Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-26

The PATHFINDER. I'm The Mate ex
Courier we find communice!icrl IL ftlas
ton to the burning Of this boat from which
we make the following extract. 4 gill he
remembered that the pilot wassaid g have
been driven from The wheel by the smoke,
before he could Steer the boat towards the
shore. One Of the passengers who escn-
ped from tho unfortunate boat passed
through this village one day last week,
and he spoke Of the affair to seyeralof our
citizens in manner we refrain now from
repeating, lest we should do injustice 70
the captain and officers. Justice 10 the
public, and 10 all concerned, requires that
the matter should be thoroughly investiga-
ted. The following Is the extract from the
Courier;
ave have not yot the usual certificate
generating The officers Of the boat from
all blame, and assuring the world that the
fire broke out spontaneously, while all
we're on duty, vigiIant and wachlul; but
this may be expected in due time, as o
matter of course, and when it comes It will
have the usual effect of satisfying nobody.
No one will believe that a steamer laden
with cotton bales has been burnt, and the
fire made such rapid progress before dis
coyery, without some great fault some-
where; nor will any one agree that the
sudden smoking Of tho Pilot from his
wheel, before the boat could be run on
shore, is credible story. Had the usu-
al order been obeyed, to put the boat ashore
upon the first iniimation Of fire, it is GER
tain that il could have beon done in two or
three minutes at most, and that is not sufli-
cient time for the fire 10 smoke the Pilot
from his wheel, or 10 drive the Engineer
from his duty. Besides, if the Pilots
house became untenable 50 suddenly, by
the breaking out of the fire at that place,
why was not the boat guided by the helm,
at distant point, where il is presumed the
smoke was not simultaneously felt? There
can be scarcely room to doubt, in this case,
as in nearly all others of the kind, that
the accident has occurred from extreme
negligence or carelessness."
Since the above was in type, we have
met with tho following statement, signed
by J. I. Hodgscn, the clerk Of the boat:
"On the morning Of the sth instant, at
hhoui half-pust two o'clock, the alarm of
fire was given, and the boat Immediately
turned towards the shore, but SO sudden
we're the flames that it was impossible to
reach it---every 'exertion was used to save
the boat, but in vain. The crew and pas
sengers endeayore1 TO save themselves,
some by sticks Of wood, bales Of cotton,
and planks. Immediately on the alarm
Of fire being given, three of the crew took
| the yawl--two Of them with the intention
OF saving themselves, the olher of render
ing assistance; as soon as the two were
landed, the one by the name of John Barge
came to the assistance Of the distressed |;
being on The forecaste with some Is or Ia
others, captain Moses and myself, after
seeing all 'ne resi- leaVe' go' on a P'ahk
and we're p'cReq up py 'ne yawi' near
ing me snrleks o. iehiales, we maze lh I,i
dia'eiy towards 'hcm' ana TOOK Mfs. I le,
ming oil me Stern 2, me ooat' anu PICKED
Up me enatnoerm W. ana a negro woman
from me RIVER we 'neh went 70 'ae as,
sisia1ce q Ii,ose mos' y neeu q !, ana
louna seveta' III SINKING sta'c' having
only s,ng'o suck o. WOOD ior support
and nearly ch'Aed 70 aea'h; Al'er taxing
them to the mousse oil MI. bonduraht' me
yawl was again sent LOT mofei on enqu,r-
ing Tor Mr., bondarant' we touna mat ne
had manned his sSlii ana Terry BOAT WIN
himself ana negroes, ana was employed