Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-11-04

the fearful night: "Ths Arst I knew Of
the 6re was this: The officers, including
myself, had just sat down 70 supper, snd
we heard cue Of the negroes call out,
"Firel fire. tho boats sfire' a second
or two after this there was cry of fire
sgain, intermingled with Hound of
excitement and confusion, and every one
at tho table was instantly conscious that
peril existed. We all jumped up from
our chairs and scattered / ran 70 the
forward steps and descended amid wild
stream Of passengers, officers and crew
ono madly rushing. struggling, closely
jammed mass. impelled by common
desire and only desire-to escape from
the horrors Of burning Mississippi
steamer. / saw tho fre-we could all see
it-gathering Roadway rapidly, as some
of us had seen it before on other boats,
and as all had read Of it. The boat was
under way, with the wind from the soutf /,
blowing the flames rapidly from room to
room and stanchion to deck. AT the wheel
was Edward Falkerson, who promptly
rounded the boat to, and ran her up on a
gravel bar as the only resort TO save life.
This bar or lump is near Tea Table, and
just below the place called Neeley's. The
fire was now making dreadfully quick
Roadway, the wind blowing through the
boat from the stern. The stage plank
protruded over the guard about fifteen
feet tried to get others TO help me in
launching ii overheard, but no attention
was made TO my request. j couldn't get
'em to hear anything. They were panic
struck and jumping aud tearing and
struggling and running over one another;
was tumbled over ON the deck and
trampled on till hardly felt any breath
in my body. got up as soon as possible
and threw off the heavy coat had put on
previously, ran along the stage, as
thought this the only chance for my life,
aud jumped into the river the water was
deep and / couldn't swim, but got hold
VI what seemed to ms ~ bs a bundle of
clothes; the boat was about 200 yards
irons the bank VI the riyer--on the Mis-
souri, side--snd ! was trying 10 get there
as quickly ar practicable, the water Mar
almost aliys with people, mules and horses,
the mnles were ioose previously on the
deck, and sons ono cut the horses looss,
and tho turmoil drove thsm overheard.
The bundle VI clothes / struck didn't
support me well, and ! went for a
ladder. Grasping the ladder was a
negro. lis kept turning it round np0
round, until / thought l would be iy 1
and called to him. FOR Gods sake, d. IN
keep turning tho ladder, aud well boil
get ashore !" He must have been mt O
his wits, for he kept turning the ladder
fell off, and went under. mo i dasl
for bale Of hay and got cato it. Tn,
band burst and the hay bile went t,
pieces. | then 60. small board undeI
each arm, and y this means, and a goot
deal OF klek ing Of my heels, got to thu
BANK. lille / was in the water | saw ,
woman drown right alongside of me, bu
COZ ID not help her. She was on Irist
w man, and had been passenger on the
Ieck. The shrieks and cries of the PEG
pie drowning, or about to go under, were
heartrending, and made me most crazy
| One Of the most terrible sights ever 81"
was drowning child. 1t came floating
past me, but / saw only the little hand'
and wrists raised, and | thought her las'
and smothered words were mother
mother" Her lips, head, body, 30 soon tc
be cold and lifeless, were floating, sinking
beneath the rushing waters.