The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-11-06

y AOfE HE lncluenl which marks
Il b the beginning OF the pres.
q 3 cnt narrative occurred sew
n 4 II eral years ago. when the
fOr-~ steamboat Ben Lewis ex.
ploded In sight OF Cairo
She was. n | 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 n
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
surerlngs, and others received severe
scalds and various injuries.
was In Cairo at the time. and shall
never forget the hcartrending scenes
Mt 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 nc.
groes, many with the skin falling from
the flesh.
But Il is with none OF these I have 10
do. This narrative follows the for
tunes OF man who jumped overheard,
entirely unlniured, prcferring TO trust
himself 10 the river rather than 10 the
flames. / choose, for reasons that are
personal 10 him, 10 call him John II.
Seymour. simply hccg isc this name rs
as different MS 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 h. had accumulated consld-
cradle money In the grocery business:
was a bachelor. near forty years of
age, AMI Kept house I'm cottage OF his
own. with rather pretty German girl
TO do the housework. The mysterious
disappearance Of the German girl FOR
which Seymour dld not account salts
factorily. occasloncd unpleasant com
ment and some very serious facts
were about TO be brought 20 light.
whom he suddenly left Alton, having
prlvntely disposed OF his cottage and
hia business II was bccnuse OF this
train OF circumstances that he hap
pened 10 be n passenger on the Ben
Lewis nc the time Of the explosion.
Seymour jumped overheard. MS |
have stated and was fortunate enough.
when he got clear Of those who were
struggling IN the water. TO find n float.
Ing door. which ne seized. ana which
bo" him nm wen. ANA thus he drifted
do n the river
IIc had not nooted FAR when he dis.
covered that he had companion This
companion was holding TO the door.
ana might have put In an appearance
Just then. or might not hitherto have
been visible 20 Seymour As his face
was appraised. Seymour perceived that
It had been fcnrfully scalded He was
unable to speak and appeared 10 he
nearly exhausted Yet. although he
was so hldeous. so horribly marred and
Scared. Seymour could rot help OBJ
serving in his courtonnnce certain
~ amblancc to himself II was then
IN, strange and sudden thought
came into his mind. / 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 20 leave Alton because Of dis
cOverles that were about 10 be made
ana because Of crime with which he
was about 10 be charged. II was high,
~ probable that he might vet be pur.
sued and prosecuted. Suppose he
should cause himself TO disappear
Suppose that he should 20 use tho cx
ploslon that Il would prove n proyl
dental interpositlon to save him from
punishment ana annoyance? His com
panlon In the water. dlshgured MS he
was. might easily be mistaken for him
in death. ana II was evident that h6
could not live long.
Seymour reflected that he wore unor
finger OF his left hand peculiar and
valuable diamond ring which was wei
known in Alton, aud which had beer
noticed ana admired by many on the
boat. II that ring should he found
upon n dlshgured body, II would eettl'
the question OF identity, and he coult
well afford 20 give Il for the purposC
OF persuadlng the public that he was
dead.
His resolution taken. he watched hi'
hdeous but valuable companion mar
rowly. waiting for HIS death; but they
drlfted for nearly half an hour. ant
still the other chung TO the door. Blu
his strength was fniling all the while
and az last Seymour saw his grasp re
lax. and then he was gone.
Ifo was not permitted TO sink; h
was too valuable 10 be lost Seymour
caught him. took n handkerchief from
his pocket. aud made the body fas
10 latch that remained on the door
Then his desire was TO reach the land
and he tried. by swimming 10 pusl
h font in the direction OF the Mis-
souri, shore. but made little progress
in that endeayor Columbus wa
passed IN the course OF time, and tn
low shore Of Wolf Island became Wis
ible This was a landing which sey