San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-02-10
p ~ vren The New Yoft Ledger.
At sEAONA COTTON BALE.
An Old story tsia by Bishep Clark 4
EgaIa RhsAe Island.

I well remember the dismay will
which the tidings Of the burning o
he steamer sLexingtony i'm Lonf
fsland' sound Vas Iedeived in Bostor
forty years ago. The FIRST repor
sas that all on board were lost, ani
IL fact, it proved there were only fou
survivors left to tell the tale. Of wot
that made that fatal January night *
tragically memorable. ,.@9ls
It happened q few evenings ago, in
passing gthipnSh theI sound in the
steamer "Rhode Sind that I fell in
Conversation viii. Mr.. David Crowley;
ut present one of Che officers Of the
boat, and he told me he was one ol
The four persons who managed to es.
cape with their lives when the '.Lex-
iington" was burned. / asked him Ia
give me the exact particulars, which
he did III q very modest sanhssuming
way, and I think the story is worth
prSssfSH& iorFI Vent ttiss ~ SOY that
very few men could have endursd
what he did and live through il. Hs
is now a strong, well preserved and
y0HnR Ioa king mahi viii I'D IL Gon)
Of q little more than sixty years Of
age, and has experienced no permaa
nent detriment from the awful ex'
posure to which be was subjected ID
his youth. srco ilfs Is'tl Sai. .get
.. .. On ,tha,night ii question the LEX
ington" WA crowded with cotton to
the full extent Of it's capacity, and also
carrying tie full quota Of passengers
At about 1880 O'Clock Mr.. G. says he
beard d. 2 rushing pf fest Sop ths; 1echs'
ana lhnrrying fok his esOn bSAaw
that the whole central part Of the ves!
sci ;wagpu -6res egting7d6s u com!
municstibn with de 1pparatns for
extinguishing the flames. There was
70 be done to sayeIthe steam
er,an1 ths hfeboats as is often the case
undsr similar circumstances, proved
10 be Of no practical service. b.
y, After sssisting in throwing over
board 9. number Of cotton bales, he
ssissd sboAfsi and jumped into the
water. ln Tn he found 10 be Of little
ase, and seeing At some distance d
bale Of cotton that did not sppear to
bs ssp flsLev&y ythiAs AsouSf teing
made as light Is day by the burning
- DS-bsfl1enPto the b1H J1id sue
bs{dsdihayhaiSgit- W1isnR xlnls'
b recover ffotf his exhausfion,, be
to climb upon the top Of
The bale, where, If he could only avoid
being frozen to death, 'hs felt he was
Tor the tmebeing secure. q Il
Gradually the fires Of the "Lcxing
EoArsa194 I'D "a ~ be found
Alone On tue vSste Of waters,
nth nothing 70 al 1ut 81 yaik viii
What patience b could = - cold
md darkness. until the dann q fladAy
Ihoald bring relief. Whes IN morn
ng broke . sloop appeared IN ighk
iAS4eel lonhpg sfeE ~ who
night have survived the wreck, md
se W. nov sure that the worst was
,vez snd rescue near st hand, until
o bis dismay he saw The weasel change
,er coarD asd'ad sUywithOut bav
ng detectsd him -. !, -, q. -. .-.
An thsf day the ssouf hearted man
lung 10 m 6a1s of eotsoa, thsashing
bout = .far ~ he could venture 70 I
b tlnk b 1igbt ksep tAs cfculs- |
son n his body alive. snd ponakim0
gyinG 10 psdAs &s sls.y srrh WITH /
= bsFs hasdE bot vitbout ths shghtr |,
n sEsct a Ocoaxionslly be fell intD .
loe, nd tuBb1ed tvics INTO sbe va
z. rsg.iniag ks p1see upon tbe
- vith ssts kts1s Ai6calty AZ
leht drew d hs vound NJ uztch e.
SOL md thllag th.4 ~ haA now
'scoz.s su1kaGnklJ sosnst0e.sd 10 the
.otop Of has ezsh 70 allow hn 70 do