The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-05-01
Full Particulars of the Disaster to the
Belle of the West.

Fun Particulars of the Disaster to the
Belle of the West.
CINCINNATI, April 26.
On Monday evening 22d inst, at O'Clock,
the Belle of the West left the port of Cincin-
matt bound for st. Louis, with about two
hundred and fifty or more passengers inclu-
ding deck and cabin all told. with crew of
FORTY in number. No freight wtts taken out of
the hold after the boat left this port. and moth
inc done. and the matches not raised. EXCEPT
the usual examination ofthe watchman, pre-
vIous to the discovery of the smoke.
" hen opposite Florence, Ia. l discovered
smoke issuing through the joints Of the for
ward hatch, which gave me some uneasiness.
when called 10 one of the deck hands. who
was standing near, to raise the hatch TO see if
the cause was below the appearance of more
smoke proved my suspicion to be correct, and
immortality ran 10 the hurricane deck and
ordered the pilot to land the boat. that there
was fire in the hold. Next returned to said
hatch and found two men had gone down with
the hose. | ordered them up to get aft and
get all the passengers on deck forward, while
/ went through the cabin. assisted by the
second clerk and steward to wake Up the pas
sengers. which did with all speed possible.
and exhorting them to prudence-that the
lives and leave baggage the boat is landing,
and all may escape if you will act prudent
ly.'' The awful scene that followed. after
the alarm, you can better imagine than can
describe. from the time first discovered the
smoke until the boat was landed, which do
not think was outside Of five minutes
had under my protection: lady, the wife
of MAJOR Vincent Philips, of Hoidaysburgh,
Pa. whom | felt very ANXIOUS about, as she
was in the very extreme end Of the ladies'
cabin and the only lady unprotected on board.
10 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. to d her to come
quick the boat was on fire. She handed me
ii portion of her clothes and turned to get her
trunk told her to let the trunk remain. she
might loose her lheas both could not be saved
Many had q ne ahead OF us, but |, succeed
ed in getting her on. on shore when she re-
quested me TO leave her, and return TO the as
sistance Of others. that she could get up the
hill without assistance as il was not steep
Up TO this time The fire had not reached the
cIbin floor. On my return ] met many who
were trying to save baggage; and many
children were pushed and crowded off the
gangway into the water. | then went in and
pulled them out one after another. and passed
them 10 the shore, and then cleared the
gangWay of trunks and boxes for the passen-
gers TO make their escape; at this instant, |
discovered ii keg ofpowdrr, which gathered
Up and hallooed POWDER " at the same
time holding it up that all who might see it,
would understand my meaning ifrhey could
not hear me ; to escape Fl om The effects Of AN
explosion myself was impossible should any
more be III the hold. After making the ex
hibitiun, | went into the river with the KEY in
order ID get 1t entirely out Of the reach f fire.
but unfortunately the current was CARRYING it
towards the fire again. then ran in and got
it ont. at which time the mate came and took
it from me and carried TO the river below the
boat.
Samuel Masters, the carpenter. used every
effort to get in the hold to scuttle the boat, but
oil raising the hatch. so dense was the smoke
and hear thatit was impossible. In trying to
replace it, IL fireman. who WIS assisting him.
fell down though. but was recovered by the
carpenter who cnught him by the heels as
he Tell. This misfortune caused the fire To
get too strong for Them 10 replace the hatch.
He (the carpenter) tells me he did not leave
there until he had examined the beds of the
deck passengers. surprising. through fright.
some might have left their children but
found none. and the next thing tor him was
TO get ashore. which he did by .'etting' 10 the
hurricane deck and coming lown the derrick
and spar. losing tools, baggage and ALL
Alter all was saved that could be wed we
then proceeded to assist in making the pas
sengersa us comfortable us circumstances would
admit. had fires built along the shore. the
houses being occupied by the wounded.
cannot close without expressing deep sense
OF gratitude towards my officers aud crew,
who, 10 man. stood TO his post from begin
ming TO end. Nearly all of the above state
mens fell under my observation and are
correct.
One question is frequently asked, and that
is. how is it that all the officers and crew
were saved, which is easily answered. The
accident occurred at IL clock at which time
a chlnge of watch takes place Those not
on watch were in the act Of getting up, being
Just called; consequently, we had the asSi$-
tame" of all, in place of half the crew, to aid
in rendering assistance return my sincere
thanks to the several steamboats,, viz VISi-
tor. Hermann. Diadem, Citizen and John
Adams, for their kindness and iherality ex-
tended to our passengers and crew.
d. S. JAMES, Captain.
SIP[t is stated that every State in The