The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-19
Burning OF the Steamboat John Stevens
IDHee Lives sOAt.


Three Lives 40st.
From the Pbiladt phis Bulletin, July II
The community was startled this m ,rning by the
intelligence that the tavoIite st-AGb boat John Ste
vers bad been burned, ard that several lives had
been lost by u mifhsp. We immedist,ly re Jair.d
to the Office of the Camden ana Amboy Railroad
Company, whtie we fad an interview with Mr..
Ctlquone, tie pilot OF the Inflated boat. From him
end from others Who witnessed the disaster, we
learned 'be ioliowing particulars
The stevens. after uakinR FER accust omed trip
YESTERDAY, ~sDt ss nsusl TO Whitehall, = shot die
'sncs below Bordentovn, where she usually lay al
fiEbt. 6fe iesched her berth about o'clock III
The afternoon where she usuSl precautions were
token to prevsrt accident. Mr.. Chiquotne states
that ut bali past ten O'Clock he examined the boat
AID tie condition Of the boilers, aud toand al ~
IMtbty safe. Mr.C. sept In q small room on the
sra board side CT the boat near toe waeelnouss
there was but one other man on board, a deck
band, ard the ..ather being VAIN he slept upon
tetiee on the main deck.
Harriet Wright, the chambermaid, alept in the
CABIN. The first and second cooks and the dish
washer, all cooIed females, occupied small cab n
below cscks, Ia The extreme forward part OF the
bOst.
Alb ut . quarter before one o'clock this morning,
the man who wse sleeping on deck awoks and foaad
himtef completely envoloo ed in smoke. He
tpJsDg up, but was 20 much bewldere that FOE q
while he did not know w'ere he He sore AIMED
cut at tie top Of his voice, and after Stumbling
about tor time, succeeded III f0dtng mis- way sue
tide, and made his way ashore by the stern lice.
He states that at this time rhe smoke was pouring
from the boat In every direction, and beio~ decks
appeared 10 be completely In flames. This man
vas somewhat Injured internally by inbaliug the
hot sir and smt Ike.
MT Cbiqutine heard the cry uttered by the deck
hard, and coming out OF his room, be barely sue
Get dtd III ssvr his lie by lesping overheard and
swimming ashore. He had on nothing bat his shid
when he lett the burning boat. Tho chAmbermaid
wss aroused and crept out Of her cabin window on
10 the braces which supported the guar IL, and sne
remained ,heie Until ihe was rescued Dy some per.
soLs In boat.
As aeon IA poAaibe boat Was procured, and -
TIE FIRE had not yet reached the small cabia wnsrs
tie three ftmSes we're sleeping, II VAS hoped that
they might be saved. Tho persons In the bost
dashed In the windows and shoutei at the top Of
their voices, but II 10 probsbls the poor creatures
were already suffocated BY the dense smoke, for no
response Was heard from them.
In few nit uies from the disc very Of the fire,
the flames were raging from stem 70 stern wi III che
utmost fury, bgh'iDg up the surrounding country,
who lived In the neshbornood. To prevent the DIRE
frcm extending 10 the buildings ashore, the cables
were cut, and the burning mass ioa ed slowly of,
OF finally went ashore on shoai nearly opposite
Whehilj, ard near the Pennsylvauis shore.
The bull OF the Stevens being Of iron, 1t was, Of
course not destroyed but every particle OF combu+
tibIe material on board WAS burned The wreck
vas boarded this morning since daylight and search
VIVA mace for be remains OF the colored women, bus
DO trace vi their bodies eOu d be found. some ine &
ed silver was picked up among the ruins, and this,
with bolts SPIKES, tie machDtry, and the hull, was
Gil tina, WAS lett Of the John Stevens.
The RENE Of the first cook was Mary Parker She
was about thirty years OF age, AMI leaves 500.
The sectrd COX was nsmsd Hannah she was
young W. mar. The dishwssher waa abou: fifty
years Of sge. She was known Oh b arr by The name
OF "Auniy.n We c1uid Lo. ascertain the proper
names OF the two females last named.
Toe Inflated steamer was buit IN New York, In
ls4G, for the Camden and Amboy Rallro.d C,n
ny sEd rince that time she mas been runoing con-
sfaDuy upon the Delaware. Notwiths' andins the
TACT tnAt she bad b. zen In service nine year, sle
was, Ct The time IL Ios the fine tat boat on the
river. srd great favorte With tie travelling pub
lie. Hsr o,igsia i cost was clio 600.
Tie Stevens was commAnced by Captain Peter
Kfstsr, who vas ., his residence Borccntown At
The tine OF the Fad misnap. There Wi be no inter
ruplion In the business Of the line, another boat
bs- already taken her place.
Ihe origin OF TIE fire Ia mystery; by some IL Ii
bought she was Ere but tais u mere rmIss.
IL IN teffsD sevtr that the smes first broke o1t
b, low, sGd had al, sinsd great headway before they
were discovered. Those on board Sho we're saved,
think IL possible that the three msspg fema es got
cut Ct their cabils ard were dro ~ned, bat this Is
net probable.