The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-01-18
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.

TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
Yesterday morning our city was thrown
into CONSERVATION. by the report of the loss
of the steamboat Shepherdess, in Cabokia |
bend, within sight of the city, and only three
miles from Market street, attended with the
death of many persons. One of the boats
belonging to the old ferry was despatched
early in The morning, and the Agatha was
sent by Mr.. Collier On the latter we took I
passage, and give below the particulars, so
far as we were able to gather them, in
the midst of confusion and hear-rending
scenes which we Witnessed. We have seen
misery in many shapes, but, with exception
of one or two blow ups of steamboats,we have
never seen anything so narrowing as was
presented 10 US yesterday.
The history ofthe matter is as follows -
The Shepherdess, from Cincinnati TO this
port, about | O'Clock at night, when with
in three miles ofthe city struck snag, just
above the mouth of Cahokia creek. The
conclusion was severe and must have torn
out several of her planks. All the moment
of striking, most of the passengers in the
gentlemens cabin had retired to their berihs.
The ladies were generally undressed for the
night. Upon deck, so far as we could as
certain from the officers and passengers there
was some sixty or seventy passengers young
and old. Four or FIVE men were sitting up
in the gentlemens' cabin at the stove. In a
minute or two, the water rose TO the lower
deck, where most of the passengers in that
part Of the boat were asleep. One of the
pilots went into the hold, but had scarcely
entered before the rush of the water drove
him out. The captain, who was on duly,
ran to the Iadies' cabin and assured them
there was no danger, and returned 10 the
Eforecastle, which was the Unsatisfactory ac-
count we could GET ofhim.
4 About this lime, screams and shrieks
were heard from The deck below, and one or
two ladies' who rushed to the stern of the
boat, say that they saw number Of persons
i in the water. Certain ills the water rushed
in with tremendous rapidity, and in about
three minutes was up to the floor of the up
per cabin. A portion of those on the deck
were saved by getting into the yawl, which
was cut loose and rowed to shore with a
broom.
The waterrose so rapidly that it soon be-
came necessary for all TO seek shelter upon
the hurricane deck. Much difficulty was
! experienced in doing so, for the bow sunb
: so deep that the onlyaccess was by the Stern
: So far as we could learn, we believe all the
inmates of The cabin reached the hurricane
deck.
After the boat struck the saag, il drlfeo
q down the Stream, and few hundred yard.
. below struck another snag, which was far on
r of water. This threw The boat nearly on he
beams end, on the larboari side. Drifting
from the sing, she again lurched 70 the star
board, and each lurch, several persons were
washed off. Some of them reached lhs
: shore, but many of them were drowned 4
short distance below, just above the FIRST shot
tower, the hull struck bluff bank, whici
; again careened her nearly on her beams
S end The hall sunk and lodged on ba
n above CarondeIet, and the cabin fotet
down the point of the bar below tina
place, where it lodged and remains.
i The Henry Bry was lying at the sio.
: tower above Carondelei, when the cabii
z pissed. The cries Of The passengers afous
ed the captain, and he and his crew renls T
ed efficient service in fescning the p sssen
gers in their yawI. We are toll thu the cap
taiH ofthe Bry worked until be was entirely
r covered wiihice.
About three O'Clock, the Icelander, one o.
1 our ferry boats, came along, and went to the
: rescue, and took off all who rem tined upon
the wreck 1t is due to this company TO say
f that in addition to the service rendered bl
5 the Icelanded, upon her arrival at the wharf
: three men in yawl were Immediately des
5 lpatched TO the assistance ofthe persons OF
the wreck, and they rendered essential ser
vice to them. In Clronde.et and Cahokia
r the kndest attentions were shown to thos,
who goI on shore.
This Is the general history. We now
4 speak of PARTICULARS, and here we have sc
!, many instances of disregard of personal safe
= Ity, in order to secure that of Others, that
we scarcely know which to mention One
instance deserves record.
2 A young man, ROBERT BULLOCK, of Mays
willie. KY, was up at the time the boat struck
He seems to have abandoned all idea O
himself, and turned his whole attention Il
saving the women and children When CIV.
cry male person had deserted the cabin, he
3 went from state-roens 10 state-room, wherev
: er he heard child cry, and took it out aud
passed it up 10 the hurricane roof In this
! way he saved several women and children
e His last effort was 10 pass up the Ohio fa
e GirI-240 pounds. With The assistance Of
one or two others on the hurricane deck, he
succeeded. A short time after getting OF
deck, the boat made lurch, and Bullock
took to the water and swan TO the Illinois
shore. His coat he had given TO a lady on
; the wreck. When he reached the shore, he
found two young ladies', who had been pui