time they passed through the Beauharnois and Cornwall canals, and
entered the labyrinth of beautiful patches known as the "Thousands
Islands." As they emerged from this lovely spot the saloon became
suddenly filled with smoke, and in a few minutes cries of "Fire! Fire!"
were heard on every hand. A rush was made for life preservers, while
the crew of five or six men vainly endeavored to extinguish the
flames. The captain ordered boats to be lowered, but, the men being
excited, and badly drilled at best, the boats were successively
swamped, leaving the poor terrified creatures only a choice of two
fearful deaths.

One of the sailors handed Mrs. Clarkson a life preserver, which she
requested Von Alba to fasten round her waist, but the cowardly
fellow _snatched it from her_, and, hastily securing it round his
own waist, swung himself overboard, leaving her to perish in the
flames! He was not to escape so easily, however; with a bitter yell
of mingled rage and despair the wretched woman mounted the taffrail,
and plunging straight for the spot where he rose to the surface
dragged him under again and again with fearful maledictions. The
passengers who still remained on deck could do nothing to separate
them, and although the life preserver would have sustained both of
them easily in the water, so great was the woman's bate on the
discovery of Von Alba's cowardly treachery, that she did not even
give a thought to her own escape, so intent was she on dragging him
to the bottom. The expression of her face, lit up as it was by the
blaze of the burning; steamer, was terrible to behold: the veins in
her head and neck were swollen almost to bursting, and she died
cursing with bitter malediction the man for whom she had sacrificed
not only herself, but her husband and her children.