The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-04-15
Our Better E!!adsoe.

lCineinnau Enquirer, Apfl -u'l
Michael Kelly, the engineer OF T.
the Inflated Golden City, called on ~
us last night to deny the reports y
published in the afternoon papers y
that he had received dispatch an y
nouncing that his heroic son, Rob :
ert j., who was on watch when the !
boat took fire, had been found ina :
barge that had lodged on Presi- !
dents Island. Mr.. Kelly said that
not only had he not received any
such joyful intelligence, but that
he was fully satisfied that bis son
had persisted. Only the trip be-
fore the last made by tho Golden
4 City, Robert was talking with his
wife and mother about steamboat
affairs. when lie remarked: "lflt
should ever be my bad fortune to
be on watch when n boat takes
| fire, I'll die at my post at the en-
gines sooner than live to think that
n single passenger had lost his life
through my cowardice or shlrkhg
of my duty.n Poor fellow ! lie
little thought how soon he would
be called on to make good his
words with his life. Mr.. Kelly
says that there were between %
and 60 bales Of jute on the steam
: er, and in their immediate vicinity
about 1000 empty barrels that had
. contained pitch, tar or some such
resinous compound. This accounts
" for the flames spreading so rap
, idly. From the time the lire
: broke out until the boat went
!, crushing through tho coal-iiats
! moorod to the shore was not more
!. than two minutes,n said he. "When
! went off watch, u halfhour be-
: fore, we were carrying big steam
. and were making excellent time,
l. When the fire broke out the heat
Il made the steam in the pipes as dry
m as powder, and | never heard the
engines work with such power as
i when the bow of the boat went
81 over the Oriola and piled the flats
N one over another like cars in a
N smash.up. The wheel was carry
ii ing the water clear over lts top
of and everything from bow to stern
ge was wrapped in flames. My boy
ID was there at his post, for he an
m swered the plots bell and stoppe'
or the engines when it was rung. i
Il is customary for the pilot to strike
gong when he is done with thu
Il engineer for the time being, and
al think he waited for that signal, bu
% il never came. A deck passenge
who had hammock swung in th'
engine.room did not wake up unit
the ropes supporting it burned AM
nc let him down on the deck, and h
ee made his escape through one 0
M the pitman.holes. Ny boy ha'
AK helped a woman and her three chi
cd dren off the burning boat on to
AK float, and could readily have 60
nd of himself at the time, but Ii
would not play the coward. IL
zee could not swim, so when he le
er. the float drift away he gave up HI
'ch last hope Of life. His mother an
S. wife are nearly crazed over Ia
he loss. They did not give up a
he hope until | came home withot
Dly him. When ! got to my house la'
II night | stopped at the door full
five minutes before | could music
he up courage enough to 90 IN an
,is. face my wife and dauglitor.in-la'
,ao Poor mother! She will never g
,re over it,
md Robert J. Kelly, the hero Of ii
or. Golden City, was born in Oxfor
,ce Ohio, June 30, 1855, but was raise
nm on o farm near Dover, in Dearbol
be county, Indiana He learned O
The gineering in this city, and was ma
ried in August, 1880, to Miss Ann
ed Burns, of Dayton, Kentucky, |
aid whom he had two children, Il
or youngest but four weeks old. A
md affectionate son, a loving husban
rod and fond father and faithful frien
tbe his loss will be long deplored
If all who revere thorough manhoo
- officers of the Golden sity Indlcts