The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-05-25

on deck, faint with the living misery
of the scene.
The Prentiss was overcrowded and it
was difficult to move about. But
quickly my attention was arrested by
the fact that we were moving with the
current.
Glow is this?" 1 asked of man
whose hair and eyebrows were singed.
"We're not going down stream?"
''That's what we are doing.''
My heart sank within me.
"What's this for?'
"It's all right. We're much nearer
to Baton Rouge than to Vicksburg,
there's only one doctor aboard, and no
opiates, and the captain of this boat
decided that he must get those poor
Wretches below to place where they
can be cared for, as quickly as possible
need the doctor myself, and I got off
pretty we'll, too. You was on the
Queen, wasn't you?'
/ rushed along the decks, half-dis-
tracted, demanding to see the captain.
He was overwhelmed with care and
responsibility; but when I found him
he did listen to me for an instant.
Captain, put us ashore-Coralie and
myself" cried. 1--WE can't go back
to Baton Rouge
He stared at me.
Zone hundred dollars to put US
ashore!' I shouted.
Take care of him" said the captain,
turning away. Hes been crazed by
the ACCIDENT
l wandered through the y crowd,
pleading with every man whose at
tention I could get that we might be
landed quickly. Some looked COM
passionately; others avoided me. One
OF the officers told me to keep quiet, or
he would lock me up in his cabin.
1t was too cruel to believe. On the
way to freedom and safety, just es-
capped from the jaws of death, at the
last moment we were turned back to
certain bondage For me, the bonds of
prison; for her, the bonds of a living
DEATH
! leaned over the rail, restrained
only by the thought of her from fling
ing myself into the dark, turbulent
waters
Was there no escape? No hiding on
the boat?
No. The quest would be as thorough
as eager
We were doomed!
A telegraph station near the river
had sped the news of the disaster and
the return of the Prentiss with the VIC
Tins and survivors, A thousand peo-
pie were gathered at the Baton Rouge
landing as we approached. Several Of
ticers took possession of the gangwav
OF the boat and permitted nobody to
land. The captain was called for: a
long telegram was handed him, and a
brief cslloquy took place. -
~ know nothing of the Cotton
queens passengers he said, "nor
whether these people were saved.
You'll have to search for yourself"
A faint hope sprung up in nv breast
that we might escape in the crowd and
the confusion. 1t quickly died. While
the officers were keeping the clamoring
passengers on board, and preventing
any access to the shore, small steam
er came up the river and landed. I
saw Conrad Bostock and his gang Jump
ashore and hail the officers on the
Queen. They were allowed to come
aboard, and Coralie and were at once
arrested. -
l In her presence l was handcuffed.
She chung to me, and begged them not
to separate us. !. VI s.
You are to go before the mapis.
trate'" said one of the officers. Come;
all these poor wretches in the saloon
can't be removed till you are gone.''
! Hold on!' said Bostock. IT must
ind that cunning devil, Wash LIE
Fevre: He's at the bottom Of all this
mischief"
i From the depth Of my misery I raised
my hand and cried:
He is beyond your persecution. He
bravely persisted in the wreck"
ITS just as well for him. It would