The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-10
NEW ORLEANS
EsDAY MORNING., DECEMBER 10, 1850.


y SToRM.-Rarely has this section of country
messed hail storm that will compare in size
Z quantity with the one that whilened the earth
III night Many of the hail.stOnes were an inch
diameter, and covered the ground more than an
deep. [COncordia ln,elIigencer, 7th.
HE HURRICANE AT CAPE GIRARDEAU.-We
from the St. Louis papers the following &C
at of the hurricane at Cape Girardeau. 1t is
item by tbe clerk of the steamboat Saranak,
p:
-DEAR SIR embrace this opportunity of adj
ssng this note to YOU hoping it may meet with
ur approval, to inform you OF the dreadful calam-
n that has beiaen the steamboat Saranak, NO.2,
- also the town of Cape Grardeau.
About four clock this evening we landed at this
Ilace, on our way to New Orleans Shortly after
landing the wind commenced blowing hard, and
increasing every moment, and threatening severe
storm, consequently, it thought desirable TO
get out extra lines to hold the boat should the storm
increase, which was instantly done but the storm
increased in violence until 1t blew hurricane or
tornado, and then, oh heavens, what scene The
wind struck the stern of the boat, and stove in the
ar part of the ladies' cabin. The work of destruc-
ton commenced. In five minutes the cabin from
stem to stern, went to pieces. The chimney pipes
and, in fact, the whole entire upper works of the
boat, were blown to pieces, and part of the cabin
blown a mile from the boat up on top of the hill.
There about two hundred ploughs on the roof
OF the boat, and they scattered over the evee-
carried hundred yards up the bank and
broNeI. Nearly all the deck load was blown over
board and lOst-evcn barrels Of flour were blown
into the river.
But il does not stop here The misfortunes of the
i'll. ialed are yet untold. AS as the storm
ahat-d little, the wreck was covered with smoke
aud steam from below, the pipes being gone; then
The alarm of " boat on fire." caused the stoutest
hearts to shudler; however, those that were unin-
JuTs promptly to their duty, the fire IN every
part Of the boat was eKtingushed, and then to
the rescue of our injured men. The first groan
heard was Mr.. James Mccoy, pilot, who was at the
wheel hen she landed he was found in part of a
STATE room forward Of the staTbOard wheel house
his .bs on tie right side broken shoulder, head
aud face hurt: he was taken 10 the main deck OF
the wharf boat, and 4 doctor sent for. Next is Mr..
Bailey, passenger, blown across a hOg-chain, badly
iai0r !; sent ashore also. Mr.. Samuel Hill, first
ragWrer. blown out of the texas, and fill between
IN. Two boats into the river; head badly cut, and
o,.e-Wi ze injured The mate, Mr. lhurson, slight
ig D. u-pd. The bar-keeper had his hand and leg
hurt, Oue of the cabin boys slightly injured. Six
ot the iiramen aud deck hands slightly hurt they
being below, escaped the danger Of the cabin.
The passengers tonly ten) mostly escaped nnhurt
iHuULh they lUs some Of their baggage, and a lady
lt Ir cabin, who had room far atl, lost her trunk
and all sine had on earth. Most of the crew los
their clothes also some have lost ALL
The captain got below, on the main deck, and
sheltered himself with some of the rest behinC
some pork barrels, and escaped unhurt. The cabin
OF the wharf. boat Champlain along side is blown t
pieces also. The loss of goods and things on the
Whart-boat is as yet unknown.
S " clock. The rain is still falling in torrents
the town almost laid in runs-one hundred houses
destroyed and badly injured
As you have a description of the fate OF the town
trOm one better able to describe the scene, l vii
remark that yet the people running abou
the town, half of them with no shelter from tn,
rain. | have just come from the river to the John
son House (Which is uniujuredJ to our sick.
= see woman in the street with baby in her arm
SHE thinks her husband killed Several poo
mothers still in the streets searching for thei
children.
g0.c,gck-The pilot is easer-three deaths Ger
tau-rcnort says SIX Some men attempted t
cross the river, but the boat capsized-one or tw
lost. The students from the college have Just com
.o-one man killed at the college, and several in
ilrrd
u o'czgcE-Raining yet-people still in tn
streets hunting for their friends. The wind la
ceased to blow.
From what learn now, there are, including on
own, about twenty-five injured, some of them /
town badly hurt the doctors think some four or fv
Will die.
have given you but q faint description of TIL
awful evening, in fact no pen can describe, no lar
gaage can be found to express the feelings Of all
Ills during this scene--destructlOn is great, dstre'
battles all description. But still | will here remar
that never have seen more friendship eXtende
toward any people than the citizens who ha,
escaped extended towards the suffering, and n
even US, who entire strangers to them all, hay
been forgotten.
We have been kindly invited to their house
sdaa As are standing, and the most of the a
at the Johnson house Every effort is being mac
To render the sufferers comfortable possbl
though fear that some will be neglected. HOY
ever, the kindness and assistance we have receiv
from the citizens Of the town will never be by al
OF ns forgotten,
y o'ci9ck-The rain has ceased, the storm h
lo.Ied the excitement over. Grief and sorrow pr
walls The danger is past. Every officer on boa
r.,mained at their posts until blown away
knocked down. William Fry, the second eng
neer, and Charles Blunt were on watch at the tin
and never left the engines, though the boat W
euveoped in smoke and steam.
JOHE l. HARPER, ~