The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-12
WESTON W. VA, MONDAY, JANUARY u, 1874.
"well, Iswear Y

"Jim, what g the meaning Of that ?"
"I,ll tell You what's the meaning Of
II. That hail We had at Napoleon was
Wash. Hastings, wanting TO come to
Cairo, and we didn't stop. He's in that
pilot house now, showing those mud
turtles how to hunt for easy water"
As the boats ranged side by side they
careened over toward each other.-ofEicers
flew hither and thither, cursing and
storming, trying to drive the people
amidships-both captains we're leaning
over their railings shaking their fists,
swearing and threatening-black vol
umes Of smoke rolled up and canopied
the scene, delivering a rain OF sparks
upon the yessels-two pistol.shots rang
out, and both captains lodged unhurt,
and the packed mass OF passengers
surged back and fell apart, while the
shrieks Of women and children scared
above the intolerable din. And then
there was q booming roar, q thunder
ing crash, and the riddled Amaranth
dropped loose from their hold and
dritted hopelessly away.
Instantly the fire doors OF the Boreas
were thrown open, and the men began
dashing buckets Of water in the fur
naees for II would have been death
and destruction to stop the engines
with such head Of steam on.
AS soon as possible the Boreas drop
ped down to the floating wreck, and
took off the dead, the wounded, and
the unhurt at least oil that could be
got at, for the whole forward half Of the
boat was q shapeless ruin, with the
great chimneys lying crossed on the top
OF II, and underneath were q dozen VIC
tins imprisoned alive, and .wailing for
help. While men with axes worked
with might and main to free these poor
fellows, the Boreas's boats went about
picking up stragglers from the river.
And now new horror presented IL
self. The wreck took fire from the dis
imantled furnaces. Never did men work
with heartier will than did those stall.
wart braves with axes, but it was Of no
use. The fire ate its way steadily, de-
spising the bucket brigade that fought
Il. Il scorched the clothes, ii singed
the hair OF the a1emen; 1t drove them
back foot by foot, inch by inch; they
wayered, struck final blow in the
teeth OF the enemy, and surrendered.
And us they fell back they heard pris-
oned voices saying: ri
"Don't leave us Don't desert us !
Don't, don't do IL |" ai-
And one poor fellow said: A
"I am Henry Morley, striker Of the
Amaranth Ny mother lives in ST.
Louis. Tell her o Lie for o poor devils
sake, please. SayI was killed in an
instant, and never knew what hurt me
though God knows I've neither
scratch nor bruise this moment It's
hard TO burn up in coop like this,
with the whole wide world so near.
.Good-by, boys-we'ye all got to come
to II at last, anyway"
The Boreas stood away out Of danger,
and the ruined steamer went drifting
down the stream, an island Of wreathing
and climbing flame. that yomited
clouds Of smoke from time TO time, and
glared more freely and sent the lumin-
Gus tongues higher and higher, after
each emission. "A shrek at intervals
told Of o captive that had met his
doom. The wreck lodged upon sand
bar, and when the Boreas turned the
next point on her upward journey 1t
was still burning with unabated fury.
When the boys came down into the
.,,a., ,a1ao,, ~ ttLa paraoS tfa, Soxy a
pitiful sight, and heard o world Of pitt
ful sounds. Eleven poor creatures lay
dead, and forty more lay moaning, or
pleading, or screaming, while o score Of
Good Samaritans moved among them,
doing what they could to relieve their
sufferings, bathing their skinless faces
and bodies with linseed oil and lime
water, and covering the places with
bulging masses OF raw cotton, that gave
to every face and form dreadful and
inhuman aspect.
A little wee French midshipman OF
fourteen lay fearfully injured, but never
uttered q sound till 0 physician Of Mem
phis was about to dress his hurts. \
: .sCan l get well9 You need not be
afraid TO tell me-"
"No, liam afraid you cannot"
"rhen don't waste your time with
me-help those that can get we'll" .G,
"But--"
,"Help those that can got we'll ! 1t
is not for me TO be girl. I carry the
blood Of eleven generations Of soldiers
in my veins |"
The physician-himself man who
had seen service in the navy in his time
touched his hat TO the little hero and
passed on. -.
The head engineer Of the Amaranth,
grand specimen Of physical manhood,
struggled to his feet, q ghastly spec.
tacle, and strobe towards his brother,
the second engineer, who was unhurt.
He said: Y"
"You were on watch. You were boss.
You would not listen to me when l beg
ged you to reduce your steam. Take
that take It to my wife, and tell her
IL comes from me by the hand OF my
murdefer Take itl--and take my
curse with IL to blister your heart for q
hundred years-and may you live 80
And he tore q gold ring lfromhis
finger, stripping flesh and skin with II,
threw It down, and fell dead
But these things must not be dwelt
upon. The Boreas landed her dreadful
cargo at the next large town, and deliv.
cred Il over to o multitude OF eager
hands and warm Southern hearts-a
cargo amounting by this time to thirty
nine wounded persons and twenty-five
dead bodies. And with these she de-
liyered a list Of ninety.six missing per-
sons that had drowned or otherwise
perished at the scene Of the disaster.
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