The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-10-26

noticed some comrades cutting the ropes
| which suspended the second plank, and
something impressed me that I must 60
with it, / picked up my hat and pulled it
down over my head. / do not know
what my object was in putting on my hat
al that time, unless considered it as sort
| of life preseryer, for / am sure that was
not bewildered at the time. l only had time
to step over the railing on to the plank,
when plank and all went crashing down on
| the heads of those on the bow of the boat
below As soon as we rallied from the
fall, as many as could cling to the plank
showed it off into the water. The thought
of that ice water makes me shudder yet.
The fall of the heavy plank, and our
weight with it, sent it far below the sur
face I soon let go and came to the top
for breath. In my effort to get to the top
again. l struck several poor souls on their
way TO the bottom. As l went under my
hat remained on top, but on my return
did not look for the hat. As / came up l
saw the end of a scantling projecting up out
of the water, and Iclutched hold oft. COM
rade on the other end bade me let go. AS
l did not want to arbitrate the matter with
him there, l let so and swan out of the reach
of the surging crowd, hoping to find some
uTiltNOOU, WHICH hOulu DC Va bC11S dooiol-
ance
By this time our gangplank shot up some
distance below, and by the time l reached it
10 or - others were clinging to it. After
getting hold with my hands l floated along
with it until I could regain my wind; as l
did so l looked back at the Sultana. The
heart-rending scenes that were taking
place there can only be realized by one who
has exnerienced a similar disaster,
We drifted along much faster than the
wreck in the current, and it was not long
before we were some distance below. In
looking for the shore on either side we could
see nothing but the dim outlines of the tim
Der between us and the horizon beyond.
Our first effort was to make the Tennessee
shore, but after some time we found that the
current was against us, and we were no
nearer the timber than at first. We then
changed our direction and tried to make the
Arkansas side. Our gangplank would have
carried us all through if each one would
have done his part and all had worked to-
gether, but some would climb on top, often
times turning it over, and if anyone was
caught underneath he was pretty sure to be
drowned. Whenever / saw the plank was
going TO turn over would let go, so that l
might not be caught beneath it, end as soon
as it had settled again would swim up and
try it once more. Once as / was swimming
back to the plank again one of our num-
Der, just in the act of drowning, caught
me by the right hand with such
convulsive grasp that 1 could not re-
lease myself Every time that l tried to
jerk loose from him my head went under
the water, and Thought my time had sure
ly cone. Alter finding it was impossible to
L. lzTa 7 l. ,,fJor 10
the plank with him, and he never released
bis death-grip until | drew him up to the
plank. But the poor fellow did not remain
with us long; he became exhausted and
chilled, and went to the bottom. There
were many blood-curdling scenes to witness
Some were compelled to fight f T their lives,
in order to keep others off who had lost
their reason and were trying to clutch them
instead of endeavOring to save their own
lives. Some even tried TO drown others that
they might have better chance. / saw
one of our number take another by the top
Of the head and try to drown him by hold
ing him under the water. Every now and
then we could hear someone fioundering in
the water above or below us and calling Tor
help; but there was no help, and presently
all was over As | looked back on the
burning wreck once more, / saw one of the
wheelhouses topple over and fall into the
river. At the same time / noticed another
light little farther up the river aud as
the light grew brighter and seemed to draw
nearer, we did not fully realize just what it
was until we heard the hoarse blast of her
whistle.
/" 1t is boatl" cried out a number of
voices at the same time. All eyes were
turned toward her, and as she gently glided
down the river, hope sprang to our bosoms
To he eT,,Je