The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-06-05
THE BURNING OF THE suLTANA'

at the point of the accident, and the
night was dark and rainy. OF the 1880
on hoard. some managed to swim TO
land. but 170a were either killed by
the explosion. burned to death,
drowned or chilled TO death after
reaching timber. being TOO weak to
climb OUT of the water
AT the time of the explosion, was
lying near the banister at the head |
IF the stairway on the cabinet deck. !
Aroused by the shock of the explosion
and not steam ON my face and hands.
which seemed for time would smoth-
ar me. on raising up my head it came
in contact with the hurricane deck.
which had crushed down onto the
banisters, which projected me from be-
ing crushed TO death. Efter the steam
had somewhat cleared away, | sought
some way of escape from the burning
wreck, which was creaking and snap
ping like X might further collapse. On
my hands and knees | made my way
20 and down the stairway to the boil
Her deck and out onto the bow of the
BOAT, which was crowded with men
| terror.stricken, wild with fright. Some
we're wring.ng their hands, praying
God for nelp; others We're cursing
md damning. Some Were busy shov-
ng off the gang planks, cordwood.
boxes. bales of hay, pieces of wreck
age of the boat that could be got loose
anything that would do to float with.
Dozens of men were in the river be
side the boat. cinging together and
drowning by the scores. A horrifying
4 ght indeedl
AS for myself, had bur little time
to think. Ny first thought was hew
10 get off the boat and away from
those in the wafer knowing that If a
drowning man got hold of me there
would be no getting away from him.
SO made my way through the crowd
toward the bow of the boat, which had
u,ned We We're being carried down
he stream rapidly and the heat was
yetting more intense. All were obl1gea
% leave the boat, and in the rush
happened 10 strike my foot into th'
ring of the hatch door The thought
struck me it might, he loose and II
I would serve to float with. / reached
Town and picked it, up and walked Z
1.-The bow Of the boat, and seeing bu
Two men, / dropped it into the watel
. lana jumped in after it. WheniI came
o the surface again, the door ant
men We're gone out of my reach.
lid not think at the time how many
/, might fall into the hatch hole | hat
uncovered but have often Thought Q
D Hit since.
81 So Ii was up to me to swim Or drown
and it did not take me long to maxi
Iup my mind. | was something of al
lexpe1 at swimming before | went int
I the army and in this case it was
/ godsend 10 me. Having on heav
r WOODEN trousers and not being yer
i istrong, I had about exhausted M
Isirength and had strangled severa
/ times, when | saw by the light of tn
q burning boat something passing YER
i. Inear me. got hold of it. It was
N llargat cottonwood sapling floatin
down root foremost, and to my SUI
prise man was holding to III
branches at the top. The man obiecte
very much to me holding to the root
which stuck out of the water, 1t woul
have been sufficient to carry both @
n us with a little care, but he continue
a to object to me being partner, ii
\ said he had his clothes all on an
2 could not swim a stroke. | said t
!. him. "Comrade, as soon as ] can &c
my heavy trousers off I win let yo
have your tree to yourself" So wit
my right hand | slipped off the su!
1t bender from my right shoulder, mol;
1t ing fast To the bush with my lei
sr hand. then changed hands and n
Dr. moved the suspender from my rigf
shoulder Then | loosed the top Blu
tons and kicked my trousers off in IN
a, water. Then Il released my hold of Ia
q, tree. Bidding the comrade goodnigf
r, SCI out at once to reach shore. ID
4, pending on my own resources, VIII
I. Gods help, | might reach land. Ate
81 struggling from whirlpool to whirlpool
IA until was almost exhausted and wa
n strangling and swallowing mucn waite