBLE ESCAPE.
One gentleman and wife escaped in rather q
| romantic manner. Fastening life-preservers TO
both of their persons, he tied her right arm to his
left. then took shutter. over which they placed
both arms. "Now one-two-three-Jump." ne
cried, when both jumped, and. after little
msneuvering, they both arrived safely on shore;
nninns heweva- savsrsi H-si'ies Of ar >rsA
to make them presentable.
TWO BROTHERS
From this city made their escape in very miracu'
lous manner. The elder brother, feeling the
shock, woke up, opened the door to discover the
startling sight of smoke, dense and thick. issuing
from the floor of the cabin. He made his brother
get up, and, after hurried dressing, they man
aged to set to land,
AN AWFUL SCENE.
A lady on board the United States relates that
| as che and her husband were moving toward tht
shore, on the water she saw one OF the liieooati
filed with people who had escaped. Bot all o
once the America begins backing toward shore
and mercilessly the rude rudder strikes the boat
crushing and upsetting il. n one of those passen
gers were saved. After escaping one danger
only TO meet death in another form!
APPALLING.
Fr5tr the shore could be seen women with no
thing but their robes de NUT to protect them rush
mothers with their children IN their arms, most Of
them babies, rushing about frantically,
One mother, holding her baby in her arms, ran
to the guards, but the water seemed to her only q
| chi cal
sgain, then TO the guards. The last that was seen
OF her she was standing up with her baby Rugged
closer to her in her awful death, burning up.
OLE BULL
Leaped into the water from the guards of the
United States, with his overcoat on, and swan
ssore. Miss Barton, one of Ole Bulls troupe, and
two gentlemen attaches, one OF them having the
| great musicians case, which contained his two
famous violins, were also saved.
| Ole Bull was well taken care of by some ladies'
n e was ordered to bed and his clothes dried
for him, aud finally the genial old gentleman was
all rignt again.
THE BRIDAL PARTIES
on board lost everything but their sleeping ap.
| pare. Calicoes took the place of elegant vest
ments. Red worsted hoods or bonnets. anything
10 cover their feet and nakedness. Clothing was
| gone. elegant trousseaux which had cost so much
time and trouble in getting together were Tapped
| up in the hungry flames. Money was gone, and
| PENN ess, nearly naked, three of the ne WY mar
| ried couples changed their warm beds n the icy
water in the river and, half dead with fright and
twO-thirds trozen they only reached the shore tc
| be greeted by piercing cold wind. But at last
| they were saved, and they fell into the hands OF
| good Samaritans. One couple, just married, have
fulfilled their holy vow TO love each other Until
death should them part, but death took them both,
| both together, frozen. drowned, dead, 10 theiI
beautiful youth, with the kiss OF their pure love
| frozen on their lips.
| THE DEATH STRUGGLE IN THE JAWS OF DEATH.
A gentleman with bis sister, lovely and &C
complished young lady. were passengers on the
| United States. At the first shock the gentleman
was thrown from his bed clear out on the floor
I Hastily pulling on his pantsloons he rushed to the
i staieroom of his sister, burst open the door. and
Selling her in bis arms, carried her down on the
main deck where, procuring door shutter, he
threw it overheard and leaped after 1t with his
sister in his sTms. he placed her securely on the
shutter ard was swimming behind pushing il with
its precious load toward the shore, when, to his
horror. big, burly and able bodied man swan
up, pushed his sister of the board and climbed
upon it himself. The young girl sank with 8
scream, and IL she came to the surface 1t was &c
dark and the confusion so great that he could mo-
find her. MaGdeRed by the dastardly act he made
after the author, and seizing him by the throat 8
struggle to the death ensued. They rose and
sunk together, still struggling, and when last seeI
| were graphing with each other. Whether either
| wac saved or both went down together Is no
known. The sister sunk beneath the waves ant
was lost, but che was terribly avenged by he
| brother.
Messrs. Frank and J. N. Price. brothers. of thi
| city, made their escaDe together, and had mos
thrilling adventure. When they left the boat |
was almost entirely wrapped in flames, and nearl,
all who could had left the decks and we're strug
Cling TO evsde the sheets of flame that oversprea'
, | the water. BY lucky chance the brothers reaches
one of the tenders aft the States and slid down n
to the water. and after much difficulty got ashore
| To their GOODNESS and courage much of the life
| saving Is due, and their calm survey OF the dir
situation in great part insured the transmission o
! intelligent accounts of the disaster.
. CLOSING SCENES.
But the saved have nov all gone principally t
= Cincit natl, Louisville and Madison. Tears vii
start as they talk of the kind friends they met i
the middle of that raw, cold night, of bright fire
which were built TO warm them, Of tender hand
that cared for them. Those who are saved hav
gone home those who were not have gone there
too, borne TO eternity by the freezing embrace o
the mighty river. as If death had wished TO catcl
snd make eternal the last smile, the last glance
ard the pure folding OF the arms In recognition o
their fate, folding them peacefully, silently.
CAPT. wooLFoLKs STATEMENT.