e
burning oil flowed out over the water and flamed up across every avenue
of escape. From out the black clouds of smoke, great sheets of flame
burst through, rolled heavenward, and leaped down again like some
devouring demon.

In such a transformation from pleasure to horror, who can discern the
turning impulses within the human breast--of fear, of hope or of heroic
self-control? To some, such a moment brings hopeless despair, or frantic
terror, which will crush women and children and crowd them from places
of safety, and oftimes in such an hour there comes to those of otherwise
timid dispositions, a grandeur of heroism never evidencing itself
before; some latent, slumbering power of soul that can only be awakened
by some fearful test of human tragedy.

From the burning boats came wild cries, shrieks and screams. Some were
kneeling in prayer, others cursing and bemoaning their plight. Dr.
Fannastock, a millionaire manufacturer from Philadelphia, clasped his
beautiful daughter in his arms and cried, "I will give one hundred
thousand dollars to the one who saves my child!" Both were lost. Ole
Bull, the famous violinist, who had taken passage at Louisville, stood
quietly holding his violin case, calmly endeavoring to reassure the
frightened women and children. The fire was fast approaching the rear
cabin.

Shawn stood by Mrs. Alden's side, buckling a life-preserver around her
body. "I'm trusting in God, Shawn," said the good woman, as a ghastly
pallor overspread her face.

"Put a little of that trust in me," said Shawn as he bore her in his
arms to the aft guards. Hurriedly passing down the back stairs, he went
through the engine-room to the rear end of the boat. They were lowering
the trailing-yawl, which swung on a level with the floor of the lower
cabin. As the yawl touched the water, a score of roustabouts started to
leap into it.

"Stand back there!" shouted Shawn. "These women and children must go
first."

Shawn lowered himself into the yawl, and catching Mrs. Alden with both
hands, placed her on a seat in the stern of the boat. The fire was
gaining headway and black volumes of smoke were rolling from the
engine-room. Ole Bull, with a countenance pale, but noble in its
expression of high courage, tenderly lowered the women and children
into the boat. Shawn took each one and placed them as closely as
possible on the seats.

"Get aboard," he said to the musician. Shawn pushed the yawl away from
the burning b