The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-09-19

! hand, held her oil from my body until she
grasped that hand with her own and then
used my other arm and feet to reach the
surface, where, though stranglng not a
little, obtained sufficient air to enable me
to look around and consider what to do
next
With single glance took in the whole
situation.
Our late floating palace was a wreck
upon the water The timbers and furniture
were scattered in every directions among
these was still the floating, struggling, and
shrieking mass of human beings; while the
rival steamer, some distance below u.s. was
in the act of rounding to in order to return
and do all that humanity could for the sui
vivors Of the catastrophe.
also saw that we had drftcd down II
little farther than the rest, were somewhat
separated from them, and closer the nearest
shore, which appeared to become half a
mile distant.
At the same time, with good deal of
eXertion, brought the head of my fair
charge above the surface of the stream; and
as glanced at her features strange indie
scribable thrill went through me, on per-
ceiving that ! had so far saved the beautiful
unknown on whom had been gazing at
the moment of the explosion.
That Providence had design in this,
and we had thus been strangely thrown
together for life or death destiny, now
flashed through my mind.
At least would save her, was my in
slant resolve, or perish with her in the
attempt.
To be certain OF preserving her precious
life saw that | must keep her head above
water, keep clear of all the others, and
reach the shore with her as soon as possible.
If this could have been done by my own
udaided eXertions as a swimmer, | should
have struck out at once; but feeling that
my strength would not be equal to the
task-hardly to that, perhaps, of saving
myself alone eagerly sought for some
other means.
Fortunately, a few feet from me, | now
espied a floating object, large enough
thought to sustain our weight, Or at least
that of my fair companion, and l at once
struck off toward it, mainly using my feet,
while with my hands and arms l kept the
sweet face of my lovely burden above the
surface.
After hard struggle in this way
reached the object of my quest, which
found to be a sofa turned bottom upward.
Even now could get no assistance from
my fair companion-who, though still
living, and breathing somewhat gaspingly
was entirely unconscious of her peculiar
and perilous situation-and so, with only
my own eXertion, | had to gently force her
body upon the temporary raft, and hold
her there; and then, partly supported by it
myself, with my feet buried under water,
| used the latter vigorously to impel the
whole toward the shore, with the current
carrying us steadily and somewhat rapidly
downward.
In this manner, after getting about half
struck strong eddy, were turned around
with jerk, carried far from shore, and
were then sent off swiftly in the opposite
direction till near the bank and then rap.
idly downward once more.
These eddies on the Mississippi are very
dangerous and sometimes boat caught in
their whirling waters can only be extri-
Gated by much labor and force.
Knowing this, and finding all my efforts
to get out of the current entirely futile, /
had given myself up for lost, when provi-
dentially we struck against some stationary
object, know not what, which gave us
another sudden whirl and shot US out into
the still water near the land
now succeeded in reaching the bank
and getting my companion and self upon
the solid earth, at which my heart went
out in deep thanksgiving to the great
Father of all.
We were now here alone-the other boat
the wreck, and all concerned, being a
goodly distance below u.s. and still drifting
downward.
My fair companion now regained con-
seriousness, and was greatly astonished and
bewildered at finding herself in such sin
gular situation, she having no recollection
of anything that had occurred since the
moment of the explosion.
In few words I explained everything,
and she expressed herself deeply grateful
for all | had done for her.
She was the daughter of a Southern
planter, she informed me, and was return
ing from a visit to some Northern friends,
accompanied only by her servants; all of
whom, as we subsequently ascertained, had
either been killed or drowned.
Under the circumstances, made bold to
ask the privilege of seeing her safely to her
far away home; which request was granted
with the dignitied grace and grateful
warmth of a true lady-she earnestly OBJ
serving that she should never feel satisfied
till ! should receive the heartfelt thanks
of fond parents for the preservation of the
life IF tbeir douubtar