Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-05-02
Horrible steamboat Disaster.

From the officers &c the S:eamer Wisconsin. and
on eyewitness 10 tire horrible scene, we are enabled
to CLEAN the following facts in conBeciion with the
burning Of the steamer Belle Of the West.
AT abnut twelve o'clock Monday night the boat
was discovered TO be on fire in In. hold. She was
Immediately run ashore, nrar Warsaw, made fast,
and stage panks run out Up to this moment the
flames had not burst fnrih The afier-hatch was then
raised. for the purpose of getting water in the hold;
but such the pressure of the flames that all Efforts
tn quel them entirely frutless. and in a few
minutes the boat was wrapped i'm flames. The total
number of passengers OH bnrd is estimated at four
hundred. among whom two C1fornia compa-
nies and about thirty families removing West. From
the register IL appears that sixty persons have
Perished aud the probability is that many have been
lost whose names not enrolled. Such was the
progress of the fire that, before the passengers could
get ont of their sateroms after the first alarm, all
Communication between the after cabin and the for
ward part Of .he boat Gu: of, and all were COM
pelied either to jump ovtrb rd perish in the flames.
The scene is described heart rendng. At the
time the deck fell in, lady and gentleman the latter
with child in his arms, were standing between the
chimneys.
| There a large number of horses on board near
ly oil of which were either burnt to- death bndy
injured to render il necessary to put them out Of
msery-lfadison Courier, April "a.
| OErIn the u. S. Senate, April 10, Mr.. WHIT
COMB, presented petition, signed by citizens of La
Fayette, Indiana, asking that the right of trial
by jury may be secured by law to fugitive slaves
arrested in any State other than that in which their
service is claimed.
| Mr.. w. also presented petition signed by cit-
zens of the same place, asking that no State may
herea ter be admitted into the Union whose constitu-
ton DIES not prohibit the existence of slavery with
in it's limits; which petitions were ordered to lie on
the table.
In the House on the 18th, Mr.. RICHARDSON asked
to offer resolution which was read for information,
as follows:
Resolved That's select of nine be appointed
with send for persons aud papers, inquire
epoIt t. this House whether Thomas Ewing etary of
the Interim, re"pned and paid e w. & w. G. Ewing
claim against The treasury If the United States of S77
00O after the had been adudicaed and rejected by
proper officer Of the government before said Ewing was
office Of the Interior; who were the agents
and attorneys fr said ciam what clerk in office Of said
Department of the Interior had interest in said claim aud
how said interest, IL any, was acquired.
5i Whether said Ewing eopened and paid interest the
amount OF S3l 600 The pension granted Commodore
duling the revolutionary after the principal
fully paid and dicharged aud said interest was paid
it simple compound who agent or attorney for
said claim and the authority Of law for payment
any.
3d. Whether said Ewing reopened and paid claim to
person behalf Of the Chickasaw Indians II
sos 00O after the had been sdjudicaie rejected
by the officer of the before said Ewing
nduced into the Office Of Secretary Of The Interior;
who the agent agents. attorney attorneys and
who was the party parties in interest; aud whether Ell
ther of said agents. attorneys or parties in interest held
at the time oisueh payment office under this
ment, or now hollis such; aud il so, what Office.
4ih Whether said Ewing usuIPed the power of appoint
ment in the Pension and General Land Office and whether
the SAID Ewing appointment reviews The opinions
cisions of the Commissioners Of Pensions order
tOn Of said ESng aud if So the authority for sue order
I, and direction.
9th. What persons in office by appointment from said
Ewing are correspondents for newspapers their salaries
aud what papers they edit or write for.
Mr. TooMBs felt called OH to object to the consider
ton, but only owing to the language used therein.
So the resolution not considered.