Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-05-02
LOSS or THE STEAMBOAT BRANDYwINE.


LOSS or THE STEAMBOAT BRANDYwINE.
The New York Courier s. Enquirer
publishes letter dated Louisville, Ky.
April II, which gives the following ac-
count of this disaster.
"The steamboa: Brandywine, Hamil-
ton, on her way up from New Orleans
for Louisville, when about twenty miles
above Memphis, at 8 p: M. on Monday,
9th inst. was discovered to be on fire
it originated from some spar ks 'communi-
eating with parcel of coach wheels, on
the upper deck, wrapt in straw, and
spread with such astonishing rapidity,
from the effect of very high wind, that
any attempt to save any thing beyond the
lives of the passengers and crew was
hopeless. The night was dark and raj
ny and the pilot gave the helm the direc-
ton to run her ashore instantly, the boat
being in the middle ofthe stream; before
she struck, however, which was within
three minutes from the discovery, there
was not one alive on board-the flames
had flown with the violence Of the gale
and enveloped the whole of the vessel aft
of the boilers, in one mass of fire. The
passengers and crew, about $50 in num-
ber, preci plated themselves into the riv-
er, with the exception Of few and about
IL females, who, seeing the yawl cap
sized by the multitude who ieaped into
it inconsiderately, became bewildered
with alright, refused to jump overheard,
and perished in the midst Of the flames;
the boat burned to the water's edge,
From one Of the survivors, whom we
took on board from the shore in passing
the unfortunate wreck after the occur
renee, l learn that upwards Of seventy
lives were lost. Among the cabin pas
sengers, were Mrs. Robert Walker and
child, of Nashville, Tenn; MIR. Sparks,
of Vicksburgh, Miss. Mr. Robert Stod-
dart, Nashville, Tenn. j. A. Hilliard of
Tennessee; H. Fl. Davenport, Shaw
nee Town; d. Farley, of Miss. The
rest were deck passengers or crew, the
names Of about SO ofwhom are discover
ed, the rest unknown.
The Cincinnati Gazette Of the 18th,
gives the following additional particulars,
from which it appears that the accident
was caused by racing.
We learn from conversng with a
number of the passengers Of the Brandy
wine, arrived here yesterday in the
steamboat Robert Fulton, tina. at the
time the Brandywine took fire she was
racing with the steamboat Hudson; that
the Brandywine had stopped for an hour
and half to make some repairs; that on
getting under headway large quantity
Of rosin was thrown into the fires, which
caused the sparks to fly very thick, and
to set fire to some straw which lay near
the chimnies; that the wind blew hard
down the river; that the number of pas
sengers and hands on board was about
two hundred-and that out of the whole
there was but seventy-five saved.
The passengers were landed on an Is
land, many of whom died Of the burning
before morning. In attempting to get
the yawl out, the steamboat ran upon and
sunk her. The accounts given by the
passengers of the number on board, vary
some saying 200, others $50; but all
agree that the number found living in the
morning, upon the island, was seventy
FIVE. Nine women were lost, six Of
whom were black servants.
The following is as correct list as
we have been able to obtain fthe names
of persons lost The gentleman who
furnished it to us states that ii contains
the names of about one third of those
known to be lost among the deck passen-
gers and the names Of all the cabin pas
sengers, who have lost their lives.
Cabin Passemgers.--H. Hilliard, Nash
vile III. Ii. Davenport, - Foier, Rob
ert Stothart, Nashville, Mrs. Walker &
child, Mrs. Sparks, 8 coored women and
child.
Deck Passengers Il. Hamilton, Jo-
seph Forde, Abner Osborn, Brye jack
son, b. Williams, Jos. Leonard, l.. Fear
ney, - Rolls, b. Murell, Martin Coz
inc, Jno. Myers, II. Mcmillan, Edward
Bebe, Jno. Mortimer, E. Wright, -
Marel, John Adams, and brother, w.
Downes, Gin James Saunders, A. Stans-
bury J. Mock.