The record-union., 1891-08-08
A WARNING FIERY PHANTOM.
The Most Memorable Ohio River
Calamity.

Burning of the Steamer Belle OF the
West-Peculiar Incidents Connected
Herewith = Preachers and White
Horses.
In April, 1850, I was one of party
bound for California The party con-
sisted of Robert Chalmers, John S. Fer
rier, John Ames, James Mccullough,
Perry Virgins, Samuel Hopkins, NJ.
Morton, John Aiken and w. P. Bennett.
! We left Buffalo, n. Y, April 9th, for Gin
cinnati, Ohio, where, on the 18th, about 5
| o'clock p. NJ, we took our departure on
the fine, first-class river steamer Belle OF
| the West for ST. Louis. There were over
one thousand passengers on board, a
! large number Of whom, like ourselves,
/ being on their way to California. On the
upper deck We're wagons and other tray
cling outfits, and the lower deck and
hold were packed with baggage, freight,
provisions and general merchandise.
That evening the passengers enjoyed
themselves i'll all directions, singing,
dancing, playing cards. : preacher who
had white horse on the lower deck, at
tracted considerable attention by his dis
| courses and eXhortatiOnS, and everybody
seemed inclined to be amused and happy.
AN oLD-TI8IE STEAMBOAT RACE.
Another steamer, which left Cincinnati
when we did, showed a disposition for a
race, and pretty soon both boats were
driving along at a very lively rate.
Naturally many Of our paSsengerS got
more or less excited by the spirit OF ri
valry. Our smokestacks were red hot
from the fierce fires under the boilers,
encouraged by generous contributions Of
pitch and similar combustibles, and, no
doubt, such heroic racing measures were
resorted to on the rival steamer.
Chalmers and myself stood near two
middle-aged ladies, and heard them say to
the Captain: You won'trun no race with
that other boat viii you, Captain? You
are too good a man for that. We don't
like to see such race" But pretty soon
they said: Captain, the other boat is
gaining on us. If we fired up little
more couldn't we beat 'em?'
Doing our best, ladies. Chucking in
pitch, tallow and everything of the kind -
"All right, Captain. That's our bacon
down there in the hold. Use it if you
think it is required; but that boat should
not be allowed to beat u.s."
He might have used their bacon had
the race lasted longer than it did.
FIERY PHANTOM FORERUNNER.
ADOuJ LLidI time SCDloGOUN CalleG at
tentiOn TO a strange apparition glowing
in the water between the two racing
steamers. 1t may have been reflection
from the flaming SmOkestacks, but tG
me, as well as all others who witnessed
1t, the appearance was distinctly like a
big steamer on fire. It was a grand
sight, lasting only few minutes but we
all, most impressively, remembered it,
three hours later, regarding it as phan-
tom premonition Of the fearful calamity
which then occurred.
THE BELLE OF THE WEST ON FIRE!
Suddenly, about midnight, a wild
alarm resounded throughout the boat
from a fire being discovered burning
fiercely in the hold. The commotion
, among the passengers was simply terri
BILE, many being in bed at the time The
most active and strenuous efforts We're
made to eXtinguish the fire, but the
flames soon burst forth amidships and
total destruction was inevitable. The
steamer was Steeered for the shore and
scon grounded. Many passengers sprang
overheard and were swept away and
drowned in the flowing stream. In fact
so rapid was the progress of the flames
that failure to get ashore was death by
either fire or water. And by fire or wa
ter men, women and children did die
nearly thousand thus meeting theil
fearful doom.
the bow OF the boat, where I secured q
plank, tied a rope to it and my waist
and prepared to navigate ashore. An
old darky near me had cabin idoor in
his hands for the same purpose.
THE PREACHER AND THE WHITE HORSE
Say, massa,n exclaimed he, "did yeI
see dat ghost steamboat all afire in dc
water when we was away down de rib
Der, an did yer see 'em all ajumpin'
overboard?''
1 replied, "most certainly L saw it,
Same as You and all the rest"
We'll, now, Use gwine to tell yer dat
twas de ole debble hisself come arter his
people. l seed it den an I knows il
, now. Cora mighty, massa, eff was tel
lib thousin' year III nebber, nebbe1
again trabble on a steamboat or anything
else whar dar's preacher an white
hoSs."
We went overheard together and strug-
gled safely ashore. Then he stood w
and shook himself, raising his hand very
impressiyely toward me as he said:
Yes, maSsa, as ] was a tellin' yer
fore de Lord, dat's so. Dis am de sec
ond time Ise trabbled whar dar was a
| preacher an white boss, an I'll neb.
Der, nebber do SO any mo-"
Then the old darky, waving his dilap-
idated hat by way of a parting salute
struck out on lively run for the neares,
since.
. FEARFUL SCENE OF DESTRUCTION.
Next day, with hundreds of others.
reviewed the wreck, burned to the wa
ter's edge, near the shore. 1t was silent
and horrible scene of disaster, especially
, to the few who had fortunately escaped
with their lives.
Those two women who were talking &c
the Captain about the race and suggest
ing the use Of their bacon, if necessary,
certainly did not save their bacon. They
, were found among the charred corpses
between the boilers, and for many iays
afterward dead bodies were recovered
from the river below. Many of the vic.
TINS never were found.
And there, near the river bank up to
his knees in water, stood the preachers
old white horse. The poor beast haG
frantically jumped overheard and swan
ashore thus far, but his hair was all
burned cleaned off to the naked hide. and
his eyes were destroyed. He was groan.
, ing just like human being, and looked
utterly disconsolate and gone. Friendly
pistols put him out of his misery. AS
for his evangelical master, the preacher
. he was also Of the many hundreds whom
Divine Grace did not save.
My party were all among the few who
escaped from the terrible disaster, anC
we came through to our destination TO.
gether; but l never can forget the scenes
and incidents of that memorable night
and the old darky with his preacher anC
white horse proposition.
w. p. BENNETT.
!