Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-01-20
Heart Rending Disaster.

Loss OF THE STEAMBOAT SnErERpEss AND One
HuNDREp LrvEs-The st Louis Democrat ofthe
9Th inst. says that the city was thrown into con.
sternation the day previous by the announce
mcnt that the steamboat Sheperdess, from Pitts.
burg, had stink in sight of that city, about mid
night the night previous, and that from 20 to 100
lives were lost by the awful catastrophe The
night was extremely cold and TO this fact it is
mainly owing that many were drowned, who o.
therwise might have reached the shore, We
subioin all the particulars which have been as.
ccrtaincd from the Gazette of the evening of the
4th:
The Shcpcrdess was from the Ohio river was
commanded by Capt Powell or Powers, 1--WE
could not understand which) who had recently
purchased aud thoroughly repaired her She left
Pittsbnrg some six or eight days ago, with crew
OF from ten 10 fifteen persons and at the time Of
the accident had upwards of 80 passengers on
board, very large number. when we consider
the latencsS OF the season The boat encountered
no usual obstacle, until last evening about half
past II O'Clock when she struck snas at Cahokia
Bend, about three miles below the city and sank
be given. The mate had but a moment before
reported five fathoms water, and yet he had not
walked the length of the vessel when the water
reached his shoulders. He saved himself by
jumping overheard and gaining the hurricane
deck when the boat sunk. The time the sud
dcnncss of the accident. the unprcparcd state of
the passengers. the appalling character of the
coolest of the scaSon) all operated TO cause an
agonizng scene. Men, women and children. al
most naked and partially submerged in the water.
were calling for their relatives. or passing 10
and fro in chaotic confusion. cndcavoring to OBJ
tain the means of self preservation; while others
threw themselves into the river, and were drown.
ed
Many incidents connected with this sad affair
are very distressing. young lady. who was
suffering from pleuriSy. was drawn through one
of the Statrroom doors mp to the hurricane deck /
when the boat carecncd; but she was so drbil- |
tatcd by pain and fright as to be unable to stand
she accordingly laid upon one of the wagons
with which the boat was irrightcd; and upon the
vessel makinganothcr lurch she was prrcipitatrd
into the water -Four children also persisted !
from exposure, while being conveyed from the
wreck TO the shore. Tn" captain when last re-.
cosnzcd, was climbing one of the irons which
support the chimncys. lie is supposed to be
drowned; also, the carpenter who was acting
engineer. Th" greatest loss oflifr was sustained
when the cabin separ atcd from the hull One of
he passengers loatcd upon IA portion ofthc wreck
rs far as Vide Pochr, when he was relieved from
lis uncomfortable situation.
As soon as news of the accident reached the
ity, the ferry boat lcclandrr was despatched to
.hs place, and took from the wreck upwards of
100 passengers.
Since III" above was in type, are informed
that many bodies have been found supposed To
have been frozen 10 death after reaching the |
shore. y number of the passengers were brought
10 the city To enable them to procure clothing.
having lost every thing hy this most dreadful ca
lamity.