Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-01-13
From the st. Louis Ariel, Jan. 4.
Terrible Steamboat Accident.

The steamer Shepherdess, Captain Howell,
from Cincicnnati to this city, struck snag in Ca
hokia bend, about three miles below town, on
the, Illinois side Of the river, at half past IL
O'Clock last night, and sunk in few minutes.
The statements Of several persons who were on
board vary so materially, that it is impossible
for us to give with accuracy the particulars of
this awful calamity. Some say there were not
more than $50 passengers on board, and that but
thirty or forty persisted; others assert that there
were nearly three hundred, and that from fifty to
one hundred must have been lost.
When she struck, an attempt was made to
back her off, for the purpose Of running aer
ashore, but she hung upon the snag. She then
commenced filling, and in few moments swung
from the snag and floated down the river, but she
had already sunk so low, as to be manageable.
The Pilot threw his lead line Immediately after
the accident and found no bottom with four
fathoms out. He says the water then burst up
the matches and he endeavored to cut some horses
loose on the deck, but before he could succeed,
the hull sunk SO rapidly that the water rose to
his neck and he was compelled to swim to the
boiler deck.
After she hoated of, the wreck careered from
one side to the other, and large number OF pas
sengers who were crowded on the after part oil
the hurricane deck We're rolled together into the
river. OF these very few, if any, are supposed
4
at the time of the accident, but many in attempt
ing to do so were drowned. The lower deck
was crowded with passengers, generally asleep,
and filling it to the ront Of the boilers. There
were also large number Of passengers in the
| cabin, many of them ladies, all Of whom are sup
aafa f hayf eay sskadsRas66 Hpa f he
hurricane deck into the river. The cabin floor
\ parted from the hull, and flcated about three
miles down the river, and the passengers who
were saved, chung to the hurricane deck which
sunk to the level of the water. Several ladies
were extracted from the state room doors open
ing on the guards after the cabin had parted from
the hull. Fortunately the Henry Bry was lay
ing at the shot tower, and Immediately despatch.
ed her yawl to the wreck. And after she had
made four trips to the shore, the Ferry boat Ice
lander, bound up from Selma, came along side
and rescued the remaining sufferers. A number
were also taken ashore BY ferry boat in the vi
cnity and few in two canoes The last seer
Of the Captain he was endeavoring to ring thu
bell, and was thrown overheard by the falling
derrick. He is supposed to have been drowned
Five or six young children were frozen to death
The ladies were saved in their night dresses, and
protected from the weather by the clothing O
the gentlemen. One gentleman physician O
St. Charles, lost about $1,000, in gold; anothe,
from Virginia, who had thirty slaves on board
had found but one of them when our informan
left.
I Dr. Victor J. Fourgeaud Of st. Louis, was Of
board, and made a narrow escape. Among tn
survivors there must be considerable nuinbe
who have been left entirely destitute and imme
diate measures should be adopted for their re
lief