The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1851-02-06
THE SINKING OF THE JOHN ApAMs.-The

He SiNKiNG OF THE JOHN ADAMS.-Ihe
surviving passengers and several OF the Of
fcers and crew OF the John Adams arrived
here on the Peytona on Saturday night
we have obtained some particulars from
them IN regard 10 the disaster. The boat lett
New Orleans with over two hundred souls on
board. On Monday, the 9th ult., at three
O'Clock. when at the head Of island No. 80, in
the Mississippi, the boat struck what was
supposed 10 be IA snag. and almost immedia e.
ly went down, with the bow foremost, the alt
part OF the boat sticking up. She went down
SO last that, before the Passengers could be
aroused, the water in the forward part oil the
cabin was up to the sky-lights and the ladies'
cabin was under water about four feet. Capt.
Jones was standing la the main cabin nj the
time, and by his exertions aided by some OF
his officers the ladies and children were safely
transferred TO the after part oil the hurric;,ne
deck, the only dry spot on the boat, but they
had TO wade ia the water up to their necks.
The passengers IN the forward part OF the
cabin were nearly all drowned. Many OF
them were aliOrnlans on their way home.
vi the deck passengers, consisting mostly OF
Irish. some Germans, anu FIVE or SIX Italians,
all eXcepI three were lost. One of the deck
passengers SWAN five miles before he reach
cd the shore. There were only two lircmen
out oil l9, saved. and all the deckhands were
drowned. All the officers were saved
The loss OF Lille s estimated at l30 to 1875
souls OF which number about 80 were cabin
passengers, SO deck passengers: and the re-
maInder belonging TO the crew. We could
not ascertain the names OF any Of the sui
lerers. The books and papers as well us the
money i'm the clerks office were saved. how
ever, and that officer, who stayed with the
wreck, will probably be able to give the names
Of the persons drowned. Some OF the Cal
ilor ians had deposited their money with the
clerk others retained it in their own posses
sion. tLaIf
The CABIN shortly after the sinking of the
boat, broke in Two, and then hoated down The
river with the passengers on the deck. Pre-
viOus 10 this, however. raft was made with
planks and on it several men were dispatch
ed 10 the shore for IA i'd Most of the ladies
end children were thus safely landed. The
portion oil the cabin which foated of was
picked up by the steamer PeytOna. about IL
miles IRON where the accident occurred and
those on 1t taken on board at O'Clock in the
afternoon following. They were in Il very
destitute condition, most OF them having es-
capped in their night clothes and being expos
ed in that manner for nearly II hours
Fortunately the weather was mild.
Two children were miraculously saved
Holes were cut IN the boiler deck and through
them they were extricated from their berths
They were found lying on the ma resses,
which were floating OIL the water in the rooms
One Of them is sand to have been asleep
:. They were the children of Mrs. Hoffman
who had just returned from California. ~
The survivors who were taken ashore
were treated in the kndest manner by Mr.
Carter aud another planter IN the neighbor.
hood Of the accident. t,a- .l, a.s =
The passengers and officers also speal
highly oil Capt. Shallcross and his officers.
Lou. Journal.