New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-30
Burning OF the Steamboat south America.
Renr Rnxn1 n

We have received from Mr. Hatman. first clerk
Of the steamboat South America. a detailed &c
count Of the destruction OF that boat by fire, at
o clock last Monday afternoon at the head of
Morgan's Bend, fifteen miles above Bayou Sara
The boat was from Cincinnati commanded by
Capt Logan. She started witha large number
Of passengers and heavy cargo, Many passen
gers aud much OF the freight were put ont on the
way down The boat ett Natchez a. 5 o clock on
Monday morning, aud arrived al Morgans Bend
having on board 4GG tGns OF freight and thirty cab
in passengers, Of VII N four were ladies' all deg-
tined for this city W. At the head Of the Bend,
and near the left bank OF the river the boat took
fire in the boiler deck, directly over tue middle
boiler. The order was Immediately given II rua
the boat ashore 10 the left bank which was done
In about two minutes the boat touched the bank
and was made fast. The engines we're continued
working to keep the boa. steady in her position.
AT the first alarm the passengers rushed for
ward few Of them having time to secure their
trunks. The frs. clerk. Mr.. Hayman, entered the
office and secured half the money, but left the
rest and books and papers, to aft and bring
the ladies' forward He succeeded in doing so,
the flames spreading so rapidly that one moment
more and the ladies' would have been lost. All
the gentlemen passengers got ashore safe after
assisting in every way possible to extlnguish the
flames. That however, was impossible In five
minutes after she took fire tue boat was in flames
from stem TO stern, and from the main to the bur
ricane deck. The rapidity with which the flames
spread may be imagined from the fact that by the
time that Mr.. Hayman bad run 10 the ladies'
cabin and hurried It's inmates forward and out OF
the social hall to the steps, the fire was within
two feet of him. He, however, escaped Qnlljured
The ladies who were saved, Mrs. Logan and
child, Capt. Logan family Mrs. Lascellas and
Miss Hooper, display ed great presence OF mind
during the danger. The oiticeTs-ca ptain, eng-
neers &c-sll stood to their posts to the last mo-
meut, until the boat was lied up and the passen
gers were saved. Mr. Charles b. BraZler the
pilot. stood at the wheel until the flames en-.
veooed TIE wheehouse He had to leap through
the burning boat to escape. Capt Logan did not
leave his post on The hurricane deck until the boat
was fast moored, He then came down to the
ladies' cabin to save MS vile and chud. Mi
Hayman and Mr. Carter, second clerk, were the
last to quit the boiler part o. the boat except MI
BraZier the pilot, who was the last man on board.
The loss OF life amounts 10 twenty seven persons.
Mrs White, the wife OF the carpenter OF the boat
was net able to get forward from the ladies' cabin
as its other inmates did. Her husband seeing no
escape from the flames then fast approaching
him. threw her into the river and Jumped in after
her He was unable to save her from drowning
She was only the cabin passenger lost.
The chief cook, Jackson Noles, n white man,
and three fremen, were last seen on the main
deck, Just aft Of the boilers, with their clothes on
fire. They had hold of the hose, and were labor
ing hard to extingush the fire. They were never
seen again, and were most probably burned to
death. ~,
The porter Of the boat white man named vii
liam Sheppard, from Evansville, Indiana was last
seen at the wash house in front OF the wheel
house He was either drowned or burned. a
Young man, name unknown, part owner OF a large
lot Of poultry on board was last seenln the water
holding on to the wheel house. He became ex-
bausted however let go his hold, and sank to rise
no more. He was from EliZabethtown, ILL.,
There were 100 soldiers on board, recruits tor
the Third REGIMENT of Infantry, their way to
ioin their various companies in Texas and New
Mexico They we're under the command OF Lieut..
Williamson They were scattered on the hurrl-
cane and main decks al had to jump overheard
TO save their lives, and swim ashore. Seventeen
were drowned. Two or three of those saved were
badly burned. One soldiers wife jumped over
board and was drowned. Another threw her lit.
tie child over first and sprang after it. Both were
drowned. None Of the non commissioned officers
of the soldiers were injured. Lieut. Williamson
was the only commissioned officer with the party.
Tie soldiers lost all their knapsacks, clothing and
baggage. The officers OF the boat lost everything.
The ladies' saved nothing. A few OF the pussen
gers saved their trunks. With that exception, all
who reached the shore saved nothing but the
clothes they wore.
waters edge She then sank in eighty feet OF
water Boat and cargo which latter consisted OF
flour butter sc. are total loss The boat struck
the land about halt mile below the house OF Mr..
Sueid, planter.
are as follows Gildermeister, Hunt, Tirank,
Reaser. Rosendale Drury. Dumont, Daily Day
err. (sirard, Hyer johnson, kimbie, Loomis Wer-
ther, Lindpainter, Downie.