The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-06
BURNING OF THE STEAMBOAT GEORGIA.

GREAT Loss OF LIFE. -...-
The steamboat Georgia, Capt Sinnott. from
iloutgoaeiy' Ala, was burned at this wharf, at
the lake end of the jefferson and Pontchartrain
railroad, on Saturday night at about halEpast 10
O'CLOCK. The boat had just arrived at tb q wharf
ana bow line thrown out and secured to the
"halI, When the boat was discovered TO be on FIRE
Stern line was thrown out once but in the hur-
fy 1t was not secured TO the wharf The stern ot
the hoa', therefore, swung out from the wharf for
minute or two. The fire caught around the hill
ers ana the wood work of the boat being much
heated, spread with astonishing rapidity .,vnr the
boat and cotton, Thepassengers were nearly all
Ill the cabin and the flames rising up from the for.
ward part of the boat prevnted many OF Them from
escaping.
There were 1856 passengers on board. ipcluainp
chldren and negroes. OF this number If is certain
maj thirty persisted; some Of the frelnen saved
think that fifty were lost but from the m ost dilioent
inquiries we think forty is nearer the actual num-
Der lost twenty-five OF the above number were
slaves belonging TO persons on board
FROM the moment the flames broke out until
the Iate OF lie or death was decided for the pas.
9eheefs, ony ABOUT three minutes clap SO Quick
was me work otdestruction. The pas seneers were
nearly all dressed, only two three O. them having
| gone to their berths. Many of them were anxious
" gee TIE andlng place, or were kept up listening
| 10 tne music OF a violin which young man was
| paying In the cabin Most of the passengers were
VINO having LETT their homes were ,r,gratinr ,,;,2
tner families, negroes, furniture cattle and wac.
| ons, TO Texas. They had embarked ar WasbinofopS
were put little acquainted with eac h other. were
~ nu use ~ steamboat travelling, and knew nothing
| ing. u '-t0 iaN0-
Inc BOAT was very crowded with cotton. carts.
caltie ana furniture The negroes who were more,
lisntened than the white persons, were on the al
tef part OF the lower deck. Add to the above req
sons Tor causing great confusion the fact that from
the hrst moment of the discovery O the fire. the
Gte" ana ohlcers were separated by the flames
Itpui Tue passengers, there were persons on the
wharf 10 give any directions advice or render snv
assistance Many of the families were LARGE and
some pi eclous moments were lost in attern1tno to
coiiect them together but more II ian all the rapid
progress OF the flames, and the b hiding and suffo.
cailng smoke prevented any ord r. and caused the
great confusion.
All who were burned at all. persisted in the
flames or jumped into the lake. Many OF the saved
were much bruised by jumping. or being thrown
ashore. Those WHO We're saved, were SO soon scat
tered that L is Impossible to 'certain the name Of
the lost or the saved with any accuracy the books
ana papers OF the boat being armed The boat was
loaded with l,035 bales OF oiton. which was all
burned Not an article was saved from the wreck
worm mentioning, nearly all the oxen and mules
persisted.
Among those persons who are certainly lost. are
the vile and three children of Mr.. jolly OF Ala.
bana. Mr. Jolly saved six children, three of
whom were much injured by being thrown on the
wharf.
Mr. John jackson, formerly member of the
Legislature In Georgia, was lost. He Lad retired
10 bed before the boat took FIRE
b. Rhenn, OF Newburn, N C., with his wife
ana hye children, were saved, but he lost nine of
his negroes.
Mr. Carter, Of Georgia, with Il family of thir-
teen persons, were saved; but he lost three of his
negroes
Mr.. MeClenethan, of Cincinnati. was lost.
Inc Total loss OF cotton, boat, whar.. merchan-
die, &c, cannot be far from Slo0,f 100 The cotton
is Insured and we learn that the railroad con,pa.
warehouse. -
The scene OF the burning boat, the half.irantic
passengers, mothers searching TO their children.
&c. can only be imagined. Ter rifle as it must
despair 10 many wounded spirit dividing families
and separating friends forever ~ o. PIC.