Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-11-23
THE DROWNED INDIANS.

| From, the Neio Oriearis Bulletin, Noe. T.
There have been divers contradictory ru.
mors in regard tUthe circumstances attending
the recent disastrous accident happening 20
the steamboat Mon mouth. From Ar. East>
man, the senior partner of the firm al Messrs.
| Eastman & Brothers, Of this city, by whom
! the Monmouth, was owned, we learn the fol
lowing particulars: Mr.. Eastman was on
| board al the time Of the accident, which &C.
CURED on the evening OF the 3lst ofOctober,
and was consequently a spectator OF all thai
occurred He informs US that the alon-
mouth was chartered 10y the Alabama Emf
grating Company, through the agency oil
| Col. w. II. Campbell. To transport the
! Creek Indians from New Orleans 10 Arkan-
sas On her passage up the Mississippi when
| near the head Of Prophets Island, Mr.. Il.
was standing on the iarboard " heel house of
the boat, and nearing the pilot OF the Mon
msu'h ruug the bell, he Immediately went
forward and asked Why the bell was rung
The pilot had scarcely replied, don't you
see" y hen al that moment the steamer came
in contact with the ship with such violence as
10 break III the bows OF The Monmouth, aud
causing her Immediately TO be filled with
water.
As soon as the ship passed by the steamer
was run ashore, and. with such lines as could
be procured, made fast.
Scarcely had she, however, reached the
shore when the null sun k, and the cabin
foaled down stream in two parts On one OF
them aas Mr.. T.. with several OF the officers
of the boat, and probably two hundred In
dams Tie steamboat Warreu, which was
towing the ship, Immediately on the happen
ing Of the acc mlent, rounded 10 and made Tor
the portion OF the wreck of which we have
jus, spoken, and rendered every possible AS
sisiance in saving The lives and property Of
The Indians.
The Yazoe and John Nelson steamers,
which were also laden with Indians, were
soon on the spot, rendering all the aid IN their
pnwer Mr. T.. informs us that the night
of the accident was dark with drizLling
rain, aud that neither the ship, noT the steam
bout that had her in tow, was discovered by
any person on the Monmouth until the mo-
ment before the vessels came in contact. IL
having been stated in some of the published
accounts that the accident occurred through !
the negligence and Encouragement OF the
officers OF the Monmouth, and further, that I
she was an old boat, and not we'll manned, .
SC. Such, we are informed by MIR. 10 Is |
not the fact.
The boat was but little over II months !
old, was we'll manned all her nfiicers were
of experience aud knowing their duty, did
MOI heSi IL, hHu ih ii''Ob ehN i""'NSN "'''~'5 !
the hest beats ON the river.
For ourselves, We cannot but deem il care-
iessness Of no ordinary degree 10 tow ship
in dark night without lights on the river,
and such we are informed, was the fact.
There were on board the Monmouth 400 .
Indians, out of which number 234 were kill !
ed or drowned Many ofthe survivors we're !
badly injured. Several ply sicians, actuated
10y the best feelings of humanity, came from
Bayou Sara, and administered 10 the poor 1,
unfortunate Indians.