Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-11-08

From the Shawnctown (Tll.) Gozette-Oct. %.
Steamboat ColliSionl--LosS Of the Steamer
Plymouth, and the HUeS Of 20 passengers.
We are panied TO announce a dreadful
catastrophe--or rather a most negligent
destruction Of the steamer Plymouth, by
the Lady Madison, accompanied with the
loss of human life. The collision occurred
on Monday night, 9th inst, at about l0
o'clock, at the head of Raleigh Bar, six
miles above this place. The Plymouth
sank in few moments, and the untortu.
mates who were drowned were deck pas
sengers. German emigrants, who jumped
overheard.
We obtained the particulars from Capt.
Javens, and Mr.. Pepper, Clerk of the Ply.
mouth.
The Plymouth was bound for St. Louis,
with a full cargo, about $50 tons of mer-
chandisc, some 10 deck passengers, and
large number in the cabin. At the head Of
Raleigh Bar the Fulton was ahead of her,
and the Lady Madison coming up. Capt.
J. was con watch" on the hurricane deck,
conversing with the Clerk and Carpenter;
the Plymouth was on the right of the chan
mel, within hundred yards of the shore,
the river a mile wide; saw the Lady Mad-
son coming out of the usual course, and
stopped the engines, so that she might
choose her own side on which to pass
The Lady Madison is small stern wheel
boat. The Engineer of the Plymouth
thinks they hoa,ed about 400 yards, and he
shipped up the wheels ready to back her
as he saw the NJ. keep on her course. Capt
; ]. hailed the Madison repeatedly, request.
ing them to back their engines and keep
off, but no attention seemed to be paid to il
the Madison continuing across the channel
: as if endeavoring to get below the Ply
mouth, or between her and the shore.
The captain Of the Madison was not or
deck at the time, but came running up If
his shirt sleeves. The Plymouth had los
all Roadway, and the Madison's engine:
were not stopped until within a length o
the p. She struck just at the forward
hatch, cutting her clear through. Capt.
begged the Madison to hold on, as they
could do no more harm, and run then
ashore; but the Madison backed off, anc
=, the Plymouth sunk Immediately, up to The
boiler deck. The captain rushed aft to re
strain the passengers, but many in thei
fright had gone over, and the boat filled So
rapidly that no time was left for reflection
Il 1t was about twelve or fifteen minutes be
fore the Madison came up again, and ther
: backed up crushing the ladies cabin; many
sprang from the hurricane deck of the Ply
mouth to the Madison, and fell upon TIT
wheel, receiving broken ribs and sever
bruises, as the consequence. The pani
was extreme, and the screams Of the unfor
. &c c,,,N
2 posed that 25 or 80 are missing. On
IS whole family is gone. One poor woma,
a saved two other women and a child, bu
l lost, her own husband and one child. An
l. other lost all her family. The deck passen
= gers who were saved lost all their propert,
u many were even barefooted
s. We ought 10 state that the night was per
: fectly clear, starlight, and the Capta
Vt and pilot of the Lady Madison, upo
u being questioned, could assign no reaso
e or excuse for the occurrence; it must be al
tributable either to the grossest careessnes
n or to the supposition that the pilot wa
l. drunk. He had run the Lady Madison o.
j. the rocks opposite this place, whence sh
l. was pulled off by the Nathan Hale, an
J. came very near running into the Fulto
J. just few minutes before striking the Ply
D, mouth.
u The Plymouth is insured for $1,000
~ otherwise, boat and cargo a total loss. Th
&c Lady Madison returned to this place, bring
j. ing the officers, crew, and passengers. Tn
,, !, latter have drawn up statement, fully ex
l. onerating the officers of the Plymouth from
n all culpability, and complmenlng them 70
II their exemplary conduct in the hour O
: danger. 1t will be published.