The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-08-26

were given to the men to keep up the fires
at the extent. Ii was now little past l
p. M. The Captain retired to his berth,
with his clothes on, and left the deck in
charge of an officer. During the evening
a barrel of whiskey had been turned out,
and permission given to the hands to do as
they pleased. As may be expected they
drew ubon the barrel quite literally. 1t is
the custom on all boats to furnish the fire.
men with liquor, though difference exists
as to the mode. But it is due to the many
worthy Captains now on the Mississippi to
state that the practice of furnishing spirits
is gradually dying away, and where they
are given it is only done in moderation.
As the Sherrod passed on above Fort
Adams towards the mouth of the Homo
chitta, the wood piled up in front of the
furnaces several times caught fire, and was
once or twice imperfectly extinguished by
the drunken hands. It must be under
stood by those of my readers who have
never seen a western steamboat, that the
boilers are entirely above the first deck,
and that when the fires are well kept up
for any length of time, the heat is almost
insupportable. Were it not for the draft
occasiored by the speed of the boat, it
would be very difficult to attend the fires.
AS the boat was booming along through the
water close in the shore; for ascending the
river, boats 60 as close as they can to avoid
the current, negro from the beach called
out to the frenen that the wood was on
fire. The reply was, "go to hell, and
mind your own business" from some half
intoxicated hand. "Oh, Massa," anwered
the negro, 'if you don't take care, you be
in hell before l will" On, on went the
boat at tremendous rate, quivering aud
trembling in all her length at every revolu-
ton Of the wheels. The steam was created
so fast, that it continued to escape thro.
the safety valve, and by its sharp singing
told tale that every prudent captain would
have understood. AS the vessel rounded
the bar that makes off from the Hommo.
chitta, being compelled to stand out into the
middle of the river in consequence, the fire
was discovered. II was about one o'c' eek
in the morning. A passenger had got uE
previously, aud was standing on the boiler
deck, when to his astonishment the fire
broke out from the pile of wood. little
presence of mind and a set of men intoxica
ted, could have saved the boat. The pas
senger seized a bucket and was about ic
plunge it overheard for water when he
found it locked. An instant more and the
fire Increased in volume. The Captain
was now awakened. He saw the fire haC
seized the deck. He ran aft and announ
ced the ill tidings. No sooner were thu
words out of his mouth, than the shrieks o
mothers, sisters, and babes, resoundeC
through the hitherto silent cabin in the
widest confusion. Men were aroused
from their dreaming cots to experience the
hot air of approaching fire. The pilot bein!
elevated on the hurricane deck, at the in
slant of preceving the flames, put the hea,
of the boat shoreward. She scarcely go
under way in that direction, than the tile
ropes were burnt assunder. Two miles a
least from the land, the vessel took a sheer
and, borne upon by the current, made sew
eral revolutions, until she struck across the
river. A bar brought her up for the mo
ment!
The flames had now extended fore ant
aft. At the first alarm several deck pas
sengers had gotten into the yawl that hun!
? suspended by the davids. A cabbin pas
senger endowed with some degree of cour
age and presence of mind expostulated will
them and did all he could to save the boa
: for the ladies'. Twas usless.-One tool
out his knife and cut away the forwar,
tackle. The next instant, and they wer
ell, to the number oftwenty or more, launch
ed into the angry waters.-They were 500
! no more.
Tho hnot baino lor,o,ol e.. IL