The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-24

the scething fire, nor would they leap into
the ice'cold water. Capt. Cheek readily
saw tie necessity OF cool head back
there and he, like the hero he proved to
be, dashed through tho smoke, and his
very presence encouraged the panic
stricken people. There were about $50 OF
these passengers. II was hard TO move
them. They seemed more willing
to await destruction by flames than
to attempt to save themselves by
jumping into the river. Capt. Check
made them throw bales OF cotton into tho
river and use them as life prescrvers. Had
1t not been for Capt Cheek, every single
one OF these people would have pcrshod.
As II was, | think fully 100 Of the poor
creatures lost their lives Capt. Cheek, Of
course, was cut OF by the flames and was
compelled TO jump overboard and swim
ashore. Tho yawl that hung above the
people had been lowered, but so great was
the excitement, the small craft was
swamped. This terrible haste TO save life
only prevented tho roscuing Of many
souls.
There were only fifty or sixty cabin pas
sengers aboard and think all escaped OK
copt the third clerk, Geo. Corbett.
The individual herosm OF the officers OF
the boat was something superb. never
saw such noble efforts to save life at the
risk of losing II on the part Of the roscuers
in my life. In fact never read anything
in which moro heavenly courage has beon
portrayed than | saw yesterday morning
aboard the Kate Adams Jim Bludsoo was
no more noble than the pilot who stood at
the wheel who
"lIcld her nozzle agln the bauk
TIL the last galloot's ashore"
And he never left his post of duty until
everything had been done that could have
been done 10 slvo the passengers under
his care, and he still longer remained with
the lurid flames lcaping raycnously about
him until he had rung the bell Tor the on
gineer TO leave his post.
Billy Hodge, pilot of duty, presented
another picture Of beautiful heroism. lie
was in the barber shop when the alarm
was given. lie was just half shaved, aud
in this condition rushed out upon the
burning cotton and began the work
Of saving lives. lie commenced
TO throw or bales Of cotton TO the strug.
Cling people In the water that they might
cling to them le might have cut a com.
ical figure under any other circumstances,
for onc-hali OF his face was shayon clean,
while the other was white with lathor, but
the unsclash nobility Of his work Of saw.
ing the poor people who were about 10
drown, while his own life WIS In i'm
minent danger only added to the
grandeur Of his manhood aud showed
that he did not lose moment
in getting 10 his post. saw him save
Mr.. Davenport and old man llamutt,
who could not swim stroke. This old
gentleman had gotten an empty barrel,
and was about exhausted when Hodge
| jumped into the river, swan to him, got
tho old man and Davenport on bale oi
cotton aud guided them safely to shore.
Steward Maison deserves lions share
Of the splendid work done by the officers.
lie devoted his energies 10 the saving Of
the women and children In the cabin. lie
took the little ones by the armml. never
saw the like Of Il in my life. lie seemed
to carry o half a dozen people at a time.
lie would bring his precious cargocs 10 the
cotton edged deck aud gently drop them
into willing hands ON shore. llo would
then return and bring out another load Of
women and little ones. think Il IL due
TO him that Ms. Kuhn and her Eve child.
rcn woro saved.
Ono Of the most pathetic incidents, that
can only bo imagod hut never described,
was the sad iinalily Of tie tcriblc'disnslcr
The whole boat was n sccihing mass of re-
lenilcs flames. Everybody had left her
The poor colorcd people, ono by one, were
giving up aud their bodies were sinking
here aud there, aud their lives going out
~ you have seen certain kind Grc-
works which float and have life for time
hut which arc suddenly eylinguishcd
The survivors were ON the shore, grateful
for having been saved and wishing that
they could do something more for the un-
iorunatcs, the once beautiful boat was
didnircgraiing the burning cotton fell
oil in shrcnds u fire, when suddenly the
smoke stacks began TO topplc. As they
carccncd over they struck the cord Of the
big bell on deck aud II tollcd doleiully Gyc
Or six tunes the death kncll Of one
Of the most horrible disasters | over saw or
ever expect 10 see.