Year: 1876

cipally, for picket duty. The instant
the captain ascertained that she had not
been sent out, he ordered me to man
her at once, take command, and pull out
to the rescue. Now, although this was
not in my line of duty, I promptly re-
sponded, and soon succeeded in picking
up motley crew of cooks, stewards,
cabin boys and idlers. But O great
difficulty to our further progress here
presented itself. The launch was lying
between the ship and shore, and forward
of the stern line, which was drawn taut,
at point just above the wator line, and
all our attempts to get the unwieldy
launch under it were vain. Here, again,
tho authority of the excited captain
solved tho problem he discovered our
dilemma, and shouted, at the top of his
voice "Cut The line and pull away" I"
An AK was soon found, and the immense
hawser Topped off; and we soon found
ourselves drifting toward tho gulf of
Mexico. The crew being. unused TO
pulling an oar in concert, were unable
to hold her stationary on tho river, the
current being very strong. Wo man
aged, however, to bring her to stand
still at point nearly opposite to Fort
Pickering. Ordering the men to hold
her stationary, bow up stream, I took my
station forward 80 as to be able to assist
any who might come in contact with us {;
and tho reader may judge something of
the number of persons in the water
from the fact that thirty five were taken
out by us in two hours. And right here
begins the coincidence which | started
out to relate. It was now broad day
light we had been twice ashore with
cargoes of living freight. both to tighten
our load and to give those that were
rescued n chance to warm themselves by
the large fires that bad been built all
along the shore. Upon rcsuming our
station the third time, near the middle
of the stream, saw floating toward us
what was evidently the head OF lady,
Just above the water all the support
she had was side casing to state
room door. AS she came up to the bow of
tho boat, I seized her and drew her
aboard she murmured faint " My God,
thank you !" and immediately became
insensible. She was SO benumbed with
cold that her form was perfectly rigid: the
sailors Immediately proTere1 round jack
cts and overshirts, in which / wrapped
her, until we could pull ashore and de-
liver her into the hands Of the Sisters OF





a gunhoat to our own ship, and / heard
nothing more of the lady until afternoon,
when 1 received word by messenger
boy that lady wishe to sec me ut the
Overton hospital. I repaired thither
Immediately, and found tho woman we
had rescued lying on a cot, in very
feeble condition, but tenderIy cared for.
She poured out her thanks for her de-
liverance, but mourned deeply for her
husband and little girl, with whom she
was on her way up the river. They were
from Texas on their way North. She said
b. husband had four Thousand dollars in
gold concealed about his person, and never
could have kept atioat any length of
time. Her little girl she had not seen
since going to bed in Lcr stateroom.
When she was awakened by the explo-
sion she found herself alone in her room,
and rushed out iuto the cabin, where
tho utmost confusion prevailed. The
fire was already sweeping aft, and driv-
ing hundreds into the river and her
only escape from a lingering death by
fire was to jump into the river, nli eady
surging mass of drowning horses,
mules, men, women and children. What
a ap for fragile woman but despcr-
alto rs it was she must make it. Thrice
size had secured n partial support, in the
shape OF door or bale of goods, but
was each time rudely thrust aside by
strong mon, frantic with terror. At
last she secured the little bit of board,
which was her only support until taken
ont of the water some three hours after
ward. God only knows what that poor
woman suffered in those hours of terri
bic agony. Bereft of husband, child,
fortune, everything gone, and nothing but
fpail piece of board between her aud
death. The scene in the hospital was heart
ren,iiug. Alarge portion of those rescued
were 80 badly scalded, or otherwise in
jurei. that they were in extreme agony.
and afterward died. Ont OF twenty five
hundred souls on board there were but
about three hundred saved alive. l
called upon the lady two or three times
during the succeeding week, each time
finding her little stronger, but much
depressed in spirit from the dark pros
poets for her future.


Ten days after the calamity I was
standing near the steamboat landing
watching a tinclrd as it slowly rounded
to and made fast to a wharf boat. AS
soon as the gangplank was thrown out
man sprung ashore with a little girl in
his arms. He approached the spot where
stood, and, Judging from my uniform
that [ belonged to the navy, addressed
m =, iuquiring if knew where tho sur
vivors of the Sultaua cal nifty were.


told him that did, upon which he
asked me, with trembling lips, if there
were any ladies saved I told him
there were, and, suspecting his identity,
asked him il his name was not Ennis.


"My God yes" said he, grasping
my hand.


"Then, sir. YOUR wife is alive and