Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-02-15
SIX STEAMBOATS, BURNED NEARLY FORTY
11NES IncT

Between 3 and o'clock this morning, the in
habitants of the upper part of the town were
awakened by the usual alarm, sounded on the
breaking out of fire. Those residing in the
upper part of the city soon discovered that the
scene of the commencing disaster was the steam
boat Levee at the foot of Julia and st. Joseph
streets, near post No. 10: Thousands OF citi-
zens, and the firemen with their engines, were
soon on the spot, and rs the flames continued
to spread with irresistible rapidity, and the alarms
were redoubled, the excitement soon became
immense and the whole city, was aroused.
The flames had communicated on board the
Charles Belcher, Capt Carlie, which had arrived
from Nashville during the night. Some reports
state that she was on fire when she arrived ana
put in among the fleet of boats at the evee;
but, rs far as these Involve the insiuuation that
her officers were aware of the fact, and yet reck
essy ran her in, they will be considered as ut
teEly unworthy of a moments credit, unless and
until uneouivocal proof of them be established,
which we, at least, cannot believe possible.
When discovered they spread so rapidly that
the boat was almost instantly enveloped in one
sheet of devouring fairy, and it was with great
difficulty that the passengers and othcers saved
their lives Mrs. Carlile, the wife OF Capt. Car
lille, sick in her berth, only saved hers and that
of her child, by jumping from the hurricane deck
on to the Muhican.
From the Charles Belcher the fire communi-
Gated to the Mohican, Capt. Irwin, loaded for
Tennessee river, and the fine new steamboat
Natchez, Captain Leathers. From these 1t
spread to the Liah Tuna, Capt. Haygood, the
Crescent Capt Moore, and Saxon, Capt. Ker-
cheva, all loading for ST. Louis, all of which
were totally destroyed, with all the cargoes they
had on board BY o'clock. They also caught
the Sultana, and heavily laden barge which
she had in tow, the latter of which was totally
DESTROYED and to the barge e. E. Watkins,
which arrived yesterday in tow of the steamer
Gibson, from Cincinnati laden with large
quantity of Western produce, and which was al
30 totally consumed The Sultana, having only
lust arrived from Louisville, although she had
commenced landing, still had her steam up, and,
with the aid of her doctor was able to put out
flames which took hold of her several times, and
she finally backed out into the stream, and gave
what assistance she could in saving life and
property.
Of the Boats spoken Of as destroyed, all have
sunk. at the time we write, with the exception
of the Natchez, which lies charred, shoulder
ing mass Of ruins, floating within few feet OF
where she lay when she took fire. The Grand
Turk, which lay next the Saxon, while she was
burning, also took fire several times, but sustain-
ed comparatively little damage. The levee is
now covered with halfburncd cotton, damaged
provisions, g.; but what may be considered
rather strange under the circumstances, the
wharf is said not to have sustained the slightest
injury from the fire.
All this is sad enough, but reports which, how
ever, vet lack confirmation, give much more afic
ting cause for sorrow. As many as forty lives
are stated to have been sacrificed on the occasion
Inquiries, however, lead US to hope that it will
be found that this number is much beyond the
reality.
The loss is variously estimated at from halfa
million TO million. We think the former
figure nearest the actual mark.
New Orleans Picayune.