The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-03-18
Sinking OF the John l.. Avery.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPER.
81. TX
Flu Ii PARTI CUL A RS

Yesterday we published the report Of the
sinking of the John l.. Avery, with the
ported loss of life, much exaggerated. YES
terdoy morning the Sulana arrived, and to
her officers and passengers, and more esp,-
cially To Dir. S. b. Pinney, of Cincinnnti,
who was passenger on the Avery, and Mr..
Bedgood, pilot, are we indebted for full par
,iculars of the accident.
The John l.. Avery, commanded by Capt
Robertson, let New Orleans on the 18th
list. for Cincinnati, with very heavy freight
bin passengers and so dect ers. bes des her
crew, bu' taking up and putting out passen-
gers at every point. At 3 O'Clock in the af-
ternoon of the 9th inst, when 45 miles be-
low Natchez, tie passengers heard a crash
ing noise in front. and the al ,rm was given
that the boat was sinking. The hull OF the
boat parted very suddenly from the cabin.
the first sinking Immediately and the second
hoatia g away. A great scene OF confusion
ensued. A number of robberies actually oc-
Cured when sudden death was threatening
the Who'll party. The passengers got up on
the hurricane deck, the wind blowing strong
ly and waves r"nning high. In about TWEEN
" minutes after the accident. the Sultana
came along, and took off all the passengers
Capt r., Mr.. Medary, clerk, and one or two
officers remained at the wreck.
The number of The lost can never be as
certaned. Only two or three cabin passen-
gers were drowned. There were probably
90 deck passengers on board. Judging fron,
the amount of passage money. From the
best information we presume there were
at least fifty lives lost All the officers we're
sa"ed except the second mate.
The Rev NJ. Benson, OF Mount Vernon.
Knox county, Ohio, was lost, and also u
child Of Mrs. Parmeir.
Mr. Shaw, of Mississippi, living near Lee
grange, is Supposed 10 have been asleep in
his room, and was lost.
The I'd mate was in life boat, when the
waves " set it, and he was drowned.
The second cook is missing.
man is missing who came en- board at
Baton Rouge.
Several of the crew are missing.
Mr.. VIM. L. ]. Purnell, Of Maryland lost
ten negroes, valued at $4,000.
Several of the ladies' were saved by being
drawn through the sky lights. Nearly all
lot their baggage, but thought themselves
lucky to escape with their lives.
The pilot, Mr.. Bedguod, informs us the
boat was in Il middle OF the river and in the
channel, the Sultana mile behind, when he
heard jar as though his boat had struck
something. He sent the mate down to see
whether all was right. He returned, saying
the boatw was sinking. Mr. b. at once head
ed the boat TO shore, but before she got one
third of the way there, the boat listed over.
till the pilot house moved several inches from
It's place. The cabin then parted IRON the
hull as before stated
Capt Robertson; who is a man as well rs
a gentleman and excellent officer was IN his
room at the time of the accident, being off
Of watch. He went TO the hurricane de, k,
anc by only the most earnest appeals end
actual force kept many of the frightened
pass ngers from leapirg overheard. Some
did 20 as it was. He no dvubt saved many
lives.
The Avery was Cncinr att boat, and cost
$4,000 about eight months ago. She v as
owned by Dean g. Wayne, of Cincinnati,
and Capt. Robertson, ard partially insured.
She had been until recently running in the
Cincinnati and st. Louis trade
We are informed by passengers tat great
credit is due the acting pilot, Mr.. Bedgood.
and the engineer. Mr.. & -lhrie, Tho remained
at his post till driven away by the waters.
The officers of the Sutana are also highly
praised for the generous part they took in
saving the passengers, and landing the wreck
under extraordinary difficulties.
Below, we subjoin list made up for US