The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-19

the trade In the richest sections of the
South and one Of the prosperous concerns
in the city then was known as the ST.
Louis Merchants Arkansas, White and
Red River Packet Companies. This cor
poration sent boats down the Mississippi
and " The Arkansas, White and Red riv-
ers. Sons of the best known men in ST
Louis to-day held salaried positions with
the river transportation companies in those
times. Some OF the big fortunes in ST.
Louis to-day were made by men who
were at the head of those river packet
lines or We're in some way engaged in COM
rneree connected with the river. To be
connected with the river trade was some
thing TO be proud of.
THE steamboat 9Oceanus was In the
Red river trade Her pilot, in the latter
end of the rivers paimy period, was Har-
~ Trip Every Did steamboat man re-
members Trip. He was typical sport
and steamboat man of those days. He was
known from ST. Louis to New Orleans as
a king among sports and prince among
good fellows. He was tall and slender,
but wiry. He was the most elegant dress
er in the city of ST. Louis. Ills linen was
always as Immaculate as The virgin snow
his suits WIFI always 5FIthe finest black
doeskin, which was then the fashion, and
he wore a silk hat and kid or morocco
was fashionable for man to wear a dia-
mond cluster In his shirt bosom, and Har-
~ Trip had cluster that was the envy
OF the social and the sporting
world From each oils side Of
this immense cluster of diamonds
ran delicate gold chain which. was fast
ened on the side of the vest with golden
pins. Trip was not loud dresser like
the sports of to-dav-he was always at
al ,sf7sr Nrac ~
cellent taste
although of slight and slender build,
there was no effieminancy in Harry Trips
nature. To the contrary, he was bold,
brave and daring and he was noted along
the river as one of the most venturesone
gamblers that ever dealt a card He had
physical bravery to equal that of a hon
and he was handsome to fault-yes, to
fault, for he had a sweetheart in every
port. He was a perfect type of the dandy
and woman simply raved over him. He
was about 10 years old at the time of his
death.
1.-THE Oeeanus was coming up the Mis-
sssippi and was flying light one after
noon of fine Gay in 1871 or 1872 when
her boilers blew up just above Cairo.
Twelve or fifteen lives were lost, many
persons were wounded, and the boat was
a complete wreck The boat took fire and
sank, but the water was low, and the
hull didn't go under. When the boilers
let go Harry Trip was blown from the
pilot house and landed on the forecastle,
close to the capstan; heavy timber fell
across his legs and he was tied down as
securely as if he had been placed in
monster wise. When the boat sank the
forecastle rested on bar.
Trip lay down on the
forecastle, and, although pinned down,
he was not injured. He had no broken
limbs and was not suffering to any great
extent apparently. All was excitement af-
ter the explosion, and it was some time
before Trip succeeded in attracting the
attention of the officers of the boat and
of the survivors. II was discovered that
the fire was making good Roadway toward
Trip, and a desperate effort was quickly
begun to rescue him. Then transpired one
of the most terrible scenes in the annals
of steamboating in this or any other coun-
try.
"Trip was a very profane man, and at
first he used tongue-blistering blasphemy
while cursing the officers and negro roust-
abouts in giving them directions how to
save him. Hefwass absolutely unhurt, was
cool and collected, and he raised himself
to a sitting posture as he talked to the
men about him and told them how to pro-
coed to cut away the heavy timber which
held his lower limbs in a vise-like grip.
''Men used big axes and saws and crow
bars diligently in an effort 10 remove the
large piece of timber but the wind fan
ned the flames into a fury and the men
were working in a fierce heat. The hun
cry flames were fast eating the wrecked
forecastle and Tripp damned and cursed
at the top of his voice as he urged on his
rescuers. The flames grew nearer and
and finally Trip eased swearing alto
gether Still perfectly cool and collected,
he became quiet and talked in lower tones
as he gave directions to the men who were
working to save his life. When he saw
death, staring him in the face he quit
cursing and not another oath fell from
his lips. The angry flames now surged
around the rescuers, and still the heavy
timber held Trpp beneath it's cruel weight
Ii was now apparent that Trip could
not be saved, and none knew it better
than he With perfect composure he said
to the men,
leave me! Leave me! Why sacrifice
or place in danger other lives for me?'
Realizing the impending fate of being
burned alive, Trip begged the men to
knock him in the head with an ak before
leaving him, but nobody obeyed his re-
quest for a coup de grace. As one by one
the men were forced by the intense heat
to leave the wreck, Trip shook hands
with them and said good-by. Two negro
roustabouts were the last to leave. Trip
begged them TO kill him, but they would
not obey his command. The flames now
burned so close that each of the two ne
groes struck his last blow at the timber
and they were forced TO jump into the
water and swim 10 a spot on the bar. The
last the survivors saw of Trip he was
in half-sitting posture when the flames
rolled over him and burned him TO a crisp.
Thus passed away as brave man as ever
turned card or pilot wheel"