The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-12
Destruction OF steamboats at st Louis.

Destruction OF Steamboats, nj St. Louis.
fHE ICE MOVING IN TIE MIsslssiPPI-fHaBE srhAA-
BOATS DESTROYED AID IIvx SERIOUSLY DAMAGED
--NTEEsE BxcIrEMENT-L $lzO wv.
From ths ST Louis Ipralligsnssr Fsb
We record to-day one OF the most destructive
steamboat disasters which has happened upon the
Western waters for years, and lnvolving 2 loss OF
property to the amount of $50 900 to II has
not come Unexpectedly to us, the exposed situation
of the boats sunk and injured having been noticed
on more than one occasion in the oolomns OF the
I,teiigencer. Nor shall We be surprised II the ice
cause the loss Of more Of this description Of
property, as number OF boats are fully a. much ex
posed as those destroyed.
The steamers Ironton G. w. Sparhavk, Asia, st.
Ange. F. " Aubrey, Elvira. Excel, and Garden City,
have been lying up since the close Of navigation In
the vicinity Of the Marine Railway Docks. All OF them
excepting the lronton and Sparhawk, are lying BE-
tween the docks and O'Fal0n street and Just above
the shot tower and sugar refinery. The six last
named occupy about two hundred yards aleng the
river bank, and are all close together excepting the
two loweet down, the Garden City and Excel, which
are about fifty feet apart They are lying IN the or
der in which We have mentioned them. Tbs Spar
hawk is just above the Marine Rail way, and the
Ironton two hundred yards further up. The bank
kite the head OF Bloody Island, where the river is
narrower by third than 1t IS above. and OF course
subjects them TO greater danger thereby; 1t is steep
also and composed Of hsrt rocky material, and
forms a Kind OF prom0ntOry or point. corresponding
with the bend opposite.
The vast gorge of ice opposite our city, extends,
unbroken, ffom Bidde street, for miles up the river
and is Of unusual thickness and solidity We noticed
yesterday that OF it was from twelve to eighteen
inches thick Night before last, at about 10 O'clock
the ice began to move down the river, and in to-
wards this shore in vast unbroken broken body OF
great extent The first boats exposed were the IRON
ton and g. w. Sparhawk. The former escaped
with slight injury. Her guards were smashed in on
one side, and she was little careened The damage
knocked in her bow, through which the water came
in slowly. II was stopped yesterday morning, before
she bad commenced 10 settle to any extent. She Ia
sill in very precariOus situation and liable TO
again spring aleak by being jammed severely by the
Next came the Asia and st. Ange, the Asia lying
outside of the latter. They are first below the
marine railway DOCK on whi,h the Polar Star is now
undergoing repairs. The gorge moved but few
yards, but the whole vast body, Of miles in extent,
settling into the Shore struck the Asas hull, stove
in, and smashed her against the st. Ange, and the
st Apge close against the hard, unyklding bank.
The st. Angels hull was broken in and both boats
filed rapidly. The water where the Asia sunk is
perhaps twenty feet deep on the outside. She Is
and next to the shore is in twelve feet water She
. most complete wreck Her cabin has fallen in on
one side, warehouses are smashed In, chimneys
0verb card and che Is twisted and broken very badly
Her hull is cut all to pieces. The Asias iurature
and portion Of her upper wood works we're yester-
day being taken ashore. small portion OF her
machinery also, such as could be carried by hand,
vas being removed. Her heavy machinery, boilers,
moved, if at all, with difficulty.
The Sc. Ange is in little better condition. Her
hull is badly broken up She ia in five feet Of water
on enc side en- the Other she Ia run several feet on
land. Her furniture, light machinery and wood
work was also being removed On shore. Her en-.
gtnes, boilers, &C., can be saved without damage,
unless the river rises suddenly and very much. Her
hull like that OF tie Asia, is entirely worthless She
b broken in two and twisted out Of shape. Both
boats will, We suppose be wrecked as fast % pos
sibe.
AcH~ u Iciu r~-k ha1a- s;a
and St Ange Her hull was not damaged. Her
guards we're torn considerably, and che is Sareened
great deal Her damages will not exceed $500. Her
owners have packed up her furniture, ready for an
Next came the Elvira. She is badly twisted,
careened, andrua on shore. Her hull has sustained
damage, but she has suffered severely otherwise.
Her guards forward were smashed and torn away
by the Aubrey, and her wheelhouse and afterguard
on the shore side are all jammed and torn to pieces
by being crowded upon tae Excel and the shore.
Should the river fall; there Is great danger Of her
going to pieces. She is damaged to an amount not
less than $1,000 to $4,000. Capt. Dozer has deter
mined not TO dismantle her until che is certa My
lost She is in worse fix than any Of those whose
hulls have not been cut in two.
The Excel lay next She Is close behind the Elvira.
She is also badly careened and her forward guards,
by contact with the Elvira, are partly torn away.
The damage to the Excel will not exceed $780,
A barge lying under the Excel's outer guards,
and between the Excel and Elvira, was completely
% $500.
This is the extent of the damage done Wednesday
night. Yesterday morning, at ii o'clock, the ice
below the Excel began to move again, and it soon
forced the Garden City against the bank, and torn
hole into her hull. She commenced settling and
filed rapidly She was lying last evening With her
lower deck guards four fee under water On the out
side, and next the shore the hull is entirely ont of
water She is cireened over a. an angle Of twenty
degrees from the perpendicular. Her furniture, ma
chiDery, &C., were yesterday being removed. She
Will be dsmantled there is no hope Of saving her.
Her machinery can all be got out and the boat torn
10 pieces without much trouble.
Besides the damages above mentioned two barges
we're injured about Sl00 ca ch
The work Of destruction stopped here, for the
present Every one OF these boats, and the Hiberna
No 2, Just below, are in immGent danger and we
cannot venture TO say what Will be the result. Time
will determine that.
The seveIest loss is that Of the Garden City. She
was built last winter the Ohio, and brought out
last spring 10 the Illinois river trade. She vas one
OF the most splendid aud magnificent steamers that
landed at the 81 Louis leyee. Sne over $40 900.
Her owners last eek, We understand, were otferel
$45 coo for her, which they refused She owned
by Capt Mills, her clerk, Capt. 7. Price, her con-
mander, ana David Holmes, Esq, OF Pittsblrg.
Capt. Mills interest onefourth, on which ne
bad en- insurance Of 81 900 in the Western Office of
PIttsburg. Capt. Price and Mr.. Hol1es owned each
three eiglths. Capt. Z. was insured for $4,000 in
the Pttsburg offices-S7 900 IN the Firenen's, and
$4,000 in the Delaware Mutual. Mr.. Holmes Is be-
heved TO be insured for the same amount.
Tho Asia was owned by Capt James F. Smith, her
commander, and insured for 50 900 in tn Floating
Dock Company Of this city. he also had policy
for SO 600 more in another st. Louis office When
expired on the 29th nit. and which he failed TO
new. TIE Asia had Just come of the DOCKS and Was
valued at S., 900.
The st. ADge belonged to Messrs. Lewis & Bros.,
OF this city, Capt Hannun, her commander, and two
gentlemen named Smith and Price, each owning an
interest In her Of fourth Mr. Price was not in
sured. The other gentlemen were insured Elective
ly, for s. 000-S2 500 Of which is on policy from
the Citizens insurance Company Of this city The
remaining 81 500 will be loss, as it was taken in
the broken Etna Company Of Utica, N. Y. We yes
terday announced that the st. Apge vas contracted
for by Mr.. Roberts Of Linn Creek No. to be deliver.
cd when repaired, at $4,000.
These are the assurances on the boats lost. We
give the insurance on the remainder, excepting the
1ronton which We have not ascertained, and the Ex.
eel, not insured.
The Sparhawk is owned by Capt. Montrevile.
Green and others and Is insured in Pittsburg Offices