The true Democrat., 1855-12-11
From tIlN 8ICITIFIIT n I'I'O'tI I7U'I' T rDrAr cNNFT,AGRAT

Loss of Ten or Flfteen Ligess dno S@Jo.
 GOO worth of PrOperty-Whari Boat Mary
 Hunt and Steamers Mayfour ana Heorse
 Collier Destroyed.
 The most mournful and destructive calamity that has ever occurred in our midst visited Us last Sunday night. The large steamer George Collier, one of our cotton packets to New Or leans came into port at about half past twelve o'clock Monday morning. The moment that sue neared the shore she discovered to be in flames Capt. PARIS knowing the number of lives that must be lost if he pushed out into the stream. chose rather to endanger the loss of the boats that lay along side where he neared the landing than so far endanger the rescue of his own passengers and crew. The fire was pro bablv communicated to the boat by the careless ness of those who fired cannon when rounding the point below, which is the usual custom of New Orleans packets as they near our point for the purpose of announcing their arrival.
 From an officer of the Collier we gathered the following particulars:
 He reports that w. MILLS and H. J. KLINCK, engineers of the boat, and wi o were on watch at the time of the fire, discovered the same near the locker forward. Men were called immedi- atelv and with buckets much water was thrown on the fire, but to no purpose Hose was next placed on the doctor, and by this time the flames had reached to the after end of the bolers-all hopes of her being saved were now abandoned. The flames spread very rapidly. The next thought of the officers was to save the lives of the paSsengers-a yawl was lowered to save all of those who might jump overheard. Captain PARIS aroused the ladies, and pissed them all into an entry behind the barber shop. Great confusion and fear prevailed among them, but the Captain with the engineer Alink put the ladies all through raised window near the wheel house, and as the aft of the boat was touching the wharf-boat Muy Hvat they could by assistance slide them from the window on to the same Four ladies besides the chamber maid and her daughter, wer3 thus saved. Capt SMITH and JOSEPH PRICE, engineers, were awakened just in time to escape The ladies, we should have said, barely escaped in their night clothes. At this time the flames had reached mid ships, cutting off the only place of | escape through the wheel house. The male passengers and cabin boys were still on deck, but were prevailed upon by the officers, as a last hope of escape, to jump into the water.-- The officers with their coats, passed them to those that could keep above water long enough | to grab hold of a sleeve or tail, and thus were hauled in from the chilly, watery element Several deck hands and passengers were here known to be drowned. Their names could not be learned
 | Several who were able to keep above the surface after they passed the wharf boat were rescued by the second mate and MILLS, the en- gineer, with yawl. SMITH saved one man with stick The officer who gave us these partcu- lars spoke in the highest terms of the gallantry and coolncss of the second mate All the off cers did what they could to save life. Mir. J. $. STANTON passenger from this ci- ty, though badly frightened, happened to be the last to leave the boat He lost clothes and con siderable money.
 LACKLAND, the first clerk, did all in his pow CT to save the books, papers and money, but failed.
 The cargo of the Collier which was conside- l rable, was a total loss. Most of the goods were consigned to merchants in our country. We hearmany contradictory reports in regard to the insurance of this craft Capt. GosLEE, t,ho was the owner aS well as commander, is absent. The insurance is stated variousy from l5 to S4OOOO.
 ! A few minutes after the Collier was in flames the beautiful steamer -HaMio,cer which was along side, caught fire, and m few moments this palace of beauty and mlgniticeuce was one broad sheet of flame.
  pers but without success. By a great effort her safe was rescued from the destructive element with money and contents. Capt. BROWN, lady and child, had but time to escape in their night clothes. The assistant bar-keeper of this boat ARTHUR DIGNAE, R. $. CAMDEN, who came on board at Gaines Landing, Ark, and friend of ms, name not known, are among the missing and the only ones lost belonging to this boat 1 The -lLaA2o,rey lost as freight some 4OOO sacks of corn that we took on board Saturday, at polnt above here, and 49 hogsheads of sugar, belonging to AYDIETT & Co.,, and one hOgshead belonging to SToCKLEY, & Co.,, which had been placed out on the landing. This beautiful boat was new belonging to Capt. BROWN, McEwEN and McALI>TER, of St. Louis She cost Sl1O, OOO and was insured, we believe, for S5OUOO
 The next most fearful loss was the large, new and commodlous wart-boat Mary Hunt, be- longing to Mcssrs DUvAL, ALGEo and SMITH 1 Besides an immense amount of goods awaiting shipment, the loss of these enterprising and un- fortunate gentlemen canuot be less than S3O,- GOO. Their insurance Was about SlO,OO0
 MT. EDLEMAN, who kept the hotel above the wharl-boat, lost every thing. Mr. DUNBAR lost in books etc, about 5000 and was in sured for Sl,O0O.
 4 coal boat belonging to NJ. James, and treght, timber etc., lying along the landing were also burned.
 The many persons that were aroused from their luict slumberS and barely escaped vii their lives, were kindly cared for by our cti- zens, and every kindness Was shown them by the proprletors of the Gayoso House and board CTS.
 We cannot close the recital of this dread ca lamlty without chilling at the thought of the loss of life and property. We feel as though 1t was heavy stroke on the feelings and pros perity ot our city As beautiful boat as ever moved the waters," giving character and life to our trade, was in ten minutes made a black ened and worthless ruin-all that can now be seen of her is the mostly consumed and black ened part of one of her wheels The Collier was not so valuable a boat-but although old, she was valuable to our trade No comman- der on our waters is more popular than her owner, Capt GosLEE. The loss will be severe | to him.
 The wharf-boat Na1y Hunt was the largest of her kind on the Mississippi or Ohio rivers. She was new, spacious and convenient giving lie and reputation to the place.
 1 The brllliancy of the flames and the heat were intense. Towering up far into the hea- vens, wreath after wreath of the smoking, burn- lng elements could be seen-sparkling stars of fire all over the city. Several houses on How ards Row were at one time in imminent dan ger, and several caught fire on their roof. The whole city was illuminated by the flames, and made as bright as day.
 No pen can ever describe the effect and the grand burning splendor of the scene. -s+<zr>+e.
 Arrival of the Atlantic.
 Turkish Success in Asia-England. 1 NEW YORK Nol, 30-Thn Cnll;ns .+o0,.-