Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-16

was given meant eertaiR death for 8
large number. The situation wss such
as almost to preclude Escape, from the
ipfamm0ble character of the cargo, end
the fse5 that no other boat was IN sight.
What added stu 8 third agODizing fea-
ture To the calamity, Was the
ness Of the vision or 6eath which the
unhappy passengers, awakened as they
were from deep sleep, were called upon
to confront.
Onco the aIsrm had been sounded, and
once the wretchad inmates had realized
that a certain and violent death was
vaWning before two Cus Of every three
upon board, the scene that followed must
have besn hiGeous and appalling 10 the
last degree. The details hat have
reached us OF the actual scene are mea-
gre, but it needs but little Imagination TO
suppose that no time was lost in dress
iug-that women and children were
running in every direction like paIlid
spectres, vainly appealing for 8 help
which would lev come.
Another feature which attended the
death OF these unfortunate victims was
the slowness of the desth-the agoniziug
suspense which they were called upon
to undergo. In ordinary accidents on
boats-fOr instance, In explosions, the
sulNCA anu uuE-4DbCtEunE65 Ot bn1
calamity divests it of one element of
horror. Surprising that the passenger
escapes once the danger is oveF-thsra is
then but little else to fear or ordinarily
when q boat catches on fire it is perhaps
in the daytime, and, If at night, the mar
roWness OF the stream renders It easy to
swim or run the boat ashore.
In the present case the passengers who
were unable, or had not the presence Of
mind to save themselves by floating,
were compelled to stare death steadily IN
the face, while the vessel slowly con-
sumed, TO gradually retreat TO the rear as
the flames 81 advanced, and finally leap to
certain death into the black waters be-
low.
Why, Il viii now be asked, was not the
boat run" to the thore? The answer to
his question is taat the water Of the lake
outside Of the chahDel already referred
to was too shallow 10 admit OF close ap-'
preach to the low sgamPy shore. The
boat in all probability grounded ia at
tempting ZONE suCh movement.
sun the.uuEbeT o. stumPs q cypress
there are la the Lake ought 10 have AZ
fOrded tbs passerg-Ts a mold, one tAey
had reached them, until daybreak. The
first duty q the CaptGiu-which, Doubt
less, was peYf3rmed-was 10 throw over
beard every bale Of hay hat could be
rescued from the flames, every door
shutter and life p~reserver, and tOlufOrm,
ut the same time, the passengers what
they had 10 do TO ave life. Surprising
such precautions to have been taken, ana
that a bale Of hay ought to sup
port four or five men that people
from the surrounding country were soon
attracted by the flames to their situation
and rendered help, it is not easy to IN
derstanC how so many victims met q
WateTy rave. What appears singular,
too, is tkAt some of the passengers on
board, who are known like the first
clerk, or MIR. w. A. BrOadWell, Zone OF
the largest cotton buyers Of the city, to
have been men OF experience, should
have also have persisted by the accident.
The fact that the passengers were asleep
and that some Of them perished in the
flames, accounts for some OF the number,
put by nc e all.
One thing, bOe ever, is certain, the Nit
tie Stephens had more than a hundred
souls on bard in the passengers and
srew at the time Of the accident, and OF
that nDm0er only forty-three were saved.
The remaining sixty-three persisted by
drowning, CT zjili more miserably in the
general nOiacau3t OF the vessel and
the eoTpse5 OF these, as those who traV-
eied upon many GtusT weil-knOWn steam
ers, are doubtless at this moment be-
meath the sluggish and sullen waters Of
the lake.