The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-03-31
Full NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Burned.

L. W., WIN ABOUT lZo passengers in all
about half in the cabin.
\ Nothing worthy of note occurred until q
bout o'clock Sunday afternoon, when 9
miles from the mouth of the White river, tn
attention Of the St3wart was called to III
unusual commotion among the horses, and
Followed him down to see what was the mai
l ter.
When we reached the foot of the stairwa
we discovered that the boat was on fire an
the boilers were enveloped In flames. Tn
horses tails were burning.
Below give you statement prepared O.
! board the St. Nicholas.
Yours, WIN. E. ELLIOTT, Clerk.
Incidents of the Disaster, from an Eye
! Witness.
ON BOARD STEAMER ST.. NrcHotAs,l
March 9Th, 1854.
MeSSrS. Editors After near three days
mature reflection and revisit to the spo,
where the ill-fated Caroline was burned, | 81,
down to the disagreeoble task Of giving you
faint outline of scene that beggars all
description and sckens the heart to refec,
upon. On Sunday evening last after pleas
ant run OF 81 hours from our city, about 4
O'Clock P. M, the attention of the passengers
were attracted to the stamping and kicking
OF the horses on deck opposite the boilers,
when rush was made by two or three of US
to see the cause, when 10! the boat was dis
covered to be on fire, the boilers being en-
veloped in flames.
The crew Immediately proceeded to work
the pumps, but were driven back instantly by
the flames, when all hopes we're gone of sa-
wing her, and then comes the tragedy of the
affair. s.. I'D. ...
A general rush by men, women and chill
dren, was now made to the forecastle, by the
cabin passengers, to avoid the destruction
that awaited as from the devouring element,
which was gaining ground with the rapdity
OF llghtning-which at the same time drove
the passengers and crew aft. Soon the yawl
was lowered by the deck hands and sooner it
was filled by dozens Of frightened beings,
scorched and devoid of reason by fright.
While this awful scene was going on aft,
every cabin passenger, save one or two, had
gained the forecastle, ready to take the fear
ful leap, preferring watery grave to being
burned to death.
About this time poor Trice and Creighton
we're seen on the hurricane roof. Trice woke
up Capt. Taylor and run back TO his wheel
asking Capt. Il. what TO do. He told him to
run her ashore-which he attempted-but
found that the tiller ropes were burned. About
this time, Capt. Creighton threw the ladder
from the roof, and deliberately went down
astern on the stays, and having gained the
ower guards he deliberately rid himself Of
is coat and boats, and after waiting awhile,
swung himse If into the water, still hanging
10 the guards, and was seen by a member of
The order of Odd Fellows to give the signal
Of distress, which the brother answered by
telling him to let go and swim--he having
no earthly means of saving him-having only
4 minute before swan to the shore exhausted,
and at that time was assisting Capt. Taylor
70 the shore, whs was almost exhausted.
This was the last that was seen of poor
Creighton, he having sunk a moment after
wards Poor Trice was seen at the wheel
A moment before the piot-house was encom
passed by flames, and although it is painful
to think it, yet we can but conclude that he
sank down through the cabin, having the
Kissing sheets of fire for his shroud. Still i'll
is consoling to think that, though he lost his
own life, he saved one hundred others by
steering the boat ashore; and also, that he
died at his post, still holding on to the wheel
We shall never see his like again. AT
this time could be seen dozens of human be-
ings foundering in the water, having jumped
from the lower deck to avoid being consumed
by fire, all of whom are now lying on the bot
tom of the limpid White. Not so with those
Oh the forecastle. So soon as the bow struck
the bsnk, 81 persons leaped on shore and left
destruction behind them. And after reaching
dry land scampersd in every direction to es-
cape the effect of anticipated explosion of
boilers, &c.
Awful were the cries from the wretches
behind, but alas! we could render no assist
ance, for we had no means in reach; and thus
ends tregedy which hope never to see the
like again. .....'
CABIN PASSENGERS MissING.-Mr. Har-
shaw, of Clarendon, Ark, and Geo. Jones,
clerk Of the house of Poole g. Co., Jackson
pert.
DECK PASSENGERS LosT.-Wife and child
of j. Haskns, Marshall county, Miss; four
Of s. McMullin, Madison county,
Tennessee; Mr.. Smith, wife, and young lady
with them; Mrs Haley and three children,
Tippah county, Miss; John Horton, wife and
two children, Madison county, Tennessee;
Mr.. Parrel, Madison county, Tennessee; MIR.
Martin, do; Miss Susana E. Pool, do; son of
Mr.. Hinshaw, do; Mr.. -, Shelby coun-
ty, son-in-law to Mr.. Workman; Mrs. -
sister to above widow, and thirteen children;
Miss ----, sister to above; eight deck hands.
A. ]. Folger, Master, saved; Capt. James
Creighton, Pilot, lost; JOHN r. TRrcE, lost; !;
Capt Samuel Taylor, saved; VIM. E. Elliott,
Clerk, saved; John Walker, Mate, saved;
Charles Dewitt, First Engineer, saved; Sam
uel Landerdale, Second Engineer, saved; r.
Pitman, Fireman, saved; Rildebram, saved;
VIM. Ewing, Bar-keeper, saved; Louis Pol
luck, assistant Bar-keeper, lost; eight deck
hands are known to be lost.