The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-03-22
THE STEAM BOAT DISASTER.
BRIDuEPORT, (Ala. March s.


steam boat Orlne ST. John, Capt. II. Mea-
her, left Mobile on Monday evening, fol
Montgomery. and when about four mile:
above this place, was discovered 10 be or
fire on the arboard side, near the boilers
was sitting directly above it when it frs
made its appearance. We had just taker
on beard about fifty cords of pine wood
and my opinion is that in less than three
minutes from the time it was first discov
cred, the cabin was an entire sheet OF flame
There were about l20 souls on the boat n,
the time, and have not seen more than
so persons since came ashore. As soon
,, as The fire was discovered, the pilot s;eered
her to the shore, which she reached before
her wheel ropes burnt off. She ran ashore
in very dense cane break, her bows on
and her stern standing out in the river
Those who were on the front part of the
boat got ashore, who were but few-the
greater part Of the passengers ran 10 the
stern TO get into the yawl, but the deck
hands and firemen had taken possession OF
it. and had left the boat. To go forward
was now impossible, as the boat was one
solid sheet of fre. and there was great dan
ger OF the cabins falling on ,hem. As the
fire spread afr, the scene was terrible; la
dies and children had gathered in the ex.
,reme after part OF the boat, and their cries
for help can never be erased liom my me-
mory. If the yawl had been brought back
they nigh, all have been saved; bu, the
deck hands who had taken il ran ashore in
the cane brake, and before the Captain and
his brother, the first Mate, could return
with it to the burning wreck, they were all
burned or drowned without an exception
The Captain did all he could TO rescue The
passengers, and he did succeed in taking
those off who were on the rudder. Those
who were fortunate enough TO get ashore
were taken TO the house of Mr.. Mark II.
Pettiway, where every thing was done for
them that lay in his power. Several were
sadly burned, but DR.. Caldwell. of Cam.
den, was among the passengers, and he
did all in his power TO alleviate their con-
diuon, although he was severely injured by
the fire.
The Captain had been pushing the boa,
in order to meet the cars a, Montgomery on
"Wednesday. There were two Caliiorn'a
merchants who had just returned. having
with them nearly $4,000 in gold, which
think will be lost. as the boat has this
morning noaed off in deep water and sunk.
There was also $4,000 in California dus,
in the sale, and think the, actual loss is
not far from 100000. The Captain did
all in his power, bu. no earthly power
could have done anything under The crcun,-
stances. Had The cane brake taken fire. all
who had go, ashore and in the brake would
have been burned. | got considerably
bruised internally, and one Of my hands is
slightly burned, hut | am thankful ,ha, its
not worse. The safety valve ropes burnt
OF, or in all probability the boilers would
have burs'ed, the fire having melted the
joints Of the steam pipes, and great many
persons supposing the boilers were burst,
ing. jumped into the river and were
drowned. 1t never will be correctly as.
cerained how many lives were lost, as
none of her books were saved. But one
thing is SUR, neither lady or child remains
to tell the tale. There was passenger OF
board who had life preserver and could
swim. bu, refused 10 give i, to a lady who
asked it for her child All the ladies were
willing 10 sacrifice their own lives for the
preservation Of their children.
C.. w. s.