The New York herald., 1850-12-10

A correspondent OF the ST. Louis, (NI6.,) Repub.
lean, wnnng from Cape Girardeau, under date OF
the 9th ut., says
''About four o'clock this evening we landed at
this place, with the Saranak, bound for New Or
leans for the purpose OF taking on board some pas
seneers who had hailed the boat. lust after she
had landed and made fast, the clouds assumed the
appearance OF a storm, and as We were compara-
lively safe, we thought best TO hold on for a few
minutes until il would pass, as the wind threatened
10 blow hard Consequently extra lines were gotten
out but before we had time to get those on board
who went ont on the wharf boat 10 make her fast,
the storm struck the stern, GLOWING up stream at
the tme,) and in less than i've minutes the whole
entire cabin, hXtu.es and furniture, chimneys,
pipes, and in fact everything above the main deck,
was blown TO pieces. There were some two hun
dred ploughs on the root-they were blown for
ing carried the top of the hill, one mile from
the boat. The wharf-boat. ChamplaiD, was also
blown to pieces. The hillside was literally CO.
vered with the wreck of The boats But, strange TO
say, no one on board was killed though nearly all
were injured. Jos. Mccoy, pilot at the wheel,
when landed, was blown out Of the pilot house and
fell through the cabin, near the wheel house, his
ribs broken and shoulder cut, but We think he may
recover.
Samuel Hill, engineer, was blown out Of his room,
and fell between the boats, badly injured. Mr.
also severely injured, though the physician thinks
they will all get over H. Many others were slightly
injured Not one of the crew, or passengers in the
cabin, but has lost some of their clothes, and some
trunk and everything she had, blown overheard
and lost. Almost all the cargo above deck was
blown overheard, even barrels Of flour. The bell,
weighing 500 pounds, was blown hundred and
fifty feet from its place, but not broken. The stoves
in the cabin weie blown ashore after the cabin and
chimneys went 10 pieces.
The steam and smoke instantly caused the alarm
OF fire. which create the create 81 excitement among
all; but those of the officers and crew who were
not injured promptly extnguished every particle of
fire on board, aud then relieved those who were
he lpless and confined by parts of the cabin y ing
them. The eroans Of the njured soon brought
others who were not, 10 their aid. Notwithstanding
the calamity was great, the scene no tongue can
describe. The sanger was threatening, but not
of the officers left the scene, faltered
from hs duty. Every man stood to his post until
either blown away, or The timbers knocked him
| down.
| But have stD more painful scene to describe,
and that IS the destruction of the town. AS have
but little knowledge Of the size OF the town, and
darkness soon set IN, can only give you what
pe to 's 10
| ST. Vincent College, and the beautiful mansion OF
| B M. Horrell, are in ruins; the Convent is gone;
| the Catholic church, and al The buildings around
it, gone; the Methodist church. and every build
ing from mat 10 tie bridge, are more or less in.
| Jured; Mr.. Gitoney's warehouse unroofed; the
wooden bridge torn up; Mr.. Tompkins' new brick
house at the bridge literally wreck Messrs.
Byrne " Sloan new three story building, on the
corner Of Main and Theme streets, unToofed en-
tirely, and the zinc with which il was covered was
thrown for some hundreds of yards.
Mr. Surelrs three story house, thirty by fifty
feet the upper story hall for the Sons OF Tempe
rance, dedicated yesterday, now lies a shapeiess
mass Of ruins. Capt SuTell, wife and bid, were
in IL when il FELL but were not killed, though badly
| injured
| The easily warehouse, the Lacy buildings,
| roofs oil and walls shattered. Mr.. Penny's new
| three story house, gable blown in, roof damaged,
! Some twenty more houses, names not recollected,
| iniufeG-some badly.
| The telegraph poles and wires are all blown
| down. The people are etill running about town,
| and some mothers, with children IN their arms,
| may Re seen seeking places Of shelter from the
| stoIm and rain. j can find no language TO de-
scribe this awful scene-ihe heartrendng cries OF
the distressed mothers and hiliren were sgonizng
| in the extreme.
| Those who have houses left are Offering all the
| comfort their circumstances will admit Of, and /
cannot but admire the friendly disposition shown
] 10 the unfortunate by the citizens of Cape Girar-
| deau. 1 have never seen as much kindness and
| friendship Displayed towards any people as the
people OF This city have shown towards ZACH other,
and 10 us. though entire strangers TO them None
have been forgotten. They kindly invited us to
their homes, AMI gave US something 10 eat and a
place 10 sleep. Our sick and crippled are at the
Johnson HoSse, well provided for. The house is
full of people, and many more yet TO come.
Ten oclock.-Haye just heard the sorrowful in
telligence that one man was killed at the College;
and one lady (Mrs. kina) down town. Rumor
says six deaths As yet, only certain Of three
fifteen badly IL jured. some will die; ten OF twelve
slightly Injured. Physicians are doing all they
can.