The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-14
A ROMANCE OF THE RIVER.
How Young Man Saved a Girl From
Burning Mississippi Steamer.
He Afterward Wins Her Love Without
Recognizing Her-How a Guilty Pair
Perished i'm the Disaster.

Il y =
1869, James Fry, the travelling agent of a
New Orleans business house, started from st.
Louis for that city on the steamer Stonewall.
The hay on board took fire and burned, and
fearful panic ensued. A few only of the
passengers chung to the steamer, in hope
that aid would reach them before
the fire forced them to take their
last chance in the river Among
these were a family of three persons-evi-
IDENTIFY father, mother, and daughter, the lat
ter apparently about l5--young Fry, and
young lady, apparently IL or Is years old.
Ofall who had jumped into the river the
| light of the burning vessel showed only one
here and there struggling in the water, or
swimming away, the river having closed
over the others. Those who remained on the
deck hastily rolled overheard several bales of
hay which the fire had not yet reached, to be
| seized if possible if they were compelled to
take to the water. The main spar was
burnt down and fell into the river before the
! fire drove the last person from the steam
er. The flames at last wrapped the entire
vessel about, and the passengers who were
huddled together about the guards
/ were forced to jump. The
| family mentioned above sprang into
1
| Fry and the other young lady followed
them. Fry was good swimmer, and
reached the spar. As he grasped it, the
young lady who had jumped with him, came
TO the surface near him. He seized her and
helped her to the floating timber. The girl
who had disappeared with her father and
mother also came up within short distance,
and Fry at once went to her aid. He sue
ceeded in assisting her to the spar She
never saw her father and mother again.
Fry moved the spar with comparative ease
by swimming behing it and pushing it. This
| gave him the idea of attempting to reach the
shore with it and save the girl, the youngest
of whom was rapidly becoming exhausted.
| He told them what he intended to do. and
begged the girl to summon all her courage
as ne would surely save her. This
was the moment when the three men
were driven from the bale Of
hay by the burning oil. The men at once
attempted to reach another bale II few feet
from them, to which four others were already
clinging, and which was barely sufficient to
sustain their weigh. Two of the men sank
before their object was gained. The other
swan to the second bale, and tried to seize
hold upon it. The four who was supporting
themselves with this bale fought against
having the added weight of the fifth, as it
would swamp them ALL Three times they
pushed him away. The pale, terror stricken
face of thestrugging men were plainly visible
in the glare of the flames. Each time the
fifth man was repulsed he returned to the
bale, begging for a place to hold. The
fourth time he succeeded in Selling hold of
one corner of the bale. The hay began to
sink One of the four who had possession
of the precious bale was an Italian. He
drew knife as the bale was going down, and
plunged it i'm the breast of the man whose
weight was taking their only hope away.
He fell back and disappeared beneath the
water.
This terrible scene was enacted within five
feet of those on the spar. 1t was more than
the girl could bear, and she tainted away.
Fry supported her In his arms, and hasting-
ly telling the other young lady to cling to
the spar until he returned, he started for the
shore with his burden. He reached it in
safety, and giving the girl in charge of peo-
pie who were helpless witnesses of the fear
full scene in the river, returned to render aid
to the young lady he had left. He was gone
only few minutes, but during his absence
the four men on the bale of hay had been,
in turn driven off by fire, and were all
drowned. A boat had also reached the scene
from Neeley's landing. Out of the 200 pas
sengers and the crew of 20, only 80 were
saved. Thegirl rescued by young Fry was
sent to Toledo, Ohio, where she said she had
friends.
A year ago last month, Fry was in Gin
cinnati transacting some business for house
in st. Louis, in whose employ he has been
for several years. An acquaintance of his
insisted on taking him to call at the resi-
dence Of friend one evening. He met there
and was introduced to a Mrs. Richmond, a
widow of great personal attraction. She had
been widow for three years, and was then
only "A. She was visiting at the house
where Fry met her, her home being
in Chicago. Fry fell ini love with Mrs.
Richmond. They corresponded for several
months, when the travelling agent made the
young widow offer of marriage and she
accepted it. A day early in the pres
ent month was selected for the wedding
Fry went to Chicago the last of Novem-
Der. A few days before the wedding he and
his betrothed were laying out route
for the wedding tour She told him to select
any route that pleased him, the travelling Of
which did not oblige them to go any distance
whatever by water. She manifested such
horror of travelling by water that Fry was
curious TO know what had caused it. His
astonishment may be imagined when she re-
lated to him the terrible experience of the
night of October q, 1869, on the Mississippi
during the burning of the steamer Stonewall
on which she was passenger, and at which
time her father and mother were drowned
Mrs. Richmond was none other than the girl
of Is whom Fry had rescued on that mem
orable night. By the sad death Of her pa.
rents she had been left with a few thousand
dollars, but no near relatives. At the age OF
10, to obtain home, she married Frank
Richmond, of Chicago, dealer in wheat
He became a bankrupt, and died in 1875
since which time she has made her home
among his and her friends.
The writer adds the following tragic re
verse:
Mr. Fry and his bride have been spend
ing few days with relatives of his near thi!
city. The above facts were obtained from
him few nights ago by the writer. Among
other recollections of the Stonewall disaster
he also related the following:
''Among the passengers who got aboard o
the steamer at st. Louis was a woman who's,
name was a notorious one, from Louisville Il