The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-09-18


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
sufferings. and others received severe
scales and various injuries.
i was in Cairo nj 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 il is with none Of these, have to
do. This narrative follows the for
tunes Of man who jumped overheard,
entirely uninjured. preferring TO trust
himself TO the river rather than TO the
flames. j choose, for reasons that are
personal TO him. 10 call him John III.
Seymour, simply because this name is
as different AZ 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 n cottage Of his
own, with rather pretty German girl
to do the hOuscwork. 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 90 light
when he suddenly left Alton, having
privately disposed of his cottage and
his business. IL was because Of this
train of circumstances that he hap.
,pened to be passenger on tue Ben
Lewis at the time Of the explosion.
Seymour jumped overheard, as l
have stated, and was fortunate enough,
when he got clear Of those who were
struggling in the water 10 find n float
ing door, which he seized. and which
bore him up well, and thus he drifted
down the river.
He had not noated far when he dis.
covered that he had q 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
xyaq nnraiea1 Gnvnnnr t,nrnoiVnI thnt
IL had been fcarfully scaldcd. 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 i'm his counteuance certain
resemblance TO himself II was then
that 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 TO leave Alton because Of dis
coveries that were about To be made,
and because of crime with which he
was about 10 be charged II was high
ly probable that he might yet be pur-
sued end prosecuted. Suppose hc
should cause himself to disappear?
Suppose that ne should so use the ex-
plosion that it would prove provi-
dental interposition 20 save him from
punishment and annoyance? His com
panlon in the water. dsfigured as he
was. might easily be mistaken for him
in death. and IL was evident that he
could not live long.
Seymour reflected that he wore upon
a finger OF bis left hand n peculiar and
valuable diamond ring. which was well
known in Alton. and which had been
noticed and admired by many on the
boat. II that ring should be found
upon a disfgured body II would cettle
the question of identity. and he could
well afford TO give IL 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 ihe other clung TO the door. But
he strength was failing all the while
and at last Seymour saw his grasp re.
lax. and then he was gone.
He was not permitted TO sink: hc
was too valuable 10 be lost Seymour
caught him. took a handkerchief from
his pocket, and made the body fast
90 n latch that remained on the door
Then his desire was TO reach the land
and he tried. by swimming. TO pusl
his foat i'm the direction OF the Mis-
souri, shore. but mide little progtes
in that endeavor. Columbus wa
passed i'm the course OF time. and tf'
low shore of Wolf Island became Wis
ible. This was landing which Scy
mour was able to make and he sue
ceeded in Bleaching his float upon ,h
sand. where he found himself in a
exhausted condition. and his burden
some companion quite dead.
He did not wait long TO recover hi
strength. but soon proceeded to bus
ness" Removing the ring from hi
finger, he placed IL on n similar fngc
of the dead mans hand. Then he fe
fin his pockets. TO see IL there were am
thing there by which he might be idei
titled. Finding nothing he took froi
mis- pocket some wetted cards bearin
his address. and transferred them to