The New York herald., 1874-08-14

The White Rascal to Whose Account
the Deaths OF Many Women and Chill
dren ON the Pat Rogers Are To He
Laid.
From the Louisville Courier .Journal.l
In our notces OF the late disaster to the steamer
Pat Rogers We have given many instances OF
heroism on the part Of onicers crew and passen.
gers; but there was one instance OF such
brutal cowardice that the story OF its de-
tails Will hardly be believed We have the
facts from sources whose truthfulness cannot be
doubted, and which demand more elaborate ac-
count than that given In our river columns this
morning. After Charlie DuiOur, VINO was at the
wheel at the time OF the disaster, found 1t impos
sble 70 longer control the boat and with the names
rapidly nearing his post OF duty, he ran down
STAIRS to the passenger deck. The passengers
men, women and children, who had escaped from
the cabln-were gathered in o group, with many
members Of the crew and deck passengers at the
bow of the boat on the lower deck Dufour found
that the large lfeboat which Is placed bottom
upward, just outside of the guards on the cabin
deck, had not been launched. He quickly turned
It over, caught hold OF the long "painter,n the
other END OF which was attached TO the bow OF the
lileboat, and showed IL over into the water. 1t
struck fairly upon the water and noated buoy
antly and without having shipped ounce OF
water. 1t was capable Of holding eighteen or
twenty persons, and with II every one OF the wo-
men and children congregated At the bow OF the
boat could have been saved.
The boat was launched Just forword of the
wheelhouse Still keeping his end OF the rope
Duiour ran with 1t toward the bow, dragging the
boat with him through the water 1t must be re-
membered that Dui"ur was on the second deck,
those whom he meant TO rescue being on the
would have been within reacn oi the eager
hands and brave hearts who were waiting to
seize It, place the women and children IN 1t and
send them TO saore and to SAFETY. But when with.
In ten or twelve 1eet Of the expectant group, q
white mau and negro jumped In, and before they
could De prevented cut the rope and pushed the
boat out into the stream. The negro seems to
have made some rem0nstrance, TO which the white
ST break to e
shreking women and children thus Gus OF from
the rescue which was near; unmlndful OF tine de-
mands OF the men TO return and save the helpless
ones, the cowardy brute rowed rapidly to the
shore, and reaching SAFELY, pulled the boat up
woods. BY Its n st trip twenty OF the women and
children could nave been taken to shore. Using
this large boat Afterwards, many OF those strug.
ghng IN the water, drowning one BY one because
help could not be had, would have be n rescued.
Tn p sy s4e an
have Deen averted had this heboat been put to Its
proper use
wretch 10 known. We suppose that some one OF
those VINO witnessed his Cowardy act recognized
manhood. thai mis- name should oe puplisned lar
and WIDE, that the execraton OF the world may
follow MIN 10 his grave, If there be no other pun
ishment possible IN ms case. Does any Otilcer OF
the BOAT, or do any OF those saved know the
man
A BRAVE LITTLE GIRL.
gentleman who was on the Inflated Pat Rogers
states that wnue he standing the forward
part oil the boat, making ready to spring Into the
water, ne heard one oil the 0hcers OF the boat tel
a lady, VINO was standing near him with Little
girl, that the time mad come wnen she must trust
herse. to the water The lady, turning 10 her
little daughter, inquired If she could summon the
courage 10 jump into the water. 1he little girl
glanced at the approaching flames, tnen at the
water, and res ponded IN firm voice that she
would Jump If her mother would follow her The
mother assured her tnat she would leap In after
her. The olicer threw mattress overheard and
tod the little girl to jump towards 1t. Without
momenr's hesitation the heroic child leaped into
the dark and swiftly gliding water the mother IN
staLty followed, but both al once sunk to rise no
more. There were grown women and even strong
men VINO shrank back from the whrling waters,
almost preerring to perish In the flames 10 trust
ing themselves 70 its treacherous embrace But
THIS brave chlId saw the situation, and, appreciat-
ing the only means Of escape presen ted, Dade her
mother follow and boldly nung herself into the
raging hoOd. Such heroic resolution Is not often
exhibited, and the world has lost q courageous
woman In this dead child.