The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-11-06

q 8 ent narrative occurred sew
I 1 eral years ago, when the
ploded in sight OF Cairo.
She was If l remember rightly. a 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
sufferings, 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, preferring to trust
himself to the river rather than to the
flames. l 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 bachelor, near forty years of
age and kept house in q cottage of his
own, with rather pretty German girl
to do the Homework. The mysterious
disappearance Of the German girl for
which Seymour did not account salts
factorily occasioncd 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
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 well, and thus he drifted
down the river.
He had not foated far when he dis,
covered that he had a 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 appraised. Seymour perceived that
it had been fearfully scalded. He was
unable to speak and appeared to be
nearly exhausted. Yet, although he
was 50 hideous, so horribly maTed 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 I 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
~ 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 n provi
Dental interposition to save him from
punishment and annoyance? His com
panion in the water, disfgured as he
was, might easily be mistaken for hin
in death. and it was evident that hS
could not live long.
Seymour reflected that he wore upor
2 finger of his left hand a peculiar an(
valuable diamond ring, which was wei
known in Alton, and which had beer
noticed and admired by many on the
boat If that ring should be fount
upon disfgured body, it would cettlt
the question of identity, and he coulC
well afford to give it for the purpos,
of persuading the public that he was
dead.
His resolution taken, he watched hii
hideous but valuable companion mar
r0wly. waiting for his death: but thei
drlfted cor nearly half an hour. au.