Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-05-01
ra'crrss,7e. 80 F,sssor1t g.. SAM -
Great Lass CT HE.

1t is Cur painful duty. this morning, lo
record ono Of the most distressing ,icain-
boat accidents ttat has ever occurred on
the Ohio river.
On Monday night. about II o'clock,
the Belle Of the " est, bound from PRS
burg - S.. Louis. was discovered = be On
fire. li.,lc below Warsaw. in this State.
about 100 miles above this city. She had
a large number Of engers--iuIl io0iu
the cabin. and an equal number on deck
The IRE originated in the hold When it
was discovered. the boat was turned to tn
Indiana shore. about half Il mile bclo"
Florence. and run to the Land. whilst The
captain proceeded 70 arouse the pa>acn-
gers from sleep. a few at e time, not .sh
ing 10 create 4 CONSERVATION. lest gcncT-
Al panic and rush Git involve an unnec-
essary loss Of life.
The progress Of the Ere wa, trcln n
deus VI ilh.n Eve minutes after lis DIS
coscry the entire boat seemed wrapped il
flames. y large proportion OF the pass
engers were on board, and the scene was
nov terrible beyond description. Men.
women. and children were running and
shriekiny over cabin and deck; some, in
their confusion, nis,ooll their way, and
rushed into the midst oi the danes. and
others plunged into the river on the side
OF the boat tarhest from the shore, and
persisted in the waters. To add 10 the
horrors o. the occasion. the steam pipe
burst. or one Of the tlucs collapsed. in the
midst Of the raging fire, and three or four
passengers were dangerously scalIel.
The sight, and sounds upon the shore
were indeed awful. The multitude were
rushing in all directions. in search Of hus-
bands. wives. fathers, mothers, brothers,
sisters, and children: ana the shrek OF
doubt and anxiety. the wild scream of APP
prehcn>ions realized. and the cry of joy
at the meeting Of relatives and friends
.illed the air.
We heard some thrilling incidents at
tending this grea, calamity. \ fine, brave
boy. II years old. leaped into the river
and. whilst swimming toward the shore.
saw his mother upon the boat, struggling
to make her escape, overburdened by the
weight Of two little children. Lifting his
right hand from the water, he beckoned
to her 10 throw one Of. The children 20 him.
and she did 50. He swan with the child
10 the shore. and the mother escaped with
the other. and the whole family were
saved Many other families were far less
fortunate. OF the family of man nam
Ell Anon Waggoner. of Virginia. consis-
ting OF himself. his wife. end eig'l. chill
dren. three children were lost-a dauch-
ter of II. another of -. and little son
Of /. They were on their way TO Iowa
and lost everything they had.-About 50
German Noravians. from near Lancaster.
Pa. were on board. and many Of these
lost children and other relatives
We have heard some painful rumors in
regard TO the possible cause Of the fire.
\ family WAS put on shore at Cincinnati
on account of having the small pox
Some of the relatives Of the family on
board. were very indignant. and one of
them. i, is said expressed his belief tina,
the boat would never reach Louisville
Another. according 10 the statement of
woman who processes to have heard the re-
mark. said that the boa; should not reach
Louisville. The matches were down when
the boat left Cincinnati. but. a, the break
ing Gu; of the fire. they were missing. and
could not even be found. and two or three
persons al least lost their lives by falling
through the ha,chways into the burning
hold. During the conhasra.ion a trunk