Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-11-03
THE DISASTER OF TIE STEAMBOAT
ELIZA.

The Louisville Journal of the l9lh ul-
timo, contains the following additional
particulars
ltappears that the Eliza had taken a
large freight Of -four, grain, lead, &C.,
and great number Of passengers, at ST.
Louis for New Orleans. She had also
on board some cattle, sheep and horses.
The number Of passengers IS vaguely es-
tlmated al from one or two hundred. -
| When she had reached a narrow bend o.
the Mississippi, on Thursday about din.
ner time, five miles above the mouth OF
Ohio, she was met by the ]. M. White
towing the hull Of the old Madisonan up
stream. The White was next the Mis-.
sour shore, the hull on her sight, and the
Eliza coming down stream, next the ILL.,
nois shore. The W hite and the hull &C.
cupied so much Of the river that the Eliza
was forced out Of the channel, and the
waves OF the White at the same time
caused such commotioD in the river that
the pilot Of the Eliza could not distinguish
the snags between the channel and the
shore. In this position the Eliza struck
heavily large walnut snog in deep wa
ter and instantly began to fill. The con.
fusion among the passengers rushing in
every direction on the boat, no doubt in
creased the danger. A vain effort was
made 10 steer the boat for the bar on the
| Missouri shore, but the wheels soon be.
came water-logged and the passengers
having by this time rushed in great num-
bers up to the hurricane deck, and fear.
ing the boat would swing into the deep
current, several plunged towards the Hi.
noIs shore. Some reached il, but many
were drowned The whole thing was so
sudden, that it is believed the deck pas
SINGERS below, with the cattle, horses, &c.
were carried down before they could get
| from under the cabin deck.
| The captains wife had rushed up to
the hurricane deck, with two of her chill
iren, where she ami they might have been
safe, but, In her fright and agitation, she
rushed overheard with them, endeavorlng
10 gtappIe some drlit logs. The logs,
hewever, turned in the water every time
she attempted 10 grepple them, and final
~ she and enc OF her babes sunk To rise
no more. Tue Captain, who had been
giving directions for the safety Of the pas.
sengers, observing the struggles OF his
wife, plunged in to save her, but was on.
" in time to rescue one Of the children.
He chung to a log and was saved. We
could not learn whether the ]. NJ. White
had II in her power TO render much as
sistance; but understood her yawl was
sent out for that purpose. When the
Carrier came up, the Eliza was sunk to
| her hurricane deck, each end of which
was above water. the waves washing over
the middle. The deck was then crowded
with passengers agitated by terrors hides
cribable. They could give but conius-
ed account Of the number drowned. The
probability is that it did not exceed forty.
The Captain o: the Carrier thinks the d.
sasier must have occurred about dinner
time, as il was two o'clock in the day
when he reached the bend. The people
on the hurricane deck of the Eliza were
in great dread of the deck bursting up,
whch provdentially was prevented by
the weight Of so many persons standing
on it.