Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-02-07
Awful and Fatal Disaster {
Board :lM Irish steamer,

On Tuesday night reports reached Liv-
erpool OF a terrible loss of life which had
occurred on board OF the steamer London
derry, plying between Sligo and this port,
and though the frstaccounts were strange
ly incorrect and horrible, yet when the
truth became known, it was shown that
the loss Of life had been rather understat-
ed; while, though no actual crime had
been committed, the details Of the true re-
lation were not whit the less narrowing
and distressing than those of the fabricated
story first transmitted. 1t appears that
about four o'clock on the evening of the
first Of December, the steamboat London
derry left the harbor of Sligo. There
were on board of her three cabin passen
gers, number of sheep and oxen, and
about l5O emigrants. The vessel was
crossing over to this port, whence the ma
jority ftheunfortunaie passengers intend
ed 10 proceed as emigrants to America
Towards nightfall a heavy gale came on,
and at last blew with so much violence,
that shortly after midnight, or rather to-
wards one o'clock on Saturday morning,
the decks were cleared of all except the
seamen. The Storage passengers, per-
haps one hundred and fifty in number,
were crowded into the fore-cabin, men,
women and children, and were driven,
below-driven, we say, because several
struggled against those who forced them
down the companion-ladder. After some
difficulty, however, many rcmonstrances,
and much opposition, the poor emigrants
were crammed into the narrow compass
OF the forecabin, a compartment little more
than eighteen feet long by eleven feet
wide, and seven feet high. The space
was capable only Of accommodating about
forty passengers, and here were nearly
one hundred and fifty Of both sexes, hud
died together indiscaiminately, the old and
the young, the robust and the sickly, the
adult and the infant.
Meanwhile, the sea was running high
in the channel, so that the waves repeated
ly broke over the steamer. Then it was
that, through the negligence OF those who
were responsible for the lives Of the peo-
pie on board, measure of lnomentary
convenience was adopted which led to a
catastrophe, the like Of which has only
occurred before in the notorious prison Of
Calcutta. The companion, the only aper-
ture by which the forecabin received
ventilation, was closed and over the COM
panion was nailed down piece of tar
paulin! This was at about midnight, be-
tween Friday and Saturday. The result
proved to be only such as common sense
would tell every one was inevitable. The
dizziness and qualm of seasickness was
very soon forgotten in the uncomfortable
sensations Of sufocation. Efforts were
made to force way out Of the confine-
mnent; they were found to be unavailing.
ohouts were made to attract attention; they
were drowned in the roaring noise Of the
storm. And then according to the descrip-
lion Of the few survivors, ensued spec
.acle such as sets the imaginatiohs Of even
the most morbid at defiance. The steamer
drove bravely through the tempest, while
those who directed her remained wholly
unconscious of the frightful conflict for
lie and death which was then raging in
!, her very entrails. The trampling and
beating sounds within the cabin were rem
dered inaudible by the throbbing of the
pistons, and the shrieks and groans Of the
sufferers only died away with the gale to-
wards morning. Not till then were
: ihe seamen aware Of the tragedy which
"ad been enacted under their feet.
out Of the one hundred and fifty pas
Sehsers who had been driven down the
companion ladder few hours before sew
esaty-two were found to have perished!-
wen and women, and little children, hus-
0aaas and wives, sous and mothers, were