The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-11-21

n ehC OtSlh VI luc W CS-
o s ent narrative occurred sew
i Il eral years ago, when the
<c~ steamboat Ben Lewis et.
ploded in sight of Cairo
She was, II 1 remember rightly, ST
Louis and Memphis packet, was on her
down trip. and was rounding or cross
Ing the bar at the mouth of the Ohio
when her boiler burst, and she was
wreck. Many people were killed out
right by the explosion, others were
drowned. others fingered in terrible
torture until death put an end to their
sunerings, and others received severe
scalds and various injuries.
I was in Cairo at the time, and shall
never forget the heartrending scenes
at the st. Charles Hotel, to which most
Of the wounded were brought, and
where they lay on pallets in the rooms
and halls, many Of them black as ne
groes, many with the skin falling from
the flesh.
But it is with none OF these l have to
do. This narrative follows the for
tunes Of a man who jumped overheard,
entirely uninjured, preferrins to trust
himself to the river rather than to the
flames. I choose. for reasons that are
personal to him, to call him John II.
Seymour, simply because this name is
as different as can be from that which
rightfully belonged to him. He was
originally from Kingston. Canada, his
parents being Of English birth, but had
resided during several years in Alton.
Ill.,. where he had accumulated consid-
cradle money In the grocery business;
was a bachelor, near forty years Of
age. and kept house in cottage Of his
own. with a rather pretty German girl
to do the housework. The mysterious
disappearance Of the German girl. for
which Seymour did not account salts
factorily, occasioned unpleasant COM
ment, and some very serious facts
were about to be brought to light,
when he suddenly left Alton, having
privately disposed Of his cottage and
his business. It was because Of this
train Of circumstances that he hap
pened to be a passenger on the Ben
Lewis at the time Of the explosion.
Seymour jumped overheard, as I
have stated, and was fortunate enough,
when he got clear Of those who were
struggling in the water, to find float
ing door, which he seized, and which
bore him up we'll, and thus he drifted
down the river.
He had not hoated far when he dis
covered that he had companion. This
companion was holding to the door.
and might have put in an appearance
just then. or might not hitherto have
been visible to Seymour. AS his face
was upraised, Seymour perceived that
It had been fearfully scalded. He was
unable to speak and appeared to be
nearly exhausted. Yet, although he
was so hideous, so horribly marred and
SCARED, Seymour could not help OBJ
serving in his countenance a certain
resemblance to himself. 1t WAS then
that a strange and sudden thought
came into his mind. l am not record
ing his Impressions by means OF the
Imagination, but derive them from
statements which he subsequently
made.
He recalled the fact that he had been
obliged to leave Alton because OF dis
coveries that were about to be made,
and because Of a crime with which he
was about to be charged. It was high
ly probable that he might yet be pur-
sued and prosecuted. Suppose he
should cause himself to disappear?
Suppose that he should so use the ex-
plosion that it would prove a prov1-
Dental interposition to save him from
and annoyance? His CON-
panion in the water, disfgured as he
was, might easily be mistaken for him
in death. and it was evident that he
could not live long.
Seymour reflected that he wore upon
a finger Of his left hand peculiar and
valuable diamond ring, which was well
known in Alton. and which had been
noticed and admired by many on the
boat. If that ring should be found
upon a disfigured body. it would .ettle
the question Of identity. and he could
well afford to give it for the purpose
of persuading the public that he was
dead.
His resolution taken, he watched his
hideous but valuable companion mar
rowly. waiting for his death; but they
drifted for nearly half an hour, and
still the other chung to the door. But
hic strength was failing all the while,