The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
BY LEILA BACON DICKSON

words fell unheeded by the merry crowd
and those remaining gathered on the high
bluff TO wave a last adieu and catch the
last glimpse of the receding boat, and
thought they had never seen the Eliza
Battle look so pretty as she sailed grandly
down the wide and turbulent stream
Cry of Fire
Many southern beauties and gallant
knights We're gathered on board, and
never before were passengers more light
hearted and gay as they Joined in the
reyelry of the night Before each guest
the brimming wine cup was seen to shine.
and as every cup was raised on high to
his feet each gallant sprang with Joyous
shout. "A toast% A toast to the fair
young BRIDE" But hushed was the loud
and gladstone cry, as the fire bell sent a
chill to every heart. 'Firei Firer' was
echoed from every lip. Cheeks grew pale
and eyes glistened wild in the glare of
the light.
Fire ragged above and below, and the
! smoke in thick wreaths mounted higher
and higher, and stern came the captains
command for all to march to the bow of
! the boat
| ITO the life boat" he shouted. but what
dfsmay and CONSERVATION when the life
boat was found missing
| As the tapping flames climbed closer
and closer the stiffling smoke and scorch-
ing heat We're no longer endurable An
uproar of voices arose in the air. and
wild were the shrielSs and cries OF the
women and children, for now an irrevable
! doom awaited them. With a prayer to
! God to have mercy upon their souls and
to be saved from so terrible a fate hope-
less and despairing the passengers with
one accord plunged into the dark, whirl-
| ing stream. Many sank to rise no more,
while others more fortunate succeeded in
q Of ino IN nd 81
| ton bales.
| The young husband and wife in a close
embrace We're seen to make the fatal
| leap. The husband sank from view, but
as the beautiful face of the bride APP
peared above the water she was grasped
| by the strong hand of Phillip Saunders,
and with a mighty effort he swan with
his unconscious burden to a. clump of
trees many yards distant.
l. THANK God; rescued from the burning
boati he cried, as he climbed above the
| waters edge and tied himself and the un-
fortunate bride securely to the dropping
| boughs.
Night of Horrors
Oh, God what horrible night it proved
to be-. The sky was overcast and in
short time it was freezing cold and the
air was thick with sleet and rain and a
driving wind pierced one to the bone;
and In a lew hours the rema lining SuryiV-
ors were in a benumbed and unconscious
state. and ever and anon there could be
heard the dropping of human beings into
the water as they froze and fell from the
trees
The sufferers experienced a night of
horror and human anguish too graphic
for description.
The rescuing party, after crossing three
miles of water in skiffs and after many
hours had passed slowly by, succeeded in
gathering many unconscious and frozen
bodies. and after placing them around
log fire and giving them stimulants. a
goodly number revived, but there was a
great number lifeless
Never before was a more tragic and
heart rending scene presented 20 view
The stoutest heart was melted to tears.
and one of the most pathetic objects was
the beautiful young bride in her frozen
bridal garments; the dainty white slim
ners, the gitterng jewels around the
white throat and on the slender hand:
the golden hair in a frozen dishevelel
mass falling IN halo about the fair
shoulders, and wholly unconscious of the
frozen arm that clasped her in A loving
embrace. BY superhuman effort Phillip
Saunders had retained consciousness. al
though unable to move limb OF speak