Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-16
FEARFIIL CASUALTY.

BURNING OF THE STEAMER oRLINE ST. JOHN.
The Southern papers bring us painful details of the
dreadful accident which befel the steamer Orlne ST.
John on the Alabama river, about three miles above
Bridgeport on the 9Th inst. The Mobile Advertiser
states that she left that city Monday evening the 5h
with some fifty or sixty passengers. The number lost
is supposed be about thirty Among these were Hon
George F. Lindsay, prominent citizen OF Mobile.
The Montgomery Flag, of tie 9Th, gives the follow
ing account of the disaster, learning the facts from pas
seugers saved
The scenes, say the passengers. were terrific. The
ladies and children also said, might have been saved
from the of the boat, except from the hasy and
nsubordnate conduct OF some OF the crew. In taking OF
the yawl some distance down the stream, where they
landed as their haste they had neglected 10 take oars
The captain when he found the yaw, had much diff
Guilty in reaching the boat, and could not do SO in time
to save the ladies' He, however, rescued six persons
who were cnging to the rudder. The engineer re-
NAMED his post in the midst ct the fire. although
severely burned, until the boat struck the shore; he
then had the the safety valve and stop
the engine, which saved many who were floating, from
being swept into the current and drowned MT Carson
was lost in endeavorng to save his SON The ladies re-
NAMED at the stern of the boat until their clothing
nearly consumed and were then forced to spring nohe
river.
A passenger described the instantaneous spread
of the flames, as rapid as fire in dry shuck pen or
dry grass prairien three minutes the cabin hadtalen
in The destruction of boat in broad daylight on the
Alabama river by fate so instantaneous, and with
such heavy loss OF life, seems as unaccounable as 1t IS
There were number Of returned Ca1ifornians on
board who lost their all. Col Price, u S. Agent from
California lost his baggage with which two hun
bred and fifty thousand dollars belonging to the govern
ment A large portion of the in charge OF Nj
Price in gold dust in the safe, and may be recover
ed.
The register OF passengers was lost We are fur
nished however by the clerk of the boat with list OF
the casualties, as far as ascertaned.
Losr.-Mrs. Hall and daughter, (supposedl OF Au-
Kain, Mrs. Haley, Mrs Wright and one or two ohersi
Messrs McKain, of S. c. T. B. Carson and son, of
Dallas county Judge Lindsay, of Mobile Thomas
Stephens (plinter,j of Camden; four Others
known; Hugh Hughs, I'd mate; Peter, (stewardD Eas-
ter (chambermaid0 I'd cook and negroes.
SAyEp-AU the crew with the exception OF the I'd
mate.
The Augusta Constituencies the report as
10 Mrs Hail, of Augusta being lost. No such person
was on the boat.
Mr. John S. Preston, OF Columbia, S. c., who es-
capped, and whose trunk was the only property saved
from the wreck reached home on the 10th. The Ca
rolinian says
We deeply regret to learn from him that gloom
will be thrown over neighborng community ofCam-
den. Messrs VIM Mckan and J. r. McKain, Esqrs.,
citizens of that place, and two ladies, Mrs. and Miss
Vaughan who formerly resided there, and who were on
their way thher to visit their friends were all lost
Mr. Mckain was one OF the most prominent and enter
prisng citizens of Camden, its chief municipal Of
hcer and gentleman whose loss will be felt and deep
ly depored by the community.
Mr.. Preston describes the scene as heart ding
The boatwas about nifty yards from the shore, when
the alarm was'given she Immediately headed in
that direction; but swiftly did the flames spread from
the middle OF the vessel, thatall communication with
the passengers att off and in five minutes after
the alarm, all were lost who now missing. AS the
boat went crushing through the cave and willows
the shore, these Immediately caught fire. and rendered
the still more terrific, and prevented all aid TO
those who were perishing.
The following rescued passengers have published
card tesifyng their gratitude Capt Meaher for his
exertions. They specially notice "the noble conduct
Abram. slave of Judge Bridges who, at infinite peril
and labor, rescued nine persons floating in the river
yeral miles below the wreck Such an act of heroism
they say in all its details, has rarely been witnessed
and should place this man. in the estimation OF ali hui
PERSONS besides those who have received the
highest testimonials for the voluntary preservation OF
human life .
B, Shaw New York; J. s. Preston, S. c.. John
west ga; John N. Soule; ]. D. Lucas, Sumter coun-
ty A. y: Hodges N, o.; Richard Esterbrook. N. O.;
c. l. Schoonuaker; John J. Frazer S. c.; D. Webster
Schmidt, 5: CSC Bass, A O. H. New York; ] R.
Goree, Mobile, Thos. Cargill, J. H. Hudson, John G.
Steele.
The N. Y papers publish despatch dated Bridge
port, March g. from Lieut. Rodmsn M. Price, of the
U. S. Navy who supposed have been lost by the
burning OF the steamer Orne St. John, on the Alaba-
ma, announcing that he and Mr. Renhouse escaped |
without injury, He says the accident will cause him
days detention, but does not mention the loss of
the gold
Mr., Bass, the actor, reported 10 be among the lost
has teiegraphed TO New York that he was saved.
A great negro meeting TO condemn Mr. Websers |
sueech was held New Yok city, at one OF the "co
lo sdn churches "Wednesday night