The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-11-30
THRILLING INCIDENT.

excursion on the Mississippi. which coo
and ctivalrous Knight TemplarshiI
alone saved ftom proving fatally disas-
trous. One of the excursionists tells III"
story thus:
! /, was magnificent sight to sec onr
immense boat accompanied by tie Lady
Gay and Belle of Alton, their decks
crowded with fair ladies and Knigb'
Tcmpla,s. bands Of music. distinguished
citizens and invited guests. as they
steamed up the Mississippi, then down to
Jefferson barracks, where We al went on
shore to spend plcasan, hour, after
which we went on hoard and steamed
mcrrily up the river.
| was standing uear the captain, The
Commander Of the Templars came and
leaned YEARLY on the capsran. turned
to Reuben Milton. ani whispered in hi.
ear these words: That man was bora to
command" I" lie had the form Of Il Her.
cnles, the head of an AppOl'o and the eye
Of an eagle, and as circumstances after
ward d, monstrated, the. heart Of linn.
Although not so very large. he appeared
larger than he really wa; he was full and
athletic, and still every proportion was q
symmetry and every movement u grace
While be was still leaning silently on
the caps'an, and while was yet aua'yz
ing his fine countelance the Captain ol
the steamer, with pale lips aud blanched
cheeks, approached the young T-mplar
and in 4 low ani trembling voice, said {:
"Grea, God. sir, We are siuking! We
are snasgcd, sir, in the bottom. and
no hing can save u.s."
"Eluw long can you keep her uHoat?"
carefully inquired The young Templar.
''Shc may 60 down in Ave minutes she
canno, keep saus, more than fifteen," re.
piled the captain.
do not make your situation known to
any one except your crew, or We will have
panic. and then all will be lost. Signal
the Lady Gsy to lay to; none will notice
ar understand tie signal Of distress. Ge;
yolr crew aud haad1 reaiv to move; |
" l n anage the rest"
Blow, warder, bloW!' s,id the young
Templar, speaking to his eusign, who
stood near him, a, the same time leapine
ulon the capstan.
Every Oue YVES startled By sbrill bias,
from the warder's trumpet. A hundred
Templars' swords lcaped from their scaj.
bards at the blast"
.Aitcntioa! Sir Knirhta," shouted
the young commander. The next cere-
mopy in the programme is for the Sir
knights. ladies aud gentlemen on ,hi,
boat to make a visit to our friends on
board the Lady Gay. As tho steamers
are rapidly approaching each other and
c'unot be kept bu; minute or Two TO-
ge,her, this movement must be rapid
one. You will form in procession at
cn>e, and as the boats come together,
pass over the gangway under an arch Of
steel to the lower deck of the Lady Gay.
Forward, Sir Knights, to the gangway.
Music in front. The band will play The
Knight remplar's Quirkstep.'"
In obedience to these orders the
knights formed double line to the gang.
way, fncing round, with swords crossed
above the heads Of those forming the pro.
cession.
In less than eight minu'e0 the whole
precious cargo of human life had passed
from the Mississippi to the Lady Gay,
even to the colored cook, cxcep, the two
files of Templars, when the young com.
mander said:
From the rear right and left, inward
wheel. march," And, fling inward, the
1emplars rapidly passed over the gangway
to the Lady Gay, the young commander
being the last to leave. One minute more
and the mississippi steamer sunk TO the
bottom.