Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1880 — He Suffered at the Seawanhaka Disaster. [ARTICLE]

He Suffered at the Seawanhaka Disaster.

He was a sadly used-up lame man, and looked none the prettier because there was a bandage around his head, and he carried his arm in a sling. It seemed hardly likely that human nature in so badly damaged a condition would care about getting drunk and rolling into area ways, but the officer said that such was the aspect of affairs when he picked him up. The magistrate in the Jefferson Market Police Court yesterday gazed sadly at the much-demolished man and said : “ How in the name of wonder do you manage to get along at all, even when you’re not drunk ? How do you come by all these injuries, anyway ? ” The lame man raised his head solemnly and uttered : “ Got ’em the night o’ the Seawanhaka disaster.” At once all eyes were turned on him. “Do your really mean that?” said his Honor, pityingly. “ I’m dead in airnest,” said the other. “ Never was more so in my life. Maybe that wasn’t a night; maybe there wasn’t a fire on board that boat, and maybe it didn’t go through her like a streak o’ greased liglitnin’, and maybe thei’e was not a lot o’ poor cusses that it gathered in ; oh, maybe not !’’ and the prisoner shook his Lead dolefully. “Did you injure both your limbs that night? ” asked the court. ‘ ‘ Yes, both on ’em, ” murmured the man. “ Oh, that was a tough night on me—the night o’ the Seawanhaka disaster was ! a good many fellers caved in altogether, but I got my share o’ trouble, so I did.” “Was it the fire did it?” asked his Honor. “ No. ’twasn’t the fire, I don’t think,” and the prisoner fidgeted uneasily. “Did you get it in the water, then, from the paddle-wheel, or a log, or something?” “No, it couldn’t be that.” “Weil, what in the name of goodness were the conditions under which you received your hurts ? ” The prisoner hesitated. ‘‘ I don’t think there was any conditions about. it,” he said. “When Tim O’Hare fires a feller out o’ his bucketshop he’s a somewhat unconditional man.” “ But I thought you got your injuries on the night of the Seawanhaka disaster ? ” “Sol did, Jedge. That was the occasion. Had it been New Year’s or the Fourth of. July, I’d told you, but it wasn’t no such thing ; ’twas only on the night o’ the Seawanhaka disaster.” And his Honor sat thinking a long time before he could determine whether the lame man was inclined to deceive.— New York Herald.