Fergus County argus., 1901-11-06
A AMississippi River Disaster in Which
W. T.McFarland Was Present and
Acquitted Himself Nobly.
TWENTY-FIVE PERSONS KILLED
A Mother Sacrifices Herself in Order
to Save Her Child-Heart
Rending Scenes.

took place through the columns OF
that paper. As one OF the persons In
the wreck was W.T.. Mcfarland, now
OF Lewlstown, it is thought that the
account will be interesting reading
to those who peruse the columns OF
the ARGUS. The copy was taken
from the columns OF the Lafayette
(lnd. Daily Courier, and is as follows:
The side-wheel steamer Sunnyside
left Memphis on Thursday morning OF
last week with about one hundred
passengers and twelve hundred bales
OF Gotten. Among the passengers
were Capt. Miller, e. c. Tuttle and
w. Il. Mcfarland, Of this city. They
were accompanied by stephen IA
colored freeman, who had been in
Capt. Aliller's employ aboard the
steam canal boat Gov. Morton.
About five O'Clock on Friday morn
ing, Immediately opposite Island No.
A in the Mississippi river, the crew
on watch and a few passengers who
happened to be awake, were startled
by the terrible cry of fire, which, once
heard on board steam boat Is a
never-to-be-forgotten horror. The
flames broke out In the forward part
of the boat, enveloping cotton, which
was piled to the hurricane deck, In n
sheet OF flame. In three minutes the
entire cabin was on fire. No system
attic effort had been made to arouse
the passengers. Capt. Miller was
awakened by the noise and confusion
without. He had barely time to
arouse Mr.. Tuttle, who was lying
sick In the lower berth. They gath
cred up couple OF life preservers and
rushed into the cabin. Will McFar-
land, who occupied the adjoining
stateroom. had also been awakened
by the noise, and, partially dressed,
rushed down the forward stairway
and reaching the lower deck found
himself In a narrow pass-way be-
tween the boilers and the cotton.
The fire was raging forward and
filed the stairway, and thus cut him
off. He had about resigned himself
as lost, when his attention was at
tracted to a narrow passage to the
outer guard, which had been left for
the removal Of coal and ashes. He
crawled through on all fours and
reached the side OF the boat nearest
the shore, where he found Mrs.
Blake and child, of Memphis. The
mother, with agonizing tears, i'm.
plored him to save them. The boat
was then about fifty yards from
the shore, and the current running
swift and strong. Mr.. Mcfarland,
who is but an Indifferent swimmer,
told the half distracted woman that
he might possibly save one of them,
but could not save both. 1t was
doubtful, indeed. II he could save
either, but would risk his life In the
attempt tn save one Of them. Hasti.
ly divesting himself Of all superfiuous
clothing, including his vest contain.
ing all his money, he called upon the
mother to elect which he should at.
tempt to save. The other, without
a moments hesitation, handed him
her child, u little girl of nine or ten
years. BY his direction she toob
hold Of the neck.yoke and plated
folds OF his flannel shirt bosom, Sc
as to leave his arms entirely Olsen
gagged, and. supporting her for the
moment, he jumped into the river
and struck out for shore. The little
girl held on with death grasp, and
from her position under the water O
part III the time and partially
strangled. she revived n momont
after reaching the bank. The heroic
mother jumped into the water ant
was swept down with the current
and, probably hit by the wheel, sanh
to rise no more.
Capt. Miller and Mr.. Tuttle haG
meanwhile made their way to tn,
outside guard Of the upper cabin, but
found to their horror that In the
confusion they had reached the
wrong side Of the boat. To get back
to the side nearest the shore was at
tended with no little danger, as the
flames completely enveloped the
cabin. Here they found large mum
Der Of passengers cllnging to the rail
Ing in front OF the wheel, and drop
ping off one by one as the flames
came nearer and nearer. The whce
was In motion, which added tn the
extreme peril OF the situation. The
yawl of the steamer, manned by
some OF the crow, WAS near Mt hand
and could have saved the entir.
party near the wheelhouse but fol
the apprehension that the revolving
wheel would strike and swamp tn,
boat. Capt. Miller grasped the fen
der bar and instructing Tuttle t.
follow, slid dawn to the lower deck
which he reached In snfety. Tuttl'
did not follow. Miller called him
No response. Climbed back TO SEE
what had become OF him. but c0ult
not find him. He then descended fol
the second time to the lower deck
and adjusting his liie-preserver
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