Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-31
.. 80 va agaIl encountered on were say We \,

were saved, 1,739 gallant souls, who had
/ fought an through the war, periShlng
almost on the threshold OF their homes.
"Such are the actual facts OF the de-
struction of the Sultana, as witnessed
and experienced by one OF the rescued.
The public mind has rested for twenty
seven wears under the impression that
one Robert LOwden, a so-called COnfed-
crate spy, had caused the loss OF the
boat by seCretng dynamite in the coal
! 1t is said that Lowden so confessed TO
one w. c. Streeter, of st. Louis, aud
that Streeter had acknowledged the
fact. There is not single fact TO bear
out such a statement, aud the whole
story is the fabrication Of fertile
brain.
'.The work OF Mississippi steamers
during the war has employed a thous-
and pens, but it has often been a won,
der 10 me that so little has been said
concerning the loss OF life on this
steamer. At any other time II would
, have been the sensation Of the year, and
would have caused a thrill of horror and
of indignation throughout the land.
! The despicable conduct, reckless diSre-
gard of human life, displayed by the
CAPTAIN of the Sultana and the Adjutant
General, who, rather than lose few
J paltry dollars, packed these untor-
| Inmates like sardines in a box, TO be
scalded and drowned, would have made
/ all good people look on them with hor-
/ ror. But then the loss of 1880 soldiers
/ i'm April, 1865 was less thought Of than
the loss OF so many cattle or mules. The
/ destruction Of life, not accounting Tor
the troops that walked on board every
\ time the boat landed 20 wood, which
was often, has never been authenticity
estimated, and never will be, as the
number Of the crew was never known.
MANY Of those who were rescued
we're in the water nearly all night,
! hanging to pieces Of wood. They were
rescued by passing boats. The suffer
/ ing was intense and many gave up In
despair and sank beneath the muddy
waters. Such a night Of horrors l
never knew. Some of the scenes that
took place were heSrt-rending. Friends
saw their comrades carried down before
/ their eyes, or burned and scalded.
Everybody was mad with terror, and
nothing could be done to quiet them.
/ Il was rescued after swimming sew
eral miles. How long l was in the
water / cannot say. The BoStona No.
. picked me up with several others. She
was north-bOund steamer. was car
ried 10 the hospital at Memphis, where
| I remained until the 2Sth OF June. Dur
ling JulyeI received orders TO report as
a witness before a cOurt-martial con-
vened at NickSburg 10 testify as TO my
| knowledge of the loss Of the Sultana.
/ After remaining four weeks in daily at
/ tendance before the court-martial l was
dismissed and sent home. at no time
/ had a chance TO testify as TO how aud
/ what brought about the disaster. The
case was disposed Of like thousands OF
| its kind, and the busy world soon re-
| membered of the Sultaus disaster only
as a horrible dream. was the only one
/ left out Of the nineteen of my old COM
pany 10 tell these facts. The others
were all killed or drowned. This rem
| iniscence would not be complete with
/ out telling how the lamented Maj. VIII
liam III. Fiddler, commanding the Sixth
kentucky Veteran Volunteer Cavalry,
and also in command of the prisoners,
| came TO lose his life. In all such disas-
tiers there are rare acts of heroism and
and selI-sacrifce. The gallant Fidler
gave IN his life that another might live.
Among the passengers was bridal party
| of four irsm Illinois. They were return
ing home, fhs party consisting Of bride,
her bridesmaid, the groom and the best
man. WhenR he explosion occurred and
1when the bod was in flames, l was