The Portland daily press., 1886-08-16
A HORRIBLE STORY.
T5e Fearful Sufferings of Two Fami-
lies of Poverty Stricken People.

EVANSVILLE, Ind, Aug. ia tale OF
horror, privation, SUFFERING and tragic death,
without parallel in this section, has just Deen
given to the public, and the sympathy OF the
entire community is now ceateTea n ene sSra Sra-
gel was notified yesterday that his services
were wanted at the river. He was directed
to a SIN all family boat lying near the water
works. The craft is nondescrlpt vessel ana
bore the evidence of hard use in every timber
and pIank. The bow was battered and stove
in, and the entire roof of,the cabin bio Tn on.
The cabin was about 160 feet long By IL wide.
Trustee Spregel boarded the craft ana mast
ened toward the cabin, impressed with 1eel-
ing of dread that some terrible dlselosuIe
was about to be made. Gazing into the cabin
his eyes met sight held him fast, Speech
less with horror, he saw beneath him, hud-
died together on the dark, damp floor OF the
boat, IL people, with scarce rag to cover
their nakedness. Their eyes were SunK S
glared as him fierce and wild, and
their emaciated forms gave token OF the
presence of great poverty ana staIVatl0n
The fire of fever was consuming tnem Dy
slow degrees, while in their midst lay the
dead body of woman fast decompoSlng par
TALLY hid by piece of rag carpet. The living
occupants of this tomb being too weak and
too i'll to remove the remains. Trustee
Spregel took in the situation at glance and
acted qnickly. Patrol wagons were hastily
eu.
removed to the hospital and tender hands
ministered Ito their urgent wants. An m
quest was held over the remains OF tne oeau
and a verdict of death from malarlal fever
was rendered. One of the survivors, George
Bush, although seriously ILL., was able to tell
the story of the horrible experience through
which the party had passed Until three
weeks ago, Geo. Bush and John BUSH,
brothers, were farmers in Mead county, Ken
lucky, about twelve miles from the mouth Oh
o. rbo;r loY, and III was
with much difficulty they obtained suflclent
food to keep the wolf from the door, They
became disheartened and determined TO try
to better their condition further, west. 70
this end they constructed small Doa!, anu
on Sunday, July %, both families, consisting
of the brothers, their wives, and nine chll-
dren IN all, together with their little ones, p;
embarked in the boat and started on tnelr
terrible trip down the river Ihey reaeHea 1e
the mouth of Salt river late Sunday night
and when Monday morning broke were III
the Ohio. Two weeks ago today Nan Nancy &
Bush, aged 55, Georges wife,, was taken IL
with malaria ard not being able to procure
the necessary medicine it soon de de-
veloped into typhoid malaria. Inc Inc
by by one till finally all were helpless
In this condition they were overtaken Ihurs5
day night by a heavy storm when tossea
their Graf about like an egg, shell. tnroWulns Nul
them from one end of the boat TO tne oInGl. q.
Their possessions were all swept away ~ ~
the waves, and the cabin roof was taKeh, on on
During this fearful night Mrs. Bush sudden
ly grew worse and began pleading teeDly !, Iot y
water, which no one could give her, and JuS,II y
as dawn broke she died in intense agony AL AL
day hot boiling sun beat down on their nan ;ah
clad bodies and the drifted helpless VIII Win
their bodies consumed by raging 1evelt;
their throats dry and parched fol-, want oi !
water, their lips swollen and bloodiess, anu
all oyerpowered by craving pangsS OF munger "
this little group of sufferers prased for deatH.
Reason was fast being dethroned when tneil H,5
craft drifted nearly opposite the city. ms
| morning some kindly fishermen saw an apS,
| parently tenantless boat and boarded II, anu ~
| discovered the condition of the occupants
they secured their lines and drew the pea
ashore, after which the authorities were no no.
| tilted. All the sick people were being Ir teii,
derly cared for tonight, but hopes are qTnby Thy
entertained for the recovery Of. six ant lns
fatal and fetid atmosphere, tainted ou9l 0t
from the decomposing corpse having us ha, ei
tect on the remainder. Mrs. busn h"'
| been buried.