The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-14
EXPLOSION s. suLTlNi.
An Interesting Account by an Eye Wit
ness.

An Interesting Account by an Eye Wit
Ed. Register:
On reading Comrade Haas account
of the destruction of the Sultana. an
reminded of the many scenes 1 wit
messed upon that sad occasion. full!
agree with the comrade in all his state
mcnts except the one as to the unsafe
ty of the boat, as the Sultana was un
doubtedly staunch and good reliable
craft as was fully demonstrated by he
carrying an immense cargo of suga
and other freight from Vicksburg T.
Memphis besides the 1900 paroled sol
diers and a crew of eighty men. Tha
she was overloaded and over-crowdet
was very clear to all familiar Will
navigation. But with all these disad
vantages and the river overfiown sh'
made good time under an experienced
and skillful crew to Memphis, Alto
dischsrging a lot Of freight and taking
on about 400 bushels of coal. She los
ened from the wharf and drew in the
gang plank at just midnight and in q
minutes was
MAKING SPLENDID HEADWAY
against the overflowed and mighty
current of the Mississippi, The men
laid down wherever there was laying
room. The forecas;le aud lower deck
were crowded with sleeping forms. |
was looking for a place to lay down
but could find no room below so /
went up the stairway to the cabin
deck. Here again found every foot
of space occupied, SO 1 again took the
stairs to the hurricane deck. This
also was nearly all filled with sleeping
men. but found some six of my CON-
pany near the escape pipes who kind
" offered me share of their sky
blanket, so laid down for rest.
The escape pipes were working as
regular as mans pulse, so l knew
that all was well. 1t was then about
half psst one and there appeared to be
a heavy fog over everything, and our
lantern made but little light, so We put
the lantern out and prepared to go to
sleep, but I was wide awake when the
explosion occurred.
About two c'clSck there was sud-
den shock as If the boat had struck q
rock, with boom like the explosion
Of large shell then everything SEEM
ed
DEATHLY STILL
for moment when there came agon-
izing shrieks and groans from the low
er decks. l listened for the escape
pipes. They were not working and l
knew something was wrong, and I
arose with the intention of going be-
low. All was pitchy darkness and
fog so I could not find the stairway.
No one near me was hurt, but some
were getting excited as the cry wac
raised that the boat had blown up. l
plead with my comrades to keep quiet
az there was no more danger unless
she took fire.
Suddenly a bright fame shot high
above the burning decks which reveal
ed all to CIR sight. The cabin was
parted at the chimneys. The Chin
news were gone, the stairs were gone
aud there was no way left to get be-
low. Flames were rolling back upon
the 200 or perhaps more men that
were upon that burning roof.
1t was at least q feet to the water
below and no way to get there but to
take a fearful leap in the dark, which
the men were now doing every instant.
remained at the stern until the last
one had gone aud the fire became too
hot to endure. I tied strings around
the bottom of my pants. buttoned my
pea jacket tight from bottom to chin,
and took my leap into the dark waters
twenty-four feet below, When i
came up to the surface I could see
that the hull was still unin!ured.
Everything above the boiler deck was
gone. The guards that project six feet
over the top of the hull were still there
ana plainly saw large anchor chain
hanging from the bow down into the
water, aud being an expert swimmer
I pulled for the chain which / reached
aud finding it fsst above 1 had but
little difficulty IL climbing upon the
hui! which found
DESERTED,
and burning down in the hold. BIT
held onto my position until nearly day
break. 1 could see the outline of the
banks of the river when the hull com.
menced to go to pieces at the stern.
Soon it fell apart and every thing that
wouldn't float went to the bottom. /
secured plank and fioated away with
the current, and was soon picked up
10y the picket steamer Pocahontas and
conveyed back to Memphis where
got dry suit and good square meal
and was all right and nsAdy for sol.
dier's duty again.
The authorities detained me a hours
in the hospital, much against my will
and that is all the hospital record |
had i'm service of 80 months.
WHAT CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION.
L have said that the Sultana was a
stauuch and safe boat. What then