Southern shield., 1851-02-08
[ Correspondence of Me Menphis Express.
 AWFUL DISASTER!
STEAMBOAT JOHN ADAMS SUNl9
 100 LIVES LOST ]! 0
ON BOARD STEAMER PEYToNA,
 January 18th, 1851.

DEAR DoCToR " Yesterday about lO| o'clock when on our way up, we observed a quantity of steamboat Work--doors, the side of the wheel house, 61c.-foating in the river, and on arriving at GreenYlIIe, Miss, we learned that the steamer John Adams, which left New Orleans on Thurs day, bound for Cincinnati, full of freight and passengers-Was wrecked a short dist ance above. Capt. ShalIcross immediately showed out his boat and repaired 10 the scene of the disaster. A portion of the hurrI- cane roof and chimneys, under which and supporting the roof, foated any quantity of dry goods boxes-with flat boat along side on which was about sixty passengers. We came along side and took off all who would come. This about three miles above GreenyIe; we then continued on oul way and about nine miles further up we found the other portion of the hurricane roof, on which was some five or six persons who seemed to be taking off what was moveable. 4 short distance above, on the Mississippi side, we again landed and took all the passengers who wished 10 go up. ltis impossible to describe the interest manifested by Capt. Shalcross to save and minister to the wants of the sufferers, and though his boat left New Orleans with fully two hundred cabin passengers, his heart was large enough to provide without ask ing any questions, forail who were wrecked. Most of the passengers lost all they had and great many were returning from California with their hard earned dust, which in a minute was back 10 the rivers bed agaiE One gentleman from Cincnna- ti, 1 learn, has lost $l5,000
 It appears the boat was under full head way, when she struck a snag about lhe mid dle of the boat-the Pilot tried 10 head her for sand bar but iQ a minute or two at most the cabin parted from the hull, and then parted about midshiPs-one part float ing 10 short distance below Columbia, and the other nine miles further down.
 From the best information can gather there are ten cabin passengers lost-eigh- teen deck hands and fremen, all white men-aud out of eighty deck passengers, there is only one left. The clerks books and safe is saved, and what is vely remark, able aU the officers of the boat. have not l learned how the safe caS Suued, but ii ap- pears strange to me how heavy iron chest could be saved and cabin passengers lost, who were more easily moved if all was right.
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 Is is P.uposed that the People of the l United States should, on the 22d of Februa- ry next, in the celebration of that day, take care 10 give utterance to their sentiments in favor of the preservation of the CoNsTI- TUITION and the UNION of the States We cordially approve of the suggestion, and trust that the anniversary of WASHING ToN's birthday may be the occasion for a ] Union meeting in every city, town, village, and county, from one extremity of our country to the other The day will be eminentiy appropriate for such an object. What WASHINGTON labored 10 accomplish, and what he so strongly enforced and re- commended, should be remembered upon the Anniversary which i5 dedicated 10 his name and fame. We shall then have the people of the United States in Convention, and their united voices will go up to Heaven, praying for the perpetuation of the insttu- lions which he was mainly instrumental in organizing, and which he hoped would be continued for ages. Every patriot in the land will, on that day, breathe the spirit of WASHINGTON, and, in reverencing his memory, learn to cherish his principles.
 ,Aermadria Gu2eHe