Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-06-08

nEThe steamer GAINESVILLE was burned at
the foot of Ozark island, on the evening of the
9th ult. Capt. Holmes and about thirty pas
sengers and the crew were lost. The cabin
passengers were all saved.
subjourn an account from the Memphis
Eagle of last Tuesday:
Our city was full yesterday ofrumors fthe destruc
ton OF the favorite and beautiful Memphis and New
Orleans packet GAINESVILLE, and the loss of life and
property accompanying it.
The fire by which this noble boat was destroyed,
was first discovered about mile below Ozark Island
No. Is, or 6 miles below Napoleon, at half past
FIVE, Saturday evening. The pilot remained at his
post till she ran round the Island and headed it. In
very few minutes after the discovery of the fire. the
beat struck the ground when tny of the passengers
might have gotten the forecaste and thence reach
ed the Island. AS soon she struck, the flames,
hitherto driven back by the current of air. burst hro
up into the cabin All the passengers who had gone
forward to the forecastle were saved by stepping
shore those who had remained in the aft cabin, fear
ing an explosion were compelled to jump overheard
at the stern, which lay out the current. All the
cabin passengers so far could be ascertaned, were
saved Of the deck passengers, two white ladies
and an infant child were lost Capt. Holmes and one
white deck hand, Charles Quinn, were lost.
Fourteen colored persons were lost, among whom
was Sam, servant of Gov Poindexter.
One of the boilers burst after she struck; and
subsequently, three kegs of powder in the hold
Neither of these accidents caused any ascertainable
injury
Gov. Poindexter and lady were both injured; the
former slightly and latter severely. Mr.. Barrow
and Mrs Lotion of this place were slightly injured.
Most of the passengers lost their baggage. None
of the officers crew. except the mate and barber,
saved their baggage 7'-a ''s5 = ~
Mr. Vaught, LIST clerk, escaped without hat coat,
or baggage but saved the money and papers of the
boat = ~ -se7 oa
Of the manner in which Captain Holmes met his
death there is no minute evidence Mr.. Whitman
informs that after he (N1r w had assisted Mrs.
Holmes and her neice, who escaped in their night
/ Clothes in the forecastle he saw Capt. Holmes go
1 back to the ludies' cabin He learns that Capt. Fl.
there proceeded to compel the ladies', who alone re-
manned take chairs with life preservers attached,
and leap into the water, which they were reluctant
to do. Having succeeded in this sensible and hu-
name al tempt, he proceeded to throw baggage from
| the burning boat When last seen he was in the act
of leaping, apparently weak and strangled by the
smoke from the upper guard He failed to clear the
lower gnard, struck it, and volume of smoke closed
over the gallant and true-hearted officer. He no
longer numbered with the living, and persisted in the
stern and courageous discharge of a high sense Of
i duty 50 8n5- H $50 f,1ls SIS - a14rsz 81
The accident was beyond the prevention of man
i The fire originated Immediately above the boilers
under the social hall, and defed all energy and la
4 Dor. iT.~ t.le