The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-25
DREADFUL STEAMBOAT DISASTER.
Thrift or Forty Lives Lost.

The city of ST. Louis, Missouri, as we
learn by papers from that city, was
thrown into CONSERVATION and alarm on
the 4th inst, by the loss of the steamboat
; Shepherdess, from Cincinnati, and thirty
or forty passengers the previous night, in
consequence of the vessel striking a sna9
about midnight, while passing Cahokia
bend, In sight Of S.. Louis and within
three miles of the dock. The concuss-
ion was very severe, and must have torn
out several planks. The passengers
were in their berths at the time, most of
them having retired for the night. The
water rushed in with great force, and in
a minute or two it rose 10 the lower deck +,
where many passengers 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 duty, ran 10 the LADIES' cabin
and assured them there was no danger,
and returned TO the forecastle, which is
the last satisfactory account that has been
obtained OF him. About this time screams
and shrieks were heard from the deck
below, and one or two ladies who rushed
10 the stern of the boat, say that they saw
a number of persons in the water Ger
tain it is, the water rushed in with tre-
mendous rapidly, and III about fifteen
minutes was up to the floor Of the upper
cabin. A portion of those who were Oh
deck were saved by getting into the yawI,
which was loose and rowed to the shore
with broom. The water rose 50 rapid.
| Iy that it soon became necessary for all
TO seek safety upon the hurricane deck
Much difficulty was experienced in doing
so, for the bow was sunk so deep that the
only access was by the stern. 1t is be-
lieved all the inmates of the cabin reach
ed the hurricane roof. After the boat
struck the snag, it drided down the
stream, and few hundred yards below
struck another snag, which was far out OF
water. This threw the boat nearly on
her beam ends on the larboard side
Drifting from this snag, she again lurch-
ed to the starboard, and dt each lurch per-
sons were washed of. Some Of them
reached the shore, but many were drowned,
A short distance below, just above the
first shot-tower, the hull struck bluff
bank, which again careened her nearly
on her beam ends. Here the hull aud
cabin parted. The hull sunk and lodged
on bar above Carondelet, and the cabin
floated down to the point Of the bar below
that place where it lodged and remains.
Boats were sent to the relief Of the suffer-
ers. and reached the deck about two hours
after the disaster. The situation of the
sufferers was awful beyond conception
A short time after the strike, the vessel
made lurch and was torn asunder: parts
of the engine, with the boilers, were vio-
lent v severed from the swood work, and
fell into the river, tearing the decks to
pieces and dividing her in two, and car.
rying down many of the unfortunate peo-
pie.
! Dreadful +. Fruit Of Vice-A young
man named WATSON was shot through the
heart, in Laportes CO., (la.) by Gen.
Beardsiy, whose daughter he had seduc-
ed and refused 10 marry. Gen. Boards
ley, who was one of the first settlers on
Four Mile Prairie, in Michigan, and uni
yersal!y respected, Immediately gave him
self up to the authorities. N Y. Eran.
One ofMe Fruits Of Slauery,-In Tus-
kegee, Alabama, on The 25ih ult., Mr..
Freeman, a citizen OF a neighboring coun-
", was murdered in cold blood. He had
gone to Tuskegee with an officer, having
a writ against Arnold Seals. He levied
on negro, the property of Mr.. Vaun,
Seals son-in-law. Seals and Vann,
armed with guns, came in pursuit, avow-
ing their intention to kill Freeman. Up
on their coming up, Freeman got behind
the bailiff and begged hard for his life,
but Seals was relentless, and shot him, at
the distance of only three or four feet,
through both legs, as he chung to the Of
fcer. Vann was with difficulty prevent
ed from shooting after he had fallen. --
The unfortunate man died 10 two or three
hours Of lockjaw and the murderers,
having waited 10 assure themselves of his
death, started for the Republic Of Texas.
IN Y Evangelist.
AMERICAN PRISONERS AT VAN DIE
MANS LAND. AT a public meeting
of the citizens of Chester, Vermont, Nov.
"a, Gen. Sutherland made an address,
and it was resolved that the Pres-
dent of the United States be respectfully
requested TO direct the diplomatic agent Of
our country at the court of St. James, to
ask of the British Government the re.
lease of the American citizens, now pris-
oners in the hands of that government al
Van Diemans Land and that they be re.
turned 10 their country and friends
The release of the prisoners, who were
taken in the late patriot war in Canada
is solicited on the ground that many of
the leaders in the attempted revolution
have been pardoned and appointed TO Of