The New York herald., 1850-03-14
the AWFUL STEAMBOAT DISASTER
ON THE
- i "A y a M a xIv = h.
~~>~NNNNNNNNoJ~~~~oN~
THRILLING NARRATIVE
BURNING AND ENTIRE DESTRUCTION
STEAMBOAT 0RLINE ST. JOHN.
Total Loss Over Half Million Dollars.
DC &c NC


otre for very full particulars Of the recent hsartsnd
ing calamity the Alabama River by which, probably
nearly nfty lives lost The disaster has created
the most painful hopes and fears In this city, many
persons from California with large amounts Of
gold and others with families In this
OF the country at this Of the year returning
from their southern visits.
The Orlins st. John steamboat ss has been previ-
ously announced in our telsgraphic accounts, left
Mobile Monday, the 4th inst, ct P. NJ for Mont
somery, Alabama. She had, nearly be ascer.
tained about 60 cabin passengers Is deck passengers
and her mplement of crew and attendants number
ing SO persons more The boat ran well aversgi ing
about fifteen miles against the current till half past
four O'Clock r. NJ, the 5th inst when the startling
and portentous cry Of Fire." aroused nearly every
on board to sense Of the perous situation of the boat
and all on board. The large quantities OF pitch pine
wood about 6fy cords slowed the boilers and on
Ihe boiler deck had sni.ed and In the course Of few
seconds ray two minutes, had enveloped the cabin
portion Of the boat above the boilers. The consterna
tion was general, and it only By the caution of
chose who escaped that their lives preserved.
Many leaped into the stream, and were swept under
the boat and down by the current almost instanane
ousy losing their lives by this dreadful casualty and
their anxiety to preserve their lives Others saved
themselves by catching floating fragments thrown
from the deck with whicA they were buoyed down
the stream and finally, co safety. MIR. Bass had hoped
to have saved Mrs Hail and daughter, beauifa girl
OF ten years Of age but Mrs Hall returned to the cabin
TO assist another lady and the whole party except Mr.
Bass lost the flames flashing upon every part Of
che beat, and adding terrors to the scsne already
fully painful from the sacriace Of valuable lives
tits supposed that there was not living being 10
The boat after the lapse Of two minutes from the alarm
though many had jumped into the water aud some were
rliu ofpUt "a fhs rpaa In sha~t
human energy was exerted to It's utmost, both by
The officers of the boat and the engineers Captain
Meaher and his brother the hrst mate exered them.
selves to the utmost to the lives of the pss.
ssngers Mr. Benjamin Pearce the pilot stood at the
wheel TIL the vessel ashore on the western bank
Of the river, which about Elk hundred yards wide
at the of the catastrophe vix-sbout four miles
above Bridgeport, and two hundred and twenty miles
from Montgomery. The engineers, with remarkable
presence of mind attended to the boilers and opened
all the valves in instant and thereby prevented
the Ices offe that might have resulted an explo-
sion. The prcnptisuds Of Mr. Psarcs whs the boat
sshors while she about the distance offour lengths
on is highly commended, as he only enabled to
cape from the wheel by eapng int the water hrsugh
sheet of Gre. when the boat struck abe ploughed In
20 the shore about four feet deep and thus those the
BOW preserved For those the rudder who we're
cut on by the flames from this Of escape there
Gas still great danger. The flames we're their
heads and they driven down to hold by the rud-
der TIL they could be assisted Among these was Capt
shaw. who was ultimately saved By . boat manned By
VIII long be remembered Capt. s. Just befor. the ars
broke out had retired IL his state and had fallen
to sleep He was awakened BY an unusual noise, and,
IN bis night clothes only succeeded In reaching the
rudder, whence he was finally rescued by Captain VI.
Many who jumped into the river at the first alarm,
Bile who was whried under the boat by the current
and probably crushed BY Its force Some OF those Who
ornd ssf. At sisspe. " siI or ss,sn mils. from tbs
ecene OF the disaster.
The details Of this msfrtuns are Of unusual interest
and throw together all the facts they have been
collected net ony as interesting to the public but In
Every article on board was consumed except trunk
Belonging to Col Preston OF South Carolina Who gene
<ouhy operedit to supply the wants Of his fellow
passengers were indebted for the immediate means Of
returning to their homes Praise cannot ennoble such
a nature The necessities Of the sufferers, many OF
whom only Ia possession OF their night garments
weon souniS Mr. ". aoRs y BISsspoPt psI sSd By
those generous planters Msssrs Psttiwsy, Roach, Es
The ladies remained at the stern Of the boa, until
their elsthins va. nearly consumed, and we're then
Mr.. car.on vas lostn endeavorins to save his son.
Mr. Me.her rssohed Mrs Hsll, and made most ,tren-
exertions TO her. She had her daughter In
her arms and the great weight Of both and the pose
full current mad. u impossible for Mesher to reach the
-hsre thus encountered. As 1t vas, owing 60 his
haustion, he only saved By the efforts of his bro.
thar.
ssid TO have been truly noble. By small canoe, he
enabled to save nine persons sir Of whom gsv him
purse Of about $3.50. The others too destitute
20 ofer more than their sincere thanks
The spread Of the fire was sxcesdinyly rapid. The
chimney sfeil In seven minutes from the time OF the
alarm. In ten mioutss nothing was left but the hull,
than burning ss it became buoysnt As she became
lighter she noated on into the stream, carrying her
ships, and when the remains found BY Captains
Meaber and shaw the next morning. there vas
thing left but her kssOn, with the timbers burnt half
The total loss is esum.tea at 100000 The boa.
IVES heavily laden With dry goods on which u :. re.
ported, considerable insurance had been effected In
this city The boat itself cost about $4,000, on which
there was insurance OF about half that sum. Capt.
ne hopes to be able TO repair Mr.. Bass lost his valu
able wardrobe aud the peculiar properties Of his pro-
s','.n sns sns mr Noiasa COO
The second mate, Mr. Hugh Hughes vas burned 70
death 70 his berth An the Grew s.eepi him ssv.d Ave-
thsnsslves. The steward, nevardessi sesond COOK
and eight negroes we're lost.
PASSENGERS LOST.
Judge Lindssy, Of Mobile. Seen BY Mr.. Be" to jump
NV S,.' al Hen ana esSsS,.s Supposed to 5. of Ausu.s.
Georgia
Mr. and Mrs. Mccain, Of south Carolina.
Mr., wright t-o ladies, and t~o children, unknown.
II. b. Carson and son, Of Dallas county.
Thomas stephens. printer, Of Camden.
Atlessttvelve or fourteen more, names unknown ;
mated, probably several others.
Dr Caidveii, Of Csmaep; somsvhst burned.
Edvsrd Maui, clerk Of the Farmer" burned and
Mr.. Rodnsn NJ Price, Of the Navy, rsualn.d ct
Bridgeport 70 recover the iron safe In which h said
re had over quarter Of million Of dollars
The annexed card has been published In the Mont
ags-ay .ffiss -
Ths unds.snsa survviss g.,.enssrs the errs. est.s
on the sh iss A. half past four p deem euty 70
publicly, thstnot the slightest of blame
ssn attached TIE captain and sces o. the vessel On
he they too highly conmend the devoted
ourss. ssd 9TH which c.gsi. ns.nsr ar D.sny
ssyss sd in rs.euns thos. wte dsss. 70 The
srssssd dss,sd under god fer the srs.rv..ion q
AZ ans pot Pesrcs running the boat ssh0r-
a. the earliest possible moment
me undsrsisned beg tender " Jusgs Bridges Of
eyiiesr sounty MsRas of Brisgspert Mr. Fetursy
asd M Ests their thanks Tor their kint and
onsdss,e hosptsty darins their distress And ihs ma
Jsarred deem act Of justice, most ehe.rfaly sad
r.sfry accorded notice the noble oondvct ef Abrsm
eavs of yuass erases Who. ~ nsnits peril snd labor
ssssa nias asstns IN the riv several ns' eessr