The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-04-30
Steamer POcahOntas destroyed BY Fire.
Two Thousand Three Hundred bales Cotton

Steamer POcahOntas destroyed BY Fire.
Two Thousand Three Hundr ed bales Cotton
Lost.
Welearn from Capt. Estes, Of the Saz0n,
that the steamer P0cak0Htas, with a cargo Of
2 300 bales Of cotton, caught fire in the Mis-
siasippi river on Friday night, the 10th instant,
at the head Of Choctaw island, and was totally
destroyed. The boat was from the ATkansas
river, and when about 90 miles below the mouth
Of the river, the cotton along side Of the furnaces
caught fire, and the flames spread with fearful
rapidity. The boat was rounded TO, but while
In the middle OF the river, the tiller rope burn
ed oil, and she became unmanageable, and drift
ed down to about the middle Of ChoetaW island,
where she lodged some distance from the shore.
The passengers and crew were compelled to
jump into the river, and reach the shore in
the best way they could. The mate, with a
portion Of the crew, was the first in the yawl,
with which he took great many out safe, and
then returned to the burning wreck and res
eued others. A great many persons saved them
selves by clinging to cotton bales, driftWOod.
and portions of the wreck.
Several lives were lost by the disaster, bat
it was not ascertained how many. A Mr.. Jones,
passenger, with 60 bales Of cotton, was drowned;
also the ehambermaid, and little girl she had
with her in the cabin. A cabin passenger with
his family Lost his wife and three children. He
had one Of the children with him on plank,
but was compelled to abandon it, and t was
drowned.
| The Saxon was wooding at the time some 90
miles below, and the Captain, by the great
light that was made, thought it was boat on
fire, and hastened to the scene. Long before
the boat was reached, he saw the river full Of
burning cotton bales, and soon after picked up
and rescued great number Of persons, who
were floating in the river on cotton bales, and
pieces Of driftwood and planks, from the wreck
Of the boat.
Capt. Kline, of the Pocahontas, savedhim-
self by swimming to the shore, with the assis-
tance Of plank, though he never swan lick
before in his life. The books, papers, money
clothing, and almost everything be longing to
the boat and passengers, and crew, were lost.
Capt. Estes took on board the Saxon some
| 70 persons altogether, including pas ssseagers and
crew, and took them to Napoleon, Arkansas.-
! He thinks that ten or twelve lives were lost,
but was unable to positively assertion who they
were, in addition to those named. Nearly ali
of the wrecked people were destitute of cloth
ing, and mauy Of them had nothing left but the
shirts on their backs. The officers and crew
Of the Saxon generously supplied them with half
their clothes, and whatever else they could pro-
vide. The boat was bound for New Orleans,
and will prove total loss. The loss Of boat and
cargo cannot fall short Of $l50,000.
The Pocahontas has been an unfortunate craft
She bursted one Of her boilers in the Arkansas
river on the 18th Of March, killing eight, and
wOunding eighteen persons.
The clerks Of the Pocahontas were passengers
on the Glendy Barke to Memphis, and they
are Of the opinion that eleven lives we're lost
all lady passengers and children, and servants.
All the crew were saved.-LOuiS0iiie Courier.