New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-15
Steamboat Accident-4o to 80

as property IN the destruction Of the Ohio steam
boat Shepherdcss, Capt. Howell, eight days from
Pittsburg with emigrants moveabes and goods,
at II P. NJ of the Sd inst. by striking snag IN
the Mississippi, three miles below St. Louis. The
Republican of the 9TH says:
We have seen misery in many shapes, but,
with the exception Of one or two bow-ups OF
steamboats,, we have never seen any thing so llar-
rowing as was presented TO US yesterday. The
history of the matter is as follows: The Shep-
herdcss, from Cincinnati to this port, about II
O'Clock at night when within three miles OF the
CITY struck snag, Just above the mouth OF Caho-
k!a creek. The conclusion was very severe and
INST have torn out several of her panks. At the
moment Of striking, most OF the passengers IN
the oenlemen's cabin had retired to their berths.
The ladies were generally undressed tor the night
| Upon deck so far as we could ascertain from the
officers and passengers, there were some sixty or
seventy passengers, young and Old -Four or tive
men were sitting up in the gentemen's CABIN at
the stove In minute or two, the water rose to
the lower deck, where most OF the passengers IN
that mart OF the boat were asleep. One OF the
Pilots went into the hold, but had scarcely enter
cd before the rush of the water drove HIM out
The Captain who was on duty, ran to the ladies
cabin and assured them there was no danger, and
returned to the orecastle, which was the last sat
isfactory account we could get OF hlIn.
About this time screams and shncks were
heard from the deck below, and one or two ladies
who rushed to the stern of the boat, say that they
saw a number of persons IN the water Certain
it is. the water rushed in with tremendous rapid
| itv and IN about three minutes was up to the
floor Of the upper cabin. y portion OF those on
the deck were saved by getting into the yawl,
which was cut loose and rowed to shore with
| broom.
The water rose so rapidly that it soon became
necessary for all to seek safety upon the hurrl-
cane deck. Much difficulty was experienced IN
dojno So for the bow was sunk SO deep that the
only access was by the stern SO far as we
could learn we believe all the inmates OF the
cabin reached the hurricane root.
After the boat struck the snag, II drlftcd down
the stream. and few hundred yards below struck
another snag, which was far out of water. THIS
threw the boat nearly on her beams end on the
larboard SIDE Drifting from tllis snag, she agaln
lurchcd to the starboard. and at each lurch, sev-
cral persons washed off. Some OF them reached
the shore bat many were drowned. x short dis
lance below Jus. above the first shot tower, the
| hull struck q bluff bank, which aGaIn careened
| her nearly on her beams end. Here the hull and
cabin parted The hulI sunk and lodged on a bar
above Corondccl, and the cabin fioatcd down 10
the point Of the bar below that place. where it
! lodged and remains.
The Henry Gry was lying at the stot-towcr
above Carondeet when the cabin passed The
cries of the passengers aroused the captain and
he and his crew rendered efficient service in res
cuins the passengers in their yawl We eare told
that the captain Of the Bry worked until ne was
entirely covered with ice.
About 3 O'Clock, the Iccander, one of our ferry
boats came along, and went to the rescue, and
took of all who remained upon the wreck over
! lOO). 1t is due to this company to say, that in
addition to the service rendered by the lcelander
upoa her arrival at the wharf three men in a yawl
were immediately despatched to the assistance Of
the persons on the wreck, and they rendered es-
sentia service to them. In Carondelet and Co
hokia, the kindest attentions were shown to those
who got on shore.
This is the general history. We now speak
of particulars, and here we have so many instan-
ces of disregard of personal safety, in order to
secure that of Others that we scarcely know
which TO mention. One instance deserves re-
cord -
A Young man, ROBERT BULLOCK, of Maysvie,
! Ky., was up at the time the boat struck. tie
seems to have abandoned all ideas of himself,
and turned his whole attention to saving the
women and children. When every male person
had deserted the cabin, he went from state-room
to state-room, wherever he heard child cry and
took it out, and passed it up to the hurricane
deck. In this way he saved several women and
children His last effort was to pass up the OHIO
fat girI-240 pounds. With the assistance OF
one or two others on the hurricane deck, he sue
ceedcd. \ short time after getting on deck, the
boat made a 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 put ashore III skltf, and who,
bcnumncd with the cold, were determined to go
to sleep. BY great exertlons, he succeeded in
getting them to Cohokia.
We have several interesting incidents of the
heroic bearing of this young man, which we may
give hereafter.
Most of the baggage belonging to the CABIN
passengers will be obtained The ferry-boat
brought up all the passengers at Carondeet and
ten in number, were all saved. Five succeeded
in getting to the Illinois shore, four to the Mis-
sour side, and one was taken off the wreck
they were all reunited on the ferry-boat at Ca
hokia, at moment when each party supposed
the other dead Such scene as that reunion
we have never before witnessed.
Mr. MUIR of Virginia and his brother were on
board, with their mother, and nine slaves. Seven
of the slaves were lost-thc whites were all saved.
LEVI CRADDoCK, from Davidson county, Tenn,
lost three children,-himself, wife and two chill
dren were saved.
Mr.. GREEN, from the same place, lost his wife
and three children, and is left with two helpless
infants upon his hands. The youngest is but a
few months old.
Mr SWELL who formerly resided within tun