Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-05-24
From the New orleas. BE-.

Red AND ElFTY LIVES Losr.- One OF those
terrible accidents, but too common on the
western rivers, occurred on Tuesday at
ore o'clock in the morning, by which a
bout one hubdfsd aud fifty lives we're lost.
The steamer Ben Sherrod, Captain Gas
llemsn. left this place on Sunday morning
bound TO Louisville. and at the time Just
mentioned, when about so miles below
Natchez, she was found to be enveloped in
fianIes, and out of near 900 persons on
board only about so or go were saved.
i" The fire is believed &c have origina
ted from the wood used as fuel being up
near the boiler The story OF the disas
ter was related TO us by young man who
was cabin passenger, and il is awfully
interesting, and his own escape almost
miraculous. When he awoke he put on
bis clothes, and leaped into the yawl which
was hanging at the stern, and was follow.
ed by about 40 other men, one Of whom
cut the rope connecting the stern Of the
steamer TO the bow Of the yawl, and the
latter canted over and hung in perpendi
cular position, the bow towards the water.
All on board were preeipitated into
the water and are believed TO have been
drowned. with the exception Of the nara
tor, and he saved himself by clnging TO
the thwarts. In few minutes about
twenty Of the crew made their way 10 the
stern OF the steamer and placed them
selves in the boat, suspended as she was,
One OF them imprudently took out his
knife and cut the rope which attached
the steamer to the stern Of the yawi, and
she plunged. as might have been expec
ted, full twenty feet under water.
"All that had been hanging 10 her were
missing, except four and the individual
who relates the story: he says when he
rose TO the surface he found himself under
the yawl and she was lying bottom up
Beng strong, active, and expert at swim
ming, he worked his way from underneath
and mounted on her bottom. where he
was soon joined by the four other men
who bad saved themselves, and in this sit
uation they floated twelve miles down the
river, before they we're picked up by the
Columbus.
Captain Castleman, by vigorous ex
ertons, saved his wife and two children
-one Of his children and his father were
lost. A Mr.. Smith also had the luck 10
save his wife and one child and we add
with pain that one of his children is mis-
sing.
g There was some powder on board, in
what quantity we know not-but the
knowledge tina, it was there seemed tc
have paralzed the efforts of the crew and
IFS explosion added to the deep horrors o.
the scene. We are Informed that there
were nine ladies on board, only two Of
whom we're rescued.
The survivors Of this appalling disas
ter UNANIMOUSLY concur in expressions oil
the wsrmest ra,itude 10 Capt, Jones. OF
the Columbus, for his activity in picking
them up, and for his kindness while on
board his steamer. The Steamboat Al
ton passed downwards not long after the
accident occurred, when many unfortu
mates were still struggling for life in the
water. The survivors arc not quite sc
E@ioguent in their expressions Of gratitude
10 the commander of the Alton as they are
towards Capt Jones.
Our limits preclude the possibility o.
enumera,ing the various heart rendine
sights that this calamitiou. affair occa
stoned. The captain, for instance, saved
his wife, but saw his two children perish
MIR. Smith saved his wife and one child
and saw the nurse rush madly through
flames with his daughter, aud both perish
ed. Mr.. Candles wife, we understand
was burnt TO death !; he escaped although
very badly burnt. One young man whit
had reached the hurricane deck in safety
heard the cries of his sister, rushed bacl
to the cabin, clasped her in his arms, ant
both were burnt TO death. One Of th,
clerks, one OF the pilots, and the first mat,
were burnt up.
All the Chamber maids and women en-
ployed on the boat, persisted. Out of 8!
negroes that were known TO have been OF
board. only two escaped alive. The Ben
Sherrod had the largest crew Of any boa
on the river, and by reference TO the list o
names, it will be seen that out of the 81
saved, over so belonged to the boat; ant
out of the 60 or 10 cabin passengers, Their
are about 10 or IL left alive. One of tn
officers Of the boat assured US, that in ad
dition TO the cabin passengers, there wer
sixty or more deck passengers, Of wbicl
scarce six are saved.
Altogether this has been one of tn
most Serious disasters that has hsppene,
| in the annals of the Mississippi boats
there being at least $50 families deprive,
by it Of some dear and beloved member
over one hundred beings hurried by il GU
Of time into eternity. with scarce a mo
menrs warning. And amongst those VIII,
are saved, many are said TO be severel
burnt; 90 much so, that their recovery j
very doubtful.
DT ED.