The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-11-18
An Affecting Incident In The Early
Life Of Mark Twain.

An Affecting Incident In TIE Early
Life Of Mark Twain.
The Memphis Aualamehe says: Many
of our citizens will remember the blow
ing up of the steamer Pennsylvania,
near Austin, Miss, some time in June,
1858, we think. The survivors, after
living all day in their misery, mostly
without protection from the broiling
sun, were brought to this city and placed
in the courtroom of Exchange Build
ing, out of which had been improvised
q temporary hospital, where for weeks,
night and day, came our skillful physi-
clans, our pastors, our noble Christian
men and women, with hearts full of
sympathy, and hands whose ministra-
tions failed not.
With all the untold anguish conferred
in that room, there was . CHASTITY gro
tesqueness, the remembrance of which
is with US yet. The patients had been
covered with white paint, and this,
overlaid with raw cotton, gave an effect
impossible to describe. Our risibles
were excited, and even some of the least
injured could SO far forget their pres
ent misery as to point at and jeer each
other. 1t made us wonder if we were
not in the wards of q mad-house.
Stretched on pallets were 60 or more
men, burned-in some instances cook
ed-scalded, and mangled, a few moan
ing in their agony, but only a few, for
at such times men are brave; some dy-
ing, and few who had been blessed
with speedier release lay silent and
rigid beneath white sheets. Once at
midnight we remember to have seen
Father Gam administering the last con-
solutions of his church to poor Great
ure whom burning had blinded and
blurred almost past humanity's traces.
A few days after the accident young
gentleman, clerk or pilot on
another packet, arrived from New
Orleans to search for his brother,
Henry Clemens, who was also clerk on
the Pennsylvania. We need not de-
scribe the meeting. Every one had
been attracted by this young boy Hen
ry, whose youth and slight physique
were called upon to endure so much,
and whose refined, graceful manner
made it gladness to do for him what
could be done in the absence of q moth
er and sister for whom his heart grew
sick. Once, in his delirium, he said ::
"Sam, do you know what mother
would do were 1 at homer" Oh! after
all, it was mothers love for which he
yearned, but even that, strong as it is,
had no power to stay the decree gone
forth to set bounds to his days. Lack
ing for dear presence, there were there,
with gentle hands and tones, to do for
him, to tenderly bind up the scalded
hands and fold them over q gentle
breast after the weeks agony had end
ed his young life. They kissed for her
sake the dear young face. It was al
most the only one unmarried
by the cruel steam and
flame; and, almost crazed with
grief, the older brother carried the
dead body of his young brother back to
the stricken mother in St. Louis, 'sfor
she was widow" and this was her
" Benjamin" This older brother was
Samuel L. Clemens, now known to the
world as "Mark Twain" The read
ing of his graphic sketch in /" Gilded
to q lady of the city, who had watched
with young Henry, the facts above
stated; and, hunting among old letters
for one that had been received in &C.
acknowledgement of the kindness shown
the son and brother, she forwarded it
to Twain in order to verify her sur
misses. We are permitted to publish
his reply, as it contains such graceful
compliment to Memphis kindness.
Among many who worked there so
bravely and generously we name Mayor
b. d. Baugh, Esq. Richards, John
Newson, DR.. w. T. Bailey, Drs. Tay-
lor, Shanks, Irving, r. F. Brown, and
many others whose names escape us,
but who will see that, though their
names and their places may be forgot
ten, still
They're remembered by what thew have done
HARTFORD, COun., Oct. Is.
MRS. DEAR MADAM: Yes, am that
person, and have been trying to place you,
but have such disgraceful memory that 1
CAM quite compass il. 1t is mainly be-
cause that week in Memphis was SO terrible
that I have never liked to think about it.
could not even think of the many pleasant
features of that sojourn without drifting
into the 0thers-the dreadful ones.
You will easily believe that did not want
to forget you, or any other of the kind
friends who helped me there, and made me
forget that was q stranger-n0, the forget
ting was the result of the process havejust
described. What do remember, without
the least trouble in the world, is that when
those Gu scalded and mutilated people were
thrown upon her hands, Memphis came for.
ward with perfectly lavish outpouring of
money and sympathy, and that this did not
fail and die out, but lasted through to tue
end. Even then neither the purse nor the
of Memphis was exhausted; for
the Pennsylvania g victims were hardly dis
posed OF before those Of the St. Nicholas
were brought there, and were received
and treated with the same splendid gener-
osity.
Do you remember how the physicians
the students-the ladies-and
every body? lido. II the rest of my wretch
ed memory was taken away, I should still
remember that. And remember the names
land vaguely the faces) Of the friends with |
whom lodged, and two who watched with |
you may well believe that re.
DR.. Peyton. What . magnificent |
nan he was! What healing it was Just to |
ook at him and hear bis voice!
l have planned . journey down the Missis- |
'ippi for the spring of 1878, and then hope
hat may see him again, and you, too.
Meantime, heartily wish you both may be |
obliged to journey eastward, and that YOU
will do me the real kindness to break bread |
ooIk