The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-02-15
From the n. o. Pisay une, 9Th.
GREAT CONFLAGRAT
SIX STEAMBOATS, BURNED!
NEARLY FORTY LIVES LOsT!!
Estimated Loss of Properly 100000 !!

Inhabitants of the upper part OF the town were
by the usual alarms 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
steamboat Levee at the foot of Julia and St.
Joseph streets, near post No. 10. Thousands
of citizens, and the firemen with their en-.
gines, were soon on the spot, and as the
flames continued to spread with irresistible
rapidly, and the alarms were redoubled, the
excitement soon became immense, and the
whole city was aroused.
The flames had commenced on board the
Charles Belcher, Capt Garlic, which had ar
rived from Nashville during the night. Some
reports state that she was on fire when she
arrived and put in among the fleet Of boats at
the Levee; but, as far as these involve the in
situation that her officers were aware Of the .
fact. and yet recklessly ran her in, they will
be considered as utterly unworthy of mo-
ment's credit, unless and until unequivocal
proof of them be established, which we, at
least, cannot believe possible. The fire GER
tainIy was discovered no long time after she
had arriv ed, but it is far from following that
she was then on fire, and utterly incredible
that if she was her officers were aware OF it.
Short time it was after her arrival that
the fire was dist overed, it was yet long enough
to bring it within the limits of probability,
that feeding on cotton for their fuel, the
flames would not have attained far greater
ascendancy than they had. And there are
other circumstances which deprive the re.
/ ports Of even the semblance of probability
! They were first discovered ait on the lower
deck, where they could n IT have burnt any
length of time without being discovered
| When discovered they spread so rapidly that
the boat WAS almost Instantly enveloped IN
one vast sheet of devou-ing fury, and it was
with great difficulty that the passengers and
officer saved their lives. hrs. Garlic, the
wife of Capt. Carlile, sick in her berth, only
saved hers and that of her child, by jumping
from the hurricane deck on to the Mohican.
| From the CHARLES Belcher the fire commu-
nicatcd to the Mohcan, Capt. Irwin, loaded
d for Tennessee river, and the fine new steam
boat Natchez, Capt. Leathtrs. From these
to the Liah Tuna, Capt. Haygood, the Cres-
cent, Capt. Moore, aud Saxon, Capt. Kerche-
val, all loaded for st. Louis, all of which were
totally destroyed, with all the cargoes
they had on board, by 5 o'clock. They also
caught the Suliana, AMI heavily laden barge
which she had in tow, the latter OF which was
totally destroyed, and 10 the barge Of the G..
L. Watkins, which arrived yesterday in tow
of the steamer David Gibson, from Cncins
natl, laden with large quantity of Western
produce, and which was also totally consum-
ed. The Sultana, having only just 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 the
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
IL charred, smouldering mass of ruins, floating
within a few feet of where she took fire. The
Grand Turk, which lay next the Saxon,
While whe was burning, also took fire several
times, but sustained comparatively little dam
i age. The levee is now covered with half
burned cotton, damaged provisions, &C.; but
what may be considered rather strange, I'M
der the circumstances, the wharf is said not
to have sustained the slightest injury from
the fire. We regret to have to add that the
occasion was seized by many who prowl
about, wretches as they are, watching for
sach occurrences, for the purpose Of plumber
ing whatsoever they can lay their hands on.
Some thirty OF these have already been ar
rested, and numbers, perhaps quite as bad as
J. /,
feels of the liquor to which they doubtless
helped themselves, as others did to hams
bagg age, &c.
All this is sad enough, but reports, which
however, yet lack confirmation, give much
more effiicting 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 hpvnpu ba
the best authority that Capt. James feathers,
brother Of Capt. II. p. feathers, Of the Match
CT, is among the sacrificed. Reports also an
nounce the destruction Of Capt Il. p. Leath-
ers, but this is certainly incorrect. They al
SO report the loss of the mate of the Natchez,
but this we have good reason to doubt. The
chambermnid, her daughter, and the pastry
cook OF that vessel were, however, all destroy
ed, and under shocking circumstances. The
first had gone ashore, followed by her daught.
er, but notwilhsta nding the entreaties of the
latter, returned to endeavor to save some of
her things, bat only to lose her lite and
cause the loss Of that of her daughter, who
accompanied her on her persisting in going.
The pastry cook is said to have been so in
toxicated as to be unable to save himself
On board the Chale les Belchcr there were
thirty negroes, men, women, and children,
who were prevented from getting on from the
aiterdeck 10 the wharf, in consequence of
TIE engine room being crowded with freight,
and they were reported 20 have all persisted,
either in the flames, or in the river on Jump
ing overheard We have good reason to hope,
however, that some of them have been found
to have escaped, and others may have been
equally fortunate. All the cabin passengers
OF this boat positively reported to have
escaDed, Two deck minds however are add.
ed to those who are positively reported TO
have been lost. The report of the wife of
Capt. feathers having b. en- lost, we believe
10 be unfounded.
Some of the books and papers, and also the