Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-06-01
GENERAL ENrELLaeErCE.
Burning or the steamboat.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS OF THE
LOSS OF the BEN sHERRoD.

LOSS OF the BEN sHERRoD.
The Na.chez papers contain further
particulars oflbe deplorable loss Of The
Ben Sherci. Al the time when she
took FIRE, she was engaged IN a race
with the steamer Prairie; and the FIRE
took from the heat Of the boilers. caus-
ed By rotsiHg her steam 10 ifs erfrsae
POlcer. n barrel Of srhiskey sCas pioccd
on the deck for the use of ne hands dur
ing the race, who drank 10 excess, and
became intoxicated.
AT about IL o'clock at night, The fur
mace became so heated that il commu-
nieated FIRE 10 the wood, Of ~hich there
were on board about GO cords. When
the crew discovered the FIRE, ,ney all
lett their posts and ran for the yawl,
without giving any alarm 10 the pas
sengers, who were all asleep in their
berths. The captain, for q time, at
tempted to alIay the extreme confusion.
by stating that the hIe was extinguisb-
ed; twice he forbid the lowering of the
yaNb which was attempted by the
deck hands and passengers. The
shrieks Of nearly three hundred persons
on board. now rose wild and dreadful.
The cry was 10 tie shorei 10 The sAore
and the boat made for the starboard
shore, but did not gain H. as the wheel
rope might have given way, or the pi-
lot driven b. the flames from his sta
lion. The steam was not let of. and
the boat kept on. The scene Of horror
now beggared all description.
The yawl which had been filed with
the crew bad sunk, drowning some who
were in it, and the passengers had no
alternative than TO jump overheard,
without taking even time 10 dress
There were ten ladies' on board, who
all went overheard without uiienny a
single scream, some drowning instant
~, and others clinging 10 planks-two
Of the number were finally saved
Some ofihe passengers are supposed
TO have been burnt up on board the Ben
Seerrod. One man, by the name Of
Ray, from Louisville. Kentucky, hung
to rope. at the bow Of the boat, until
taken up by the yawl, Of the steamboat
Columbus, which arrived about half an
hour after the commencement of the
disaster, on her downward passage
MIR. Rays face and arms were much
burnt while clinging TO the boat in the
above position-he lost $40, 600 in
Natchez and United States paper.
The steamboat Alton arrived half an
hour after the Columbus, but, from the
carelessness or indiscreiion Of those on
board was the means Of drovu ming many
persons who were floating in the water.
She drove into the midst Of the ex-
hausted sufferers, who were too weak
longer TO make exefIon, and bv the
commotion occasioned by her wheels
drowned large number. A gentle
man by the name OF Hamilton, from
Limestone county, Alabama, was float
ing on barrel, and sustaining also a
lady, when the Alton drove M and
washed them both under-the LADY,
was drowned, bot Mr.. Hamilton came
up, and hoated down the river fifteen
miles, when he was taken up by the
steamer Statesman.
MIR. Mcdowell attributes the drown
ing OF his wife TO the indiscretion orthe
managers Of the Alton, as she was
floating safely on a plank at the time.
MIR. Mcdowell sustained himself some
time against the current, so that he
only foated two miles down the river;
when he swami ashore ten miles above
Fort Adams.
MIR. Rundell aoated down the river
ten miles, and was taken up by a flat-
boat at the mouth Of Buffalo creek. lie
saved bis money in his pantaloons
pocket but lost one thousand dollars
worth of freight Mr.. Mcdowell lost
his wife, son. lady, Miss Francia Few.
who was under bis protection, and
negro servant. Mr.. Mcdowell feels
himself under great obligations 10 Mr..
William Stamps family for their kind
attentions 10 him in his distress soon
alter he reached the shore. Mr.. Run
dell acknowledges kind attention from
ths same source.
There were 235 persons on board.
OF which not more than 60 escaped,
leaNing one huHdFed and SeCeRfV-fre
drowned, including the captains three
children and his father. His wife was
picked up by a hai-boat badly burnt.
The following are the names Of some Of
the ladies lost:
Mrs. Mcdowell, Of Belfonl. South
Alabama; Mrs. Gamble and three chill
dren. Of New Orleans; Miss Francia
Few, Of Belfont, South Alabama.
Ia addition 10 the foregoing, Captain !
Hard states that be and The man al the /
wheel discovered the light Of the Ben !
SherEod on FIRE as soon as he entered /
The Mississippi from Red River, fifteen 4
miles below Fort Adams. Capt Hard 4
met the Columbus and Alton floating
down With the current, Tor the purpose
n picking up The unfortunate sufferers.
How many they saved be does not
know.
The Ben Shenod, al the moment Of
he last explosion on board, sunk in
sanity shoot mile snd balf shove
Fort Adams, on the right hand.