George Franklin Hayman and Sallie Hooper
Information comes from Thrills of the
Historic Ohio River by Frank Y Grayson;
published in the Cincinnati Times-Star 1929
Tragedy of River Culminates in Romance
Now we will inject a bit of river romance into these narratives. The story has to do with the late Captain George Franklin Hayman who, during his long and useful life, was one of the best beloved citizens of Newport. He and his brother-in-law, Captain Floyd F Logan, were joint owners of the fine steamers, Monarch, South America and General Scott. They were large vessels and were engaged in the Cincinnati/New Orleans trade in the 1850s. Both gentlemen were of the courtly, old-fashioned type of riverman.
Aboard the South America, on what was destined to be her last voyage, was Miss Sallie Hooper, a very beautiful young woman whose home was also in Newport. She was en route to New Orleans to pass the winter with relatives. Going down the Mississippi the boat took fire during the night. Captain Hayman ran to the stateroom occupied by Miss Hooper and aroused her, telling her that the boat was on fire. He carried her to the hurricane roof and from there dropped her into the outstretched arms of a man who had put out from shore when he discovered the boat was in flames.
Captain Hayman stuck to his post until he believed that every person on the burning boat had departed from it in safety. When he tried to save himself he found that he was surrounded by flames, but he plunged through the wall of fire and leaped into the river. He was severely burned but reached shore in safety. When he got there he looked back at the burning boat and saw a woman with two children rush out upon the hurricane deck. The woman dropped to her knees and prayed, after which she threw the children into the river and then plunged in after them. Their fate was never known.
What other sequel could there have been to the rescue of the beautiful Sallie Hooper by the gallant captain than marriage? The couple's surviving children are Mr. Frank T Hayman of Newport; Mrs. Bettie Bliss of Covington; and Mrs. Richard Woodward of Detroit. Captain Logan removed from Cincinnati to St. Louis, where he amassed a large fortune, which he subsequently lost. His daughter, Mrs. Samuel Leathe, still is living in that city.
NOTE: the following information comes from other sources.
Children of George Franklin Hayman and Sallie Hooper
1. Edward J Hayman b-27 Feb 1855 in Newport;
m-Ella
2. Frank T Hayman b-1858 in Newport; m-Nellie
3. Bettie Hayman b-1860 in Newport; m-___ Bliss; d-Campbell Co 12 Oct 1941
4. Stanley Hayman b-1865 in Newport
5. Richard H Hayman b-1869 in Newport
6. Susie Hayman b-1873 in Newport m-Richard Woodward; d-Detroit