The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-09-13
THE RESCUE.
A STORY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

During the last years of the war was
serving III the capacity Of petty officer
OH the United States ship Of war e Eek.
Some time during tho month Cf March.
1863, and while we were lying at our
station at Memphis, Tennessee it was
my fortune to be nn eyewitness to one
OF the most terrible caamities zen ever
attempted to describe. L refer to the
burning Of tie steamer Sultana, caused
by the bursting of her boiler from being
overloaded, she having on board at the
time twenty-three hundred and sixty
soldiers, all .f whom had just been re-
leased from Confederate prisons.
These poor fellows, as it were, almost
IN sight Of their long-lost hcmes, were
hurled without q moments warning to a
terrible death. There were also on
board forty passengers, men, women
and children ; and, besides this i'm
mense load of human beings, her boiler
deck was crowded with horses and
mules.
first saw the Sultana as she rounded
the poirt below Fort Pickering, in plain
view from our deck, and she presented
the appearance of an immense moving
mass of human beings; it seemed as
though every foot of space, from Ler
hurricane deck down, was crowded. She
was loudly cheered by crowds of people.
who lined the wharves and levees. She
steamed up by us, slowly, and tied up
alongside of a coal barge, just above
where we We're moored. 1t being in
the early evening, and I having bust
ness ashore, 1 thought no more of her
Tor some hours. remained on shore
until near eight bells (midnight), and as
L u, n
that she was still there; / could distinct
ly hear the merry song of the ronsta-
bouts, as they trundled the coal on
board, mingled with the merry making
of the soldiers. Ah, little thought thew
of the terrible doom that was soon to be-
fall them
l slung my hammock in the port
gangway, it being tho river side of the
ship, and was soon fast asleep. It seem.
ed to me, however, that I had scarcely
closed my eyes when was awakened by
confusion of sounds and discordant
cries, that seemed to come from the
river. Starting up, L distinctly heard
the words: "My God, help |" and I
supposed of course that some unlucky
sailor had fallen overheard. About this
time the shrill pipe of the boatswain's g
whistle sounded through the ship, ac-
companied by the hoarse call: "Turn
out all hands," "Man the boats /" and
before could get on deck all the boats
had been manned, and shot out in the
murky darkness, it being impossible to
see anything cables length ahead: but
more appalling scene can hardly be
conceived. The river seemed to be alive
with drowning men, some praying for
assistance, some cursing the fate which,
after a day or two of liberty. had con-
demned them to horrible death,
others shrieking aloud in agony, while
ever and anon You could hear the last
gulp of some miserable wretch as he,
screaming for assistance, sunk to
rise no more. A few words from the
ofhcer OF the deck told the whole story.
The Sultana left the coal barge about
two o'clock in the morning, proceeding
on her way up the river and Just after
rounding the point, some five miles
above the city, her boiler exploded, and
she had taken fire and was burning up.
just ut this time the captain, who had
been awakened by the confusion, came
out OF his cabin, and demanded an ex.
planation as to its cause. A few words
made the necessary explanation. He
instantly demanded il the boats had all
been sent out. 1 told him they had, with
the exception of the first launch. This
boat was a large, unwieldy craft, carry
ing twenty oars and brass twelve
FOUNDER swivel gun amidship. She had
no regular crew, I'd was used, prin-