Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-08
Divided by Death.

We copy from the New York San of
Saturday the following account of the
death of Mrs. Ida Main, whose death re-
suited from the burning of the steamer
Granite State last Friday morning:
Just as the purser stepped from the
gang-plank to the pier the hawsers parted
whether they we've burned or cut no one
knOws-and the boat, now blazing from
bow to stem, swung out into the stream.
The crowd watching it gave shout of
horror when they saw on the upper deck a
man and woman standing and wildly wav-
ing their hands as if asking for help. They
we're recognized as Clifford l.. Main, of
in their night dresses. Mrs. Main seized
her husband by the arm and pointed to
the water, as if urging him tc jump. He
shook his head. and rushing to the edge of
the deck shouted out. For Gods sake do
something to save u.s." Half dozen
small boats pulled out from the shore, and
4 huadr.d voices called cut to the couple
to Jump. AS the boats drew near the wife
threw her arms about her husband 8 neck.
and, after long embrace, they leaped
nto the river hand in hand. When they
rose to the surface Main had his arm about
lis wlfe's waist, They sank again, and
it'll tuIy MI, M dlu ditoOs W. OOeSeo
we're close at hand and Mr.. Main was lift
ed into one of them and brought to shore.
Clifford D. Main was married to Miss
Ida s. Mead Oh Wednesday night last
in New Haven. He is young man
conspicuous in local military circles,
and one OF the most popular young
men in the city. His bride was a
young lady of many mplishments,
scarcely 90 years old, and of striking beau
ty. On Wednesday night after the mar
riage ceremony, they were escorted by a
merry party of friends to the steamboat
leaving that city for New York. Thursday
taking the Granite State for Hartford,
where both have relatives, and where a
week was to have been spent. Mr.. Main
came to this city with his wife's re-
mains on the 81 Shore Line express TO-
night. He ia completely Frustrated. and
physicians say tonight that brain fever is
imminent. He remembers only that he
was awakened by means from his wife,
who lay by his siGe, half stifled by the
smoke which was pouring in dense vol
umes into the state room.
FLAMES were shooting up from below,
opposite my window he said. "Search
for life preservers was fruitless, and, in
desperation, [ was obliged to rush with
my V life into the dark saloon and out to-
ward the wheelhouse. AS we ran forward
l saw nobody, but agonizing screams from
the lower deck reached my ears. 1 could
not stop to investigate. Outside the sa-
loon, l shouted to attract attention from
shore, but the effort was as unavailing as
was a renewed search for life preservers.
The flames were leaping rapidly toward
US, and Ida impiored me to jump over
board. we shall be burned to death here,
she said, and it is easier to drown if we
have to die. Let US die together and die
| quickly We jumped into the water
clasped in one another's arms. Twice we
went down, and faintness was coming
over me, when some heavy timber fell from
the steamer down into the water right be-
tween US, knocking her from my arms.
| do not remember any more until | was res
cued, clinging to the WheelEouse.'