And went to work with might and main,"
mingling as one of the crew in the magnanimous work of saving human life. With commendable forethought, Captain Parker sent ten boats out to explore the shore from Memphis to the place of the disaster. Up to half past three o'clock yesterday only five boats have returned. They had found a few dead bodies, but could not find any survivors along the shore. We think by this time that all except those who sank to rise no more, have been picked up; for all classes, both high and low, searched hard and diligently all day yesterday in hunting up the survivors of this calamitous disaster. Had the disaster occurred an hour or two later, Captain Parker feels assured that the naval force here could have saved several hundred lives instead of the sixty alluded to. Unfortunately the night was dark, and the boats were obliged to steer in the direction of the cries, being unable to see more than a few of those struggling in the water. William Young, gunner's mate on the United States iron clad Essex, distinguished himself by his courageous acts. Mr. Young rendered invaluable aid in rescuing from watery graves many of the sufferers by the Sultana's explosion. He is an old sailor, having been for thirty years an active seaman, twenty-three years of that time in the navy.
When the steamer Rose Hamilton was nearing the head of the little island opposite Mr. Fogleman's residence, she was hailed by a skiff belonging to some fishermen who came aboard, having discovered among the willows the body of a young lady, apparently about twenty years of age. She was of medium height, say about five feet five inches, with a fine head of long brown hair, blue eyes, and had a slight scar across the chin. She was dressed in the night attire of a respectable lady. She wore on her bosom a neat breast pin of plain jet set in gold. She was a very handsome lady, and had not been recognized at last accounts. Her body was taken on board the Rose Hamilton and as decently laid out as circumstances would permit. Unknown to those by whom she was thus cared for, when the sorrows and cares of life were all over, who she was, what home may be filled with mourning because she comes no more, are questions which cannot be answered, yet, whoever she may be, her friends could wish for no more tender care than strangers have bestowed, for many a manly eye grew moist as they gazed on the pale form in death.
A VISIT TO THE WRECK.
After the explosion of her boilers, and the rapid spread of the flames, the burning mass of what had been the fine steamer Sultana, floated slowly down with the current until within a few hundred yards of Mr. Fogleman's residence, when it grounded on the Arkansas shore. We visited the wreck about 10 o'clock. It had sunk in twenty feet of water, and the jackstaff was standing up before the black mass, as though mutely mourning over the terrible scene, a silent witness of which it had been. The boat was almost entirely consumed. The charred remains of several human bodies were found, crisped and blackened by the fiery element. The scene was sad to contemplate, and those who witnessed it can never forget it. The Rose Hamilton, Pocahontas, Jenny Lind and Bostona were cruising around the place ever and anon picking up the breathless body of some unfortunate one, who "slept the sleep of death;" or some more fortunate, who had escaped a watery grave, though exhausted by a fearful night of agony and struggle for life.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE FRED ALBACK, SECOND MICHIGAN CAVALRY.
I was awakened when the explosion took place, lying on the top of the wheel house. As soon as I discovered that the boat had exploded, I caught hold of the fender and slid down to the water and let myself in, having nothing on me at the time. I judge I must have swam about ten miles. The river was alive with people crying and calling for help in the greatest of agony. Just as I was coming down off the boat I saw two ladies who had thrown themselves into the water, they having nothing to keep them up, and sank, when I saw them no more. When the explosion took place it threw the cabin into the air, and it fell back upon the shell of the boat in one mass of ruins, crushing many of the passengers, who were thus caught and were undoubtedly burned to death. Very many caught hold of horses by their manes and tails, but whether they escaped or not I cannot tell, as I never heard of them afterwards.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE R. H. SIMPSON, COMPANY I, NINETEENTH INDIANA.
I went to sleep about 2 o'clock and was awakened in about half an hour by hot water falling on my face and hands. I was not struck by anything nor scalded, but remained on the boat until the flames compelled me to leave. I then ran up on the cabin floor, snatched off a door and then made my way down to the lower deck and jumped into the river. By the light of the burning steamer I could see hundreds of the passengers in the water, all crying and wailing for help. I swam for about one mile and a half, and when I got to the island, just opposite Mr. Fogleman's, there I caught hold of the bushes. I saw three men drown while I was in the water. One of them had gained the trees and was holding to the limbs; a skiff was fast coming to his help, but being utterly exhausted he lost his hold and sank, when the skiff was about ten steps off. The other two had almost gained the bushes, but sank before they could reach the trees.