The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-01-18
PER Sc.
Frym Ms 81. Leris Din. Commercial Erlre
AWFUL. CALAMITY!-LOSS OF THE
STEAMER SHEPERDESS.--ONE HUN
DRED LIVES LOST!

We have the painful account before us ol the total
loss of the steamboat Shepherdess from this city and
Pittsburgh to ST. Louis, on the evening Of the Sd inst at
Cahoka Bend, about three miles below st. Louis and
report says that from 70 to 100 human beings persisted
by the accident, the Captain one Of them. We hope
this is exaggeration but the details bear too much
candor to be distrusted We copy the following heart
rending account from the ST. Louis Gazette of Janua-
ry 4, 1884,
The shepherdess was from the Ohio river was COM
manded by Capt Powell or Powers, 1--WE could not
learn which, who had recently purchased and thorough
y repaired her. Size left Pittsburgh some eight days
ago. with Of from ten to fifteen persons, and at
the time Of the accident had upwards of $50 passengers
on boald-a very large number when we consider the
ateness ofhe season. The boat encountered unusual
obstacle until last evening about half past Ill o'clock
when she struck snag at Cahoka Bend, about three
miles below this city, and sunk Immediately and before
general alarm could be given.
The Mate had but moment before reported five faith
water and yet he had not walked the length Of the
vessel ere the water reached his shoulders He saved
himself by jumping overheard and gaining the hurri-
cane deck, when the boat sunk. The tine-the sud
sengersthe appalling character of the danger-the in
tense GOODNESS of the night he codest of the season all
operated to cause most agonising scenes.
| Men women and ehiidren almost naked, and par
TALLY submerged in the water calling for their re-
atves passing and fro in chaotic confusion en-
deavoring to obtain the means of selEpreservaton;
while others threw themselves into the river-and were
drowned Many incidents connected with this sad af-
fair, are very distressing. A young lady, who was
suffering from pleursy was drawn through one of the
state room doors up to The hurricane deck when the
boat caeened but she so debilitaed by pain and
fright as to be unable to standshe was accordingly
laid upon one of the Wagons with which the boat was
freghted, and upon the vessel making another urch,
she was precipitaed into the water -Four children al
SO perished from exposure while being conveyed from
the wreck to the shore. The Captain, when last recog
nzed was Ginning one of the irons which support the
chimneys He is supposed to be drowned; also the
carpenter, who was acting engineer.
The greatist loss OF life was sustained when the cab
in separated from thehull One ofhe passengers float
ed upon portion of the wreck far Vuide Poche,
when he was relieved from his uncomfortable situa.
tion,
As soon as news of the accident reached the city, the
ferry boat lecander was despatched to the place
and took from the wreck upwards Of 100 passen-
gers ......
Since the above is in type we are informed that many
bodies have been found supposed to have been frozen
to death after reaching the shore. number Of the
passengers were brought to the city 70 enable them to
procure clothing having lost every thing by this most
dreadful calamity.
LATER
We havereceived St. Louis papers Of the 9Th inst,
and extract the following paragraphs of immense in
terest.
A young man. Robert Bullock, of Maysville, (Ky.)
was up at the time the boat struck He seems to have
abandoned all idea of himself and turned his whole
| attention to saving the women and children. When
every male person had deserted the cabin he went from
room to state room wherever he heard child cry and
took it out and passedit up to the hurricane deck In
this wayne saved several women and children. His
lastefort was to pass up the Ohio fat girI2l0 lbs.
With the assistance Of one or two others on the huri
rcane deck he succeeded. A short time after getting
on deck the boat made lurch and Bullock took to the
water and swan to the Illinois shore His coat he had
given to lady on the wreck. When he reached the
shore, he found two young ladies' who had been put a.
shore in ski, and who benumbed with cold were de-
emined togo asleep. BY great cxertions he succeed
in getingthem to Cahokia
Mostof the baggage belonging to the cabin passen
gers will be obtained. The erry-boat brought up al
the passengers at Carondelet and Cahokia. An Eng
lish family from Manchester ten in number were al
saved Five succeeded in getting to the Illinois shore
four to nrMissouri side, and one was taken off th
wreck they were all reunited on the ferry boat at Ca
hoka, at moment when each party supposed each o
ther dead Such scene as that reunion we have nev
: er before witnessed.
" Mr. Moir, Virginia, and his brother, were on boar
with their mother and nine slaves. Seven ofhe slave
d were lost-the whites were all saved
d Levi Craddock, from Tennessee, lost three chidre
: himself, wife, and two children were saved
q Mr. Green, from the same place, lost his wife an
three children, and is left with two helpless infants upo
= his hands. The youngest but few months old
u Mr.. Snel who formerly resided within miles c
:, Louisville, Lost son and daughter.
h. The captain A. Howell, Of Coving!on, Ky undoub
edly lost From all we could learn we think he wa
in the act OF ringing the BELL when the boatmade lure
70 which carried the boilers, part ofth, engine and chin
neys overheard In doing So it is believed that he wa
o. disabled and drowned He leaves wife and eleve
children to mourn loss. His eldest son was wifi
!. him.