Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-08-18
The III rated steamer Ben sAerroa.
FACTS ny A SUFFERER.

FACTS ny SUFFERER.
On Saturday morning, the 9th day Of
May, 1887. the steamboat Ben Sherrod. un.
was preparing to leave the Levee at New
Orleans She was thronged with passen-
gers.
The cabin Of the Ben Sherrod was on the
upper deck, but narrow in proportion to her
build, for she was what is technically called
a Tennessee Cotton Boat. To those who
have never seen cotton boat loaded il is
wondrous sight The bales are piled up
from the lower guards wherever there is
Granny, until they reach above the second
deck. room being merely left for passengers
to walk outside the cabin You have regu-
lar alleys left amid the cotton in order to
pass about on the first deck Such is a
cotton boat, carrying from 1900 to 1000
bales
| The Ben's finish and accommodation Of
the cabin was by no means such as would
begin to compare with the regular passen-
ger boats. Ii being late in the season, and
but few large steamers being in port, 10 con-
sequence Of the severity OF the times. the
Ben Sherrod got an undue number OF pas
sengers; otherwise she would have been
avoided, for her accommodations were not
enticing She had a heavy freight on board,
and several horses and carriages on the fore
castle. The build of the Ben Sh-rrod was
heavy-her timbers being Of the largest
size
| The morning was clear and sultry; so
much so that umbrellas were necessary to
ward off the sun. II was curious sight
TO see the hundreds Of citizens hurrying on
board to leave letters and see them coming
away When steamboat is going of on
the Southern and Western waters, the ex-
element is fully equal 10 that attendant up
on the departure Of Liverpool packet.
About 10 o'clock A. NJ the i'll fated
steamer pushed off upon the turbid current
of the Mississippi, as Swan upon the wa
ters In few minutes she was under
weigh. tossing high in air bright and snowy
clounds Of steam at every revolution Of her
engine. Talk not Of your Northern steam
boats. A Mississippi steamer OF seven
hundred tons burtlcn. with adequate ma
chincry, is one Of the sublimrs Of poetry.
On Tuesday evening, she 9th Of May,
1887. the steamboat Prairie, on her way
10 ST. Louis. bore hard upon the Ben Sher-
rod 1t was necessary for the latter to stop
at Fort Adams, during which the Prnirie
passed her. Great vexaiion was manifested
by some Of the passengers that the Prairie
should get in Matches first This subjec,
formed the theme Of conversation for two
or three hours, the Captain informing them
that he would beat her any how.
The Prairie is very fast boat. and under
equal chances would have beat the SheTrod.
So soon as the business was transacted al
Fort Adams, for which she stopped, orders
were given TO the men to keep up the fires
TO the extent. Ii was now little past |
r. NJ. The Captain retired to his berth
with his clothes on, and left the deck IN
charge of an officer. During the evening
barrel Of whiskey had been turned out
and permission given TO the hands to de- as
r they pleased AS may be supposed, they
drew upon the barrel quite literally Ii is
+ the custom on all boats to furnish the FIRE
men with liquor. though difference exists
+ as to the mode. But II is due TO the many
worthy Captains now on the Mississippi &c
state, that the pratice OF furnishing spirits Is
gradually dying away, and where they are
given it is only done in moderation.
AS the SherIod passed on above For
Adams towards the mouth Of the Homo
, chi,,a, the wood piled up in front of the fur
, naces several times caught fire, and wa'
, once or twice imperlectly extinguished by
1.-The drunken hands. II must be understood
by those OF my readers who have neve
seen Western steam boat, that the boiler
are entirely above the first deck, and tia
when the fires are well kept up for AM
II.ngth of time. the heat is almost insupport
able. Were il not for the draft occasione'
nv the speed OF the boat, it would be yer!
(, difficult to attend the fire.
AS the boat was coming along through
: the water close in the shore, Tor, IN ascend
!, ing the river, boats 60 as close ss they cal
: TO avoid the current. negro from the beacl
called out to the firemen that the wood wa
on FIRE. The reply was, $50 to hell an
: mind your own business from some hall
intoxicated hand "Oh Massa," answers
the negro, iii you don't take care you be il
: hell before ] will" On. on. on. went tn
= boat 10 a tremendous rate. quiwering an
? trembling in all her length at every revolu
lion of the wheels. The steam was creates
so fast that il continued to escape through
: the safety-valve. and by It's sharp singing
: told tale that every prudent captain woul
have understood As the vessel rounds
! the bar that makes of the Homoc hitta. be
!, ! ing compelled TO stand out into the middl
! OF the river in consequence. the hire wa
= discovered II was about one o'clock in th
!, morning A passenger had got up prev
y ously, and was standing on the boiler-decl
when to his establishment the fire broke on