The National tribune., 1903-10-22
CHAPTER 1.
THE RUNNING STEAMER.

Sire! Fire! Fire. ...-.
The cry rang out on the startled morn
ing air. and echoed throughout the great
Mississippi steamer from bow to stern. II
was just as the eastern horizon became
r streaked with the early morning light that
the Cry issued from the lips of the boat
hands and officers who had struggled man
fully to stifle the flames. But the fire had
gained too mucl, Roadway before it WAS
: discovered. and the beautiful steamer
Anthony Wayne was dnamef.
At the time of our story n1 steamer that
; plowed the Mississippi was better or more
favorabIy known than the Anthony
Wayne. Georseousy furnished lit all he"
apartments. she seemed vcritabie tioat-
= ing palace. People of distinction had tro'l
her decks. Two Presidents of the United
States had d;ned at her tables. and slept
IN her state-rooms. and many other EoGa
. bles had known the Anthony Wayne.
Railroads had not yet absorbed the
traffic, and steamboat travel. though In Its
days of decline, was still considerable. Tn
- the morning the terrible cry of fire rang
from the paid lips of officers and crew
there were fully $50 persons on board the
boat. So long as there was any hope OF
eXtinguishng the fire the Captain. officers
and crew kept the secret, but when there
was no longer hope. the mad. wild cry
burst on the hot, shuddering air like knel
of doom.
The Captain shouted to the Pilot
through the speaking tube: go ashore;
put in to shore!' But for some reason the
pilot did not understand linn. and sig
nailed the engine to stop. The Captain.
frantic with excitement, leaped up the
. steps to the hurricane deck just as the
flames burst out from the held forward
of the boiler, and darted up the stairway
,fn
''rut into shore: put into shore.' the
Captain shouted, reaching the deck just in
advance of the flames.
Already the smoke was rolling in one
thick, black mass and the crimson heat
and sparks We're spreading upward!
. Fire! fire. rouse, all, and save your
lives if you can," cried the frantic boat
men. scattering in every direction. The
Engineer remained at his post though the
clustering heat scorched his eyebrows and
whiskers.
. MAY God have mercy on usr' he
groaned.
A scene of the widest, most madden
ing confusion followed the cry of fire.
People tumbied out of their staterooms in
. night clothes. or, half dressed, rushed
through the saloon and out upon the deck,
utterins the most heart-rendins shrieks.
Help! help. helpr'
"Mercy! Lord have mercy on me"
"a boat, boat; thousand dollars for
q boatr'
where are the life-preservers?"
"Go ashore. Tell the Pilot to run
ashore!'
'sGet ME life-Ereser-er!"
The above are; emily few of the dis
jointed excianiatiens. commando, and APP
peais which rang upon the air. mingling
with the cracking of flames and shouts of
affrighted people swelling the noise to a
tremendous roar.
There was one man on board the steam.
er who was awake and dressed when the
alarm was given. This man was about
40 years of age, his auburn hair slightly
streaked with gray. His face, which was
smoothshaven, had about it the honesty of
an old-time Kentucky gentleman. He
wore q suit of gray and the brOadbrim-
med white hat that was favorite among
Southern planters and business men.
On one side was the Kentucky shore,
and on the opposite the Missouri. The
gentleman already awake and dressed
lived in Kentucky at a small village called
Collinsvillc. The boat was only four or
Eve miles below COllinsvilIe when the fire
was discovered. Owen Redgrave had at
his request been awakened in order that
he might be dressed for the landing when
the boat put in.
Handbag and umbrella in hand. he had
Just reached the main saloon when the
cry of "Fire." rang throughout the vessel
seeming to thrill its timbers with an aw-
full dread. Next moment he was at the
forward door of the cabin and saw vast
columns of black. hot smoke rolling above
fbe staircase. snread ding oyer the heat
He was met by surpiny mass of hu-
mainly. which drove him hack TO tha door
Of bis stataraem Mr. Redgraye 'was a
very sensible gentleman and retained his
nreSancn of mind under tho trvinc cir.
cumstanees He realized what fhe terri
HE consequences of a manic womb he and
hepan To sbout.
COL. ,4,o, ,s:,
..T;un go, iauiee' ''ue''
.Ita,e,a u. t ~
"CaIm yonrseIvosn
.sWbara ora tIe ho.+s,.
"Co, tLa Ifa.nreservers
uaIf a bn,,JraJ -acLiasr hands ,rora
~na.ot'i,a l;fa-,rasarrers fro,, st,toroon,s
,,.hara,.ns .i'a,. na,,IJ he eornJ ,,.;tIl,t an, |
raferanca os 70 tba riohtS Of o,Inrs II l.
~ s,,oL ,i,nos 49, trne ,,,nhona aud cour,
80 =; -, =, H. 80 - nalnnss
ner-ard;nn ond saiGshnas. ;s JisnIayaJ Inv
- "' "
Stead!; steauy, gentlemen keep cool,
cfieu sr. heoSfa'e' hiouutihe Sha,i anu
waving ms hahds so as 10 eaten me Ut
ten.ion OF the crown.
Inc shrsihG mass OIL frightened men an"
women raged ABOUT MIN IKE me aheT!
waves OF the ocean beating about rock.
the chair was upset ana ne prec,pi'ateo