The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-09
The Destruction or the Steam bDnt John
Adams, on the 1ississippi.


The late calamity of this i'll fated steamer, by
which 70 many souls were launched into eternity,
has ere aied profound sensation of sorrow and a
melancholy gloom thro olghoui the western country
over one hundred souls were hurried, unwarned
and unprt pared, 10 their last account. Many who
were on their return home, after long absence,
with bright prospects and pleasant hopes, to rm-
brace agaln ,hose they loved now sleep bene j tn
the bosom of the Mississippi. with nothing TO de-
sgnate their place OF rest. Children sh rie ked upon
the waters they drifted along the dark tide and
mothers and iathers heard their voices they, TOO,
Struggled with death, without The power of help
ing haId--snd all died together.
The circumstances, we obtained them from
Mr.. Leoneni, the pilot, who was watch ~ the
time. are, in brief IS follow during he evening
and up 10 ten O'Clock, the weather was Misty, with
indications oi a fog; but II cleared ~, aud every
thing was fine ana fair for a r..n,-so muc So that
the captain, Henry A. Jones, left the deck with
the certainty that all safr and that there was
nothing 10 indicate even possibility OF danger But
at about three o clock In the mornag, 81 distance
of some $50 miles above Nicksburg, she struck
sawyer, or snag, and immediately commenced
filling. The boat was heavily loaded, and was
drawing about tea feet OF water al the time. She
became urmanageable, and Notwithstanding the
efforts ~ the pilotto run her bar, under full
head oi steam, she sunk IN less than ten seconds,
IN over sixty feet Of water. she wcnt down with
plunge, bow foremost, AID al such an aogle III
when the plot ran from his place. he took posi-.
ilon upon the curve OF the wheel house next the
deck, which was IN almost a horizontal line. at.
the boat WI re detached, the caoin broke ic two,
ard the chim1eys passed dowa through the casing
eud disappeafed. The two sections Of the abin
ilcated round and formed V, but finally dr,trd
together, ard those VINO were upon them, and
those only, were saved. The ca DIN drifed come
eight miles before II was landed.
When the boat struck. the alarm Was imnsdl-
eteiy given, and numbers Of persons, men, w"n-a
rnc children, nad dc their way 10 the deck. and taus
were saved I; but IS the warning was short, mum.
berg, GouD'ises perIshe9n their beds, or struggled
for life, ~ meet oee'h at i,st between the decks
The chsre -Wes esrC 10 Svo-k, ard ti,s n4diirs ii,
beat. after the boat hid c0ao down, and they c,a.
unUcd until The water, by passing through The
scare pipes, stopped them
The number lost Is estimated at one hu1irsd
snd twenty. or the cabin passengers (ah0st 10, y
over twenty are known to have perished; aod ~
the deck passengers (eighty) hut tUo ar. known
10 have been saved. Twtnty-one OF the crew,
deck hands aud trenen, were drowned.
1he books, ftelsier, M 4 money ufthe holt were
saved; and upon the return ~ Mr.. Wilson. the
clerk, we will be enabled 10 give the names OF
those who were lost, or, Gt least, number OF
them.
This is one of the accidents for which no blame
cen fell upun the oihcers, rs occurring where il
cid, and IN weather 50 favorable 20 ruuajng il i
matter Ui great surprise 10 The oldest aud most eN
peIienced nyer men The existence ci a srag
ihele had fever been knoyr or thought a.. aad IL
was one OF the last places where d9rgeF sss 10 b.
apprehtnd,d Cspt. Jnuf- n enc oi cur best IN [
most trcc,ssfu and icrlu2ste river men, and Mt
l.tNhhIu SQhhs S'spuN 10 noEf - = lllAI. ALL 10
ths IN the accident i unaccountab'e.
Among The passengers were Fome pefs0as on
their rttcra from California. Ihty lost al theT
had, ard had fair chance 81 lcslug more A
number cf those saved hailed IN the PeYtoaa a.
she passed, aad were taken BY thar boat to Louis.
vile.
since ,he above was writcr> Andw. ] : yeensy,
the Firft Engineer of the adams, has fufGlshe u
us The following Let Of he pcrs0ns hayedi--
tisr on rAssEtGgRs SAVED Trou TUE wEEGa o.
1HE sTEAaIER IONS ADAMS.
j. ssrfntsn ia.; John Jones. nj william D0is1u,
Cin.i John overall Ia, 9rs Hoffman and fnur chii
dEen, y. o Dir. Garish aad ron, cin.; Mrs. Whitney,
Lex, 8r Samyn and s1r "in Nr Uugs California
6csdlce Jin.; w. ~. BERNARD, d L. Hiehmopt,
do.i IohE Long 90: John nurk do jean DAniel,
oo n Bar =. DO; w. Williamson. ~, = Slhastlan
tpnog NsvGert; u. rstusn. cussviIlsG W. II Leo.
iaIG lpilol. Gin 4. ~ Lsmorsi DO; ". Chslrst.
Obtof n. DSuitOn Aberdeen, i. skslton % q Hivrn
aud sAughisr 0rio, 4. Crowlsy. Gin., Nn Eishep,
90 a. Il. Lanilton, - q. Ellvit, DO. 4. ssaaey
ter gnesrl. Gin y simmons d.: n. Earvte, 40 =.
Nnnning, d X. EccA Ia Ntss ". O'Ne, 81 ab8n.
VIE; Irene Powell TON; l. A. g.4rk Ntsaunsin; =.
II. HsyH, kentucky. ". a. Noetfidgs 10 Hahlen r.
llibbs 20 yames Lcgvson [, ~ Ruth, rsna
W Y. lroati hew York, q. y. snow, OHIO ". waite,
Tenn ~. r. Ittfp, Rtpn 4 Rn-sn. Nv; Joal
DortN, Cin; Jcssth Ccstel., y YORK; w. VIII aare,
Nsg Jerfey. j. W. Prior. New Otsans. A. r NzaElls,
II. u. biacLfore II. Hale, y. v. Gates, j. Chtn3i~r
ps Mor4uis D. solomon Cinsr =. Mrtis-r,
Otic, =. Su al Pa; ". n. Bc.d, j Ndsli. W NOst,
Ohio; !. pcsse Nee orr. D. Pagan, Va; W.
Bshop, Pa J. Char III, Ia. y. Ritoher, achigaa