The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-03-25
An Incident OF the CIVIL War.

An AHc1ueub OF tne Slvll war.
SPRINGFIELD, No., March l7-Mrs.
Sarah Eversol, an old lady of this
city, is trying to secure a pension for
saving government vessel from cap
ture in 1861. Mrs. Eversol then lived
at Commerce, Scott county, Mo. On
December 2l, 1861, the rebel General
J.tf NJ. Thompson captured the town
OF Commerce and a portion of the
federal garrison stationed there. The
Mississippi River was then thronged
with boats in the government service,
and the City of Alton happened to be
due at Commerce on an upward trip
about the time the rebels entered the
place.
Cen Tkompson had his eye on the
rich river prize as soon as the boat
came in sight, and began to post his
men behind some ricks OF wood in Or
der to capture the steauec when it
should reach the landing All the
womeE aad been ordered DO leave the
river bsnk. but Mrs. Ere-sol refused
to go away and prepared to signal
the approaching vessel She took q
position close to the hnding and
waved her handkerchief i. warning to
the 'bsat as it steamed up toward the
consealed enemy. The signal was net
understood and ths Sosk continued to
approach the landiag The steamer
had rounded to and sbe deck hands
wspe getting ready te throw out the
.ssrgway when Mrs. Eversol shouted
atstfie top Of her uoiee, Don't land:
Tfss rebels have oapa1red the town."
Fben the captain efshe vessel saw tE
danger and began to back away from
tbs landing. The raScls opened IRE
<or the beat and ciddled the pilot
.hs-use with bullets. No one on the
vessel was h;t = the fire OF the reb,els
aTd the City OF Alton steamed hask
,tf Cairo.
The story Of Mrs Eversol's loyal
deed spread aImcpg..he river msa and
{. deral officers. X.-er the capture of
r ort Donaldson, VIXEN Gen. Simon B.
Euckner vas brought up the ri,er "a
;D'isoner. Mrs. Eve-SOl went onto the
boat at Commere to see the dfstin-
gIished captive. iThe rebel General
had heard of the .rnion heroine and
showed her partico ar attention
Several years ago Mrs. Esersol,
.Eho had become widow. made an
spplicatisr for 4 Hension, basing her
claim on tn.e servies rendered the gov
esnment iE saving the boat from cap
slre. The proof.ef the war incident
was made out and placed in tbe hands
st the Congressman from this dig
t-ict. Before the matter coul2 he in
- s'oduced ia Congress all The aapers1
were lost The preparation af thsI
proof had cost The widow mach time
and considerable. T. rOney. and she was
very unhappy on account OF the mis-
FORTUNE Ana. Evo-sol has jget pass.
eo her 10Th hlrthcay. She II poor, /
AID sn effort has been started to re-
vive her pension Lain. Many of the
witnesses whose evidence could once
isve been had TO prove the story OF
The saving of the Steamboat from the.
rebels are nog deed, and the woman
fears it will ne difficult to estab1lsk
he- claim. !
The editor Of the DEMOCRAT was
present when Mrs. Eversol saved the
steamer City Of Alton from being i
CAPTURED and burned by the rebels |
under command OF Gen. jeff Thomp-
sor. and he is ready to testify to the
fact Mrs. Erersoll is surely entitled |
to some recognition from the Gov.
ernnent for her bravery in preventing |
the capture of a Government steam
hoa. and with the boat number of |
Federal officers.