The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-08

Full r.rslou Isrs or the Burnlng or the
Steamboat Belle ~ she West.
STATEMENT or THE cArrAN-LTsr or SAVED KILLED
AND WOUNDED.
From the Cincinnati uaze<te Aprii I'll
On Monday evening, 22d inst d O'clock the
Belle Of the West left the port Of Cincinn A., hound
for ST. Louis, with about two hundred and i6ffv or
more passengers including deck and cabin. ali told
with crew of forty in number. No freight was
aken out Of the hold after the boat left this mort
and nothing done, and the matches not raised. ex,
cept the usual examination of the watchmen, pre-
vious 10 the discovery of the smoke. When on
poetic Florence, Ia, | discovered smoke issuing
through the joints Of the forward hitch, which
gave me some uneasiness, when called one of
the deck hands, who was standing near TO raise
the hatch TO il the was below; the appear
ance Of more smoke proved my suspicious TO be
correct and Immediately ran to the hurrc ane
there was fire in the hold. Next, returned to said
hatch and found that two men had gone down with
hose. ordered them to go ait and get all passen-
gers on deck forward, while went through the
cabin, assisted by the second clerk and ard to
wake up the passengers which did with all the
speed possible, and exhorring them to prudence
that The boat was on fire in the hold SIS I'VE your
lives and leave baggage-he boat is landing, and
all may escape il you will act prudently" The
awful scene that followed after the alarm, you
better imagine that can describe, from the time
] first discovered the smoke until the boat landed,
which do not think was outs de of five minutes.
had under my protection lady, the wife of Maj.
Vincent Philips, of Hodaysburgh, Pa, whom
felt very anxious about, as she was in the room
on the extreme end of the ladies' cabin, and the
only lady unprotected on board, to my knowledge.
worked my way through to the ROOM and pushed
the door open, found her getting up, having heard
the alarm, but was dressed only in part. told hsr
10 come quick-the boat was on fire. She handed
me portion Of her clothes and turned TO get her
trunk. told her to let the trunk rem .in-she
might lose her life, as both could not be saved.
Many had gone ahead of US; but | succeeded in
getting her out on Shore when she requested me to
leave her, and return TO the assistance of others
that she could get up the hill without assistance, as
| A WA q had No
reached the cabin Iioor. On my return met many
who were trying to save baggage, and many child
rem were pushed and crowded off the gangwiy inI
TO the water ! then ran in and pulled them out,
one after another, and passed them TO the shore,
and | then cleared the gangway of trunks and
boxes, for the passengers to make their escape AT
| this instant discovered keg of powder, which l
| raih,r red up and haIloed "powder," at the same
time holding it up, that all who might see it would
understand my meaning, If they could not hear
| me. To esq pc from the effects of an explosion
| myself was impossible, should any more be left in
he hold. After making the exhibition, went into
The river with the key in order to get it entirely out
Of reach of IRE, but unfortunately the current was
| carrying 1t towards the fire az ain. l then ran IN
and pot il out, at which time The mate came and
took il from me, and carried il below the boat.
Samuel Masters, the carpenter, used every effort
to get III the hold TO scutte the boat; hut raising
the hatch, dense was the smoke and heat that 1t
Was impossible In trying to replace il, fireman,
| who was assisting him, fell down through but was
recovered by the carpenter, who caught hun by the
heels he fell This mis- fortune caused the fire TO
| get too strong for them TO replace the hatch. He
Qhe capenter) tells me he did not leave there until
he had examined the beds CT the deck passengers
| supposing, through fight, some might have left
| their children. but found none; and The next thing
| for him to get ashore. which he did by getting
| TO the hurricane deck and coming down the der
rick and spar, losing tools, baggage, and all
| After all saved that could be saved, we then
proceeded 10 assist in making the passengers as
| comfortable as circumstances would admit had
| fires built along the shore, the houses being occu-
| pied by the wounded. cannot close without ex-
pressing deep sense Of gratitude towards my Off
GERS and crew, who, 10 man, stood 10 his post
| from beginning to end. Nearly all oil the above
statements fell under my observation, and are cor
| rect. One question frequently asked, and that
| is, how is il that all the officers and crew were
saved? whichis easily answered. The accident oc-
CURED at II o'clock; II which time chance Of
watch takes place. Those not on " .tch were in
The act OF getting up, being just called; conse-
gucnty, we had the assistance of all, in place OF
half the crew, to aid in rendering assistance.
d. ). JAMES, Captain.
Last Of Passengers Sarsd.-4ob-rt Campbeil Canada
West; John Ames, do; James Stevenson. do: Jamcs
Sosn as S"hn o
Sistcisville, Va; Henry Hupp Ohio; VIM Daniels,
SSoH eISssy va James Martin Mas Herman
do; l. A. J. Haley Va; Theodore Williams, Cincin,
natl; Jos Garnett, Va: benjamin Bumsardncr Ohio;
Boury, do; John NJ. Newton, do John pili Maine;
George Geyer and family az Pepu-ylvani,; jacob
Tollm"n. do; Henry Geyger. do; Hiram Steven.
| so do; Perry Stevenson do; John sugars Do:
VIM; Bond and lady. do; Henry Hsmbden Mass /; ~
do; Frank sienref. do; john Lewis. Ohio; "' j.
Bond Springfield. Pa; Charles Eide. Penn; George
| Mehl. Cincinnati; @. A. Quick and family llG va:
Daniel Reubles and family (6) Penn Arch MeK,lisr
Michigan Mrs Keller, Penn James Gardiner Gin.
a%, as P.ps os,,h osp Mo Fred 40 Blessing and
sucker: do Laurence spaun. Cincinnaii Joseph
Mh.ari do Geo Preagle, do; }. Y. Bstchelor Port
5. Csdy. Newton. Illinois; Isaac MitmAn Wells,
vile. Ohio; Abraham Funk aud family D.upha
county. Iowa Jacob sauser and lady vandalia III;
Peter Yordy and son. Lebanon county. Pa; Lawrencs
Qost father and mother). Keithburgh IN; a. y Tur,
man. cineinnasii Jacob Hikes, Cumberland, Pa; or.
bueh, KY VIM Ross, Palmyra Mo-; Tho, Ross do.
Philip iiornbrook and family, Gl Evansville Ind
Ps srsl so Mr. sl MIR Lss' And 'Sy DO
drph soun,y Ia pr Cox lady and three ch,l
Nr. Cheat do; Isasc Landback, Peoria III; Mrs
Lspdiaek do Edward Dorsey, Pittsburgh; r. NJ
nally do; John Cshora. do; Daniel Wood Equality
III; Harvey do; Jas MeNsill, Sparta, nj; Geo'
aud lady do; Philip james. St Louis
There we're some forty or more passengers len the
Let o. Missing and Hj.rsd Jeremiah umberg~r,
psuphln County Pennsylvania John Anders and
ron aar,s' IA, one "a care Of son rr,deres
. and yesrs, savsd) Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Mr.
kelLr wife and three children Penn.ylvauia; Amos
Nerdy. Lancaster. PENNEY lvana; Lady. (cabin pas
ssnperD nsm. not known Man. wife and six children,
names net known. St Mary's Landing Virginia three
chiidreb OF Mr. WAGNER Pennsylvania two uermana.
d.ck passengers names not known. took passage at
clneipnst sfnmily consisting OF two two women,
ana Tour children names not registered Cincinnati
burned Seto,ip-John Bum berger Daupbin roantv
Psnnsyivania; Levi Verdi Lancaster county Pennsyi
wanna hopes RE entertained thst both will recover
HtrredShshp-Miss Yerdy Lancaster county PENN
syvsnia Some three four others very slightiy
burued-not reported.
iNcip,rrs or Ils DEsrRcTioN srxsNposr Az
IheNt NANrS- The Cleveland Ohio. PLradeaisr.
sOth ult. says-Ernm the snrxixors We sathsr anna