The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-25
story OF Another survivor.

story OF Another survivor.
FRANKFoRT, Ind, April 12.-James
Payne, one of the few survivors Of the
Sultana disaster, lives in Hamilton county,
this State, near Packard's mill, and there
he was found by the Tribune correspond
emit Mr. Payne was private in the
acknowledgement Indiana,
which was captured by the Con-
federates at Spring Hill, Tenn, in 1864.
He spent three months amidst the horrors
of Andersonville, and was then exchanged.
"0rders came to the effect that 500 men
should be taken out each day TO be ex-
changed" said Mr.. Payne, with the pro-
vision that the old men were to 90 first
that Is, those who had been longest in the
prison. But wo found out that a little
persuasion in the way OF money had
great effect upon the officers Of the prison,
and as the boys OF our company had
succeeded in keeping little money con-
cealed, we bought our exchange, and con-
sequcntly our company, which was now
down to eleven men, got out on the first
list. One OF our boys went out on dead
mans name. When the dead mans name
was called he answered 10 IL. We were
taken TO Vicksburg. and the morning of
the LIST day OF May, 1868, We wcrc marched
down to the wharf TO embark TO be sent
north and home. We lost no time in get
ting aboard the Sultana, at that time the
largest boat on the Mississippi. She was q
side.wheelcr Of unusual dimensions. She
carried eighteen boilers. The boilers and
machinery of the Sutana had been in
spccted at st. Louis, Just before her down
trip, and at Vicksburg just before we
started.
1--WE started from Vicksburgaboui noon.
Everything went we'll excepting our sick.
ness, the result OF our confinement, and
the rough water, rs the river was running
high. We landed ut Memphis at III o'clock
D. m, where we had about 400 hogsheads
Of sugar TO unload. Here occurred my
miraculous escape. A number OF the boys,
myself being one Of them, got Of here and
went up into the town 10 see ii they could
get something TO eat, and at least get some
fresh air. A comradc. whose name ! have
forgotten, and myself wandered around
until We heard the signal TO start and then
we ran for the boat, but We were too late,
and the only result Of our efforts was 10
get into the sand MP 10 our knees. We
saw that the Sultana was going 10 stop at
some coal barges and take on some coal,
and We in our desperation tried TO get
aboard here; but itappcars that Providence
WIS working in its own mysterious way,
and we were again unsuccessful. While
we were standing on the wharf, or rather
ia the sand, we were watching the Sui
tana, our hope, joy and pride, steam away,
feeling our hearts sink within us
al. Islta a.
to point in the river where there is q
small island called lien and Chickens,
seven miles above Memphis, where, to our
horror, the boilers exploded, and then
what was left OF the vessel took fire, aud,
slowly drifting down the nyer, burned up.
OF course great many were killed by the
explosion, but the greater part Of them
were either burned TO death or driven by
the fire into the water and drowned. Some
few 81 the boys were able, by getting hold
Of some Of the floating wreckagc, 10 get
ashore. One man, or boy, rather, j. w.
Thompson, who was then only eighteen
years old, swan until he was opposite
| Memphis, which was seven miles, when he
was picked up by yawl. Lieut.. Elliott
was also picked mp by yawl. They were
! afraid a. put out large boats until II be-
| tNint ukhlf consequently Ho Ho"H hNN
skifrs aud yawls were used until morning,
| A very dense fog also came up just imme-
diatcly after the explosion. The river
was very high at the time, all
the bottom lands for miles ON each
side Of the river being mum
dated. Ono soldier succeeded In getting
upon a log. and also helped upon the log a
lady passenger whom he found in the
water, aud by means Of using his hands
and feet ~ oars finally guided the log out
OF the channel and lodged Il safely against
some timber. She was, think, a Chicago
lady, aud she has since Handsomely 70
warded him. As TO the actual number
saved, I, Of course, do not know, but | do
know that Il was comparatively few.
John W. Thompson, whom have named,
1 lives now Mt Fishers Switch, Ind. James
Kimlcton, who was one Of the same com.
pany, also swan ashore and IL now living
at McCordiaviilc, Marion county, Ind.
Lieut.. Elliott Is now living nj lndianap.
oils, Ind. Matthew Wright, the man who
went out on the dead mans name, Is
now living nj noxyiown, Ind. These fouI
men, besides myself, are all the mon,
think, who arc living, except Wesley Neg