The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-29
TERRIBLE TIMES.
A Mississippi Steamer. Crowded with Passen-
: gers, In Flumcs-COurnse of the Onlccrs-Hc-
sult of Order and system.

: u NTTsbIsbIDD1 FnrsPII-
4 gers, In FIamcs-Cournge of the OHlccrs-iic-
sult of Order and system.
From the 81. Louis Democrat
The Rubcon, a regular st. Louis and Vicksburg
packet, bound up the Mississippi, and on Satur-
day morning at Oclock-durilg the stiffness OF
nature that regns at that hour-when the boat was
above Vicksburg distance of forty miles, the pilot
shouts 'Fire no! down there, the boats on ire!n
Brunswick Point was neared when this eXclana-
bers of the cabin 2nd deck crew. Then they saw
a.sheet of name rising from beneath the pilot
house, and they dimly saw the pilot William Riley,
standing at the wheel enveloped in cloud of smoke,
and noticed that he directing the boats head
towards the sloping bank Of the river. The officers
were quickly astir; the engineer on duty, John
Schumacher, finds the hose in an instant where 1t
was placed and arranged for Il sudden emergency
hanging TO the boilers, one end attached to the
doctor ready in a few seconds to pour thick
stream OF water to any part OF the boat The clerks
md cooks run aft through the cabin which echoed
with the noise OF splintering wood, for they unCere
lnoniously kick down the door of every ladys state
part OF the boat. The boat by this time
had struck the bank 50 violently that her
butts We're sprung, and she leaked. High above
the water, in the plot-housc stood Riley holding
her to the bank, scorchug, cracking names burning
the wheel he clutches with determination worthy
of the most heroic cause--unmndful OF self-deter-
mined TO hold the boat there there, until every soul
on board should be removed from the decks and
capins Captain Blakes voice throughout the scene
was heard and recognized by his officers, crew, and
caimly because he believed the boat could be saved
and everything that was on her. All had conAdenc5
in the captain, and never did officers crew or pas
sengers obey orders with greater aacrlty or more
conndngly than did those on board the Rubtcon,
across whose minds frequently fitted memories o.
sthe Stonewall disaster.
The engineer, before stated found the fire hose
and doctor engine ready for action. Up to the hur
cane roof goes the apparatus into the blaze goes the
water kissing and steamng, and out goes the fire
with such astonishing rapidy as to excite even in
captain Blake feeling OF amazement. Pilot Bust
CLERK Alfred Grssom, assistant engineer, steward,
enatos, cabin boys-all are actively employed, and
khere Is no confusion. They seem inspired, and WORK
without excitement, with canness and noSeless,
clcseset lps tnat altogether consplred TO form a
/ weird scene. But what joyous shouts they gave
OF all When the partcipators relate this part
OF the mornings transactions they say that the con-
uast was one OF the most startling imaginable.
The deck crew, about the time John Blake and
others were Kicking down the doors of the ladies'
little sanctuaries were being organized rapidly into
X working gang to save them. They obeyed every
order cheerfully, and did the ladies themselves.
Those negroes-for the deck crew are colOred-
formed line from the boat to Shore and passed the
ladies and children from hand TO hand, and safely
out OF danger shore, after which they ready
to obey anv other orders that were given them by
the ocers Mr.. Riley stood at the wheel till it fell
with him; he was driven of by the intensity of the
hea the wheel being rendered, for the time, useless,
aud the boat could proceed only after IL was again
uNged up temporarily.
Captain Blake arrived in this city yesterday by
rail- The boat viii be here "on time tomorrow
morning. He says the damage to the boat viii
fmoun 10 about $1,000, the top OF the pOthouse and
fexas being burnt of, and by the collision with the
ganks her butts are sprung. No freight was
Damaged.
One OF the safety OF the boat is the fact that
Der re hose had been disposed OF as il was. If lt
MAD been requisite TO unreel them,' Captain Blake
ffys, ''the boat would have been lost
There were on board hfty-nYe cabin passengers,
ineluulng twenty ladies' All or most reached the
shore IN their nightclothes, but they were enabled
soon TO get out OF the dsagreeable predicament OF
Standing almost naked upon u cold aud unshctered
bank OF the river. The boat is being kept free OF
water by the use of her pumps,