Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-04


per is not exclusively for fremen. We trust that
our prominent citizens will Join this festive board
They will be eated with the Baltimoreans.-
Louisville Journal, NoU. %.
Burning of the Steamer Volant.-A few
days since we published the account of the burn
ing of this boat in the Yazoo river on the afternoon
of the 18th The following additional particulars
we take from the Vicksburg Wing Of the 18th
About O'Clock on Tuesday evening, as the
boat was ascending the river near Cardiff, and
under Roadway, liquid OF some kind ran down
from the boiler deck upon the doors OF the FUR
naces. and the fire Immediately blazed up, but II
was discovered, and the flames were suppressed
for a moment by those on deck The dripping oil
the liquid again caused an immediate outburst,
and the flames doomed up fearfully, and the effort
10 extingush them by water, but added fury to
them At this time Mr.. Allan, the clerk, who
was in the Office discovered the smoke, and gave
the alarm to the pilot, who Immediately ran the
boat TO the bank. He then ran back TO give the
alarm in the ladies' cabin and to aid in getting the
ladies ashore and, after he had aided in so doing,
he made effort 10 get into the office to secure
the books and papers of the boat, but the rapid
spreading of the flames prevented nm from en-
tering the office.
The fire was so fierce in its progress through the
cabin, that the officers and passengers barely had
time TO escape with their lives, and lost their en-
tire baggage. One passenger, named Potter,
be asleep and intoxicated short time before, 1t is
supposed he was burned. What the liquid was
that caused the fire, is matter OF doubt even
with the ofiicers-some of them supposing it to
be camphene, and others spirits OF turpentine or
spirits of wine. II is kown that there was five
gallon demiJohn of turpentine, and one also OF
spirits of wine on the forward part Of the boiler
deck, and some of the officers think that they
bursted or leaked and that the liquid which caused
the fire came from one or both of them. After the
passengers got ashore, most OF them lied 10 the
woods, under the apprehension that an explosion
would follow; but we are informed that the Off
GERS remained, and after using all possible efforts
10 extinguish the flames, and finding them useless,
they endeavored TO scuttle her, so as to save as
much of the boat, and as large portion OF the
cargo and baggage as possible-all Efforts were,
however, unavang, and after burning to the
waters edge, the hull sunk in about 10 feet water
The cargo Of the boat was unusually large Tor
the season of the year, and supposed TO be vaiua-
bic. A more severe loss has rarely ever been
sustained even by fire on the Mississppi-nothng
of any value having been saved except the iron
safe containing the money of the boat When
the cabin floor gave way, the safe fell through on
the boilers, and the captain made the hands throw
water upon it, and ropes around it, and succeeded
in gettingit on shore
We learn that Captain Brown, the master of the
boat, lost not only his papers and entire baggage,
but about 81, 100 of money, belonging TO him indi-
vidually Mr. Allan, the first clerk, Mr.. Dent, the
pilot, and indeed all others of the officers as well
as the passengers, lost every thing but what they
had upon their person AT the time of the breaking
out ofthe fire.
One Of the ladies on board stopped moment to
secure some valuable jewelry, and came very
near FORGETTING her life by so doing, as the flames
rushed in, and closed all egress from the cabin by
the usual way. Mr.. Dent, the pilot, however,
descended the "hog chain" with her and saved
her. Among the passengers on board, were Mr.
w. v. Davenport and lady, of New Orleans; Lieu
tenant Colonel A. G. Bennett, United States army,
sister and daughter; and we regret to learn that
Colonel Bennett was one of the heaviest sufferers,
having lost not only many valuable papers, but
large sum Of money.
The Volant was owned by the Captain, q. c.
Brown the pilot, Mr.. Dent, and Messrs. Crut:her
and McRaven, of this city. We are informed that
she was not insured.
Settlement of the Methodist Church Pro-
perry Question ut New Y0rk.-The under
signed, committee appointed for the purpose of
preparing statement for publication Of the action
of the commissioners upon the question in litga-
ton between the M. E. Church North and South,
-. 20 ~ lo1I