The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-01-14
From the New Orleans Piesyune Dec. 10.
LOSS OF THE WESTERN WORLD--
THRILLING DESCRIPTION BY
IL A PASSENGER.

| lhhiLLiNU DEoCHlFIlON BY
. A PASSENGER.
Another of these lamentable accidents
which are of such painfully frequent occur
renee in these waters, has taken place on
the Mississippi.
On Tuesday, the I4th instant, at a quar-
ter before s o'clock in the morning, the
steamboat Western WpsN ,on ber way down
came in collision q, fhE bend just below
Princeton, with the steamboat II. r. w.
Hill. The concussion was SO slight as not
in the least to alarm me though I was lying
awake in my berth. In few seconds, how
ever, hasty and frequent cries of "Get up!
get up! she's shking!" resounded through
the saloon. With solemn silence and hur-
ried movement each sprang from his bed and
snatching hastily at what was within reach
and of value rushed out,
The Hill was alongside. Some first threw
their small valuables on her; some with a
stronger impulse for seE.preservation, sought
only their individual safety. In less than
five minutes the World careened partially
over. Some persons on her slid down the
columns that support the saloon deck, and
scrambled on board the Hill as best they might.
Finding that the World did not 90 over en-
tirely, gangway plank was run out from
the Hill 10 her saloon. Over this many more
persons escaped. SoEe even returned to
the World and saved tfeir baggage A SOL
emn and awful silence reigned, except when
broken by those on board the Hill ordering
back the tide of people which rushed to her
side to witness the catastrophe.
Some ten minutes had elapsed from the
moment the boats came in collision, when a
frghtlul crash was heard, and careening COM
pletely over, the Western World went to pic
ces, the lurid light of torches revealing the
death struggles OF scores of the unfortunate
cattle that had not been cast loose.
But was all human life saved! Who knew!
How few caredl One at least could bear
bitter testimony to sad negative. He stood
near the stove, half naked infant in his arms,
two others at his feet. Ten minutes have
turned him from man to an idiot. His
mind is too far gone to exhibit grief-no
heaving sghs and bursting sobs-all is va
capcy to his wild, .nnmeanNF@. stare. The
fwffe or his bosom and two nfJreisf his chill
dren are buried in the dark waters of the
Mississippi.
Others were lost-some twelve or fifteen.
They were not saloon passengers or negroes;
these had places in the upper part Of the boat
whence egress was easy by numerous doors.
The helpless deck passengers, cribbed in be-
low, slowed among freight with no chance
of egress or escape in case of sudden ac-
cdent of this nature, were the victims.
Were they prepared for such catastrophe! {!
Such is the construction of the locality they
are placed in, that few OF the strongest and
coolest can ever escape. Only one poor wo-
man in this instance escaped by crawling
through the running water under the feet of
the cattle, whence she emerged covered with
! bruises.
1t is said, and truly, that there is great in
difference to human life ip these regions.
confess it was painful Sight tv witness such
a total absence of any proper feelings as was
exhibited on this melancholy occasion. The
bar of the H. R. w. Hill was the first place
visited by many who had just escaped death,
and even while the holy work of rescue was
going on, the ribald jest circulated freely
among those who sat drinking and smoking
around the stove, unchecked even by the
sight of the poor idiot and his three children,
who, standing at the same fire, must have
reminded them that though they were saved,
others had been hurried but an instant before
into eternity.
A PASSENGER ON THE LOST STEAMER.
e An lrisman, working in a forge, got
a particle of hot iron in his eye. He was
, in great pain, and his suffering drew some
persons about him. Among them was boy
COOL speculative eye upoaa the violent face
of the man: .s ~ 49,.
will you give me half dollar if | get thai
, out of your eye!'
'Heyr exclaimed the Irishman, taking him
/ in, with his serviceable optic, I'll give you
anything-I'll give you dollar
Away the boy ran, and came with a mag
net, with which, in about a minute, he drew
out the iron atom! PADDY winked watery
4 eyes, and swore an oath of relief and graft
tude. He then gave the operator The hal
dollar.
q 'Holy Mother said the poor fellows sis
4 ter, who stood by; 'them Yankee children
t cssld do anything
A boy was detected bya police officer il
4 New York day or two fnce, in picking ,
lady's pocket, as was supposed, of wallet
' The boy was taken before a justice and thu
I lady followed for the purpose of making ,
e complaint. On searching the boy, nothing
a was found but the half Of Dutch cheese
e which the lady unwillinaly confessed wa,
the article purloined from her pocket. She
>. much mutfed, took her del barture without en-
d tering complaint. ,....
S PASSING AwAy.-The following though
If from Goethe, is peculiarly appropriate to,th
/. present season: "The yeat is going away HS
a the sound of bells. The wind passes over tn,
IS stubble and finds nothing to move. Only tn
,e red berries of that slender tree, seem as
rs they would fain remind US Of somethin