Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-04-17
Burning of the Bulletin b!
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Great Loss Of Life.
SENTINEL OyvlcE, March %.

Tho Momphis New Orleans Packe.
nullsiin. Capt. G. B. Church, whilst
on hef downward irip, and ncoi islands
0e and o., took FIRE on Saturday alter
noon, about 4 o'clock, and was totally
consumed. Ia addition 10 the destrnc.
lion OF the boat, we regret TO have to
rccorl q great loss Of life. The fire
was 6ust discovered, 10 the third or fourth
tier OF cotton from above !, and in less
Than Eve minutes, so rapidly did II ex'
tend, that the boat was alnos, entirely
enveloped in flames.
Below will be found the proceedings
Of meeting Of the passengers. which
contain o full account OF this sad cas-.
usl,y. The books and q great part oi
the papers beloging TO the boat, were de.
s.royed together with the baggage Of the
passengers.
FULL PARTICULARS.
At a meeting Of the surviving passen.
gers Of the ill.fatsd Bulletin, Gen. WIN.
Wick, Of Bollivor County, Miss. was
called TO the Chair and J. NJ. Craig.
Of Chicot County, Arkansas. was chos'
en- Secretary, whereupon the following
proceedings and statements were had :
The boat was found 10 be on fire when
near the Islands 90 and o., about four
ana half o'clock, P. NJ, the wind at
the time blowing hard. Capt. c. b.
Church gave the order to make to the
shore as soon as possible. Mr.. w. J.
Miller. the pilot at the wheel, stood
manfully at his post until the boat
struck the shore, and then made bis es.
cape from the flames by jumping off the
hurricane roof at the stern Of the boat
into the river. He exersised as well fine
Judgment in the selection of point at
which 10 reach The land, at or before
which The boat was encompassed in
flames, having on board about 500 bales
ol cotton.
Some Of the passengers succeeded in
jumping on shore from the lorecaslle,
but the large majority were cut off from
their escape forward, by the flames, be
ing in the river part Of the boat. Capt.
Church, together with Messrs. Freleight.
Porser and Robinson, clerks, Mr.. Brown,
the mate, as we'll as all the other officers
of the boat, worked with faithful fidelity
in saving the passengers from a walery
grave. Capt. Church with Mr.. James
Howard, the steward, were the last TO
leave the wreck. and after rendering
every assistance possible in his power TO
others, jumped into the river at dis,
tance Of some two or three hundred
yaros from the shore, and bu, for the
timely aid rendered him by skiff going
to his rescue, was in great danger OF
loos ng his own life.
This ill.fsted accident occurred near
the landing of Dr.. Keene, some IL
miles below Lake Providence, at whose
house, os we'll as that Of Judge Morgan,
every comfort was rendered TO the pas.
sengers under their hospitabIe rools.-
During the scene Of danger, very great
assistance was rendered by the timely
aid Of the officers Of tine steamer Fal.
con, by picking up by means OF her small
boats, many persons who were strug'
Cling in the river, but for which the
number Of lives lost would have been
much larger. Great assistance was
also rendered to the sufferers by the
CAPTAIN and crew Of coal boat, which
was floating in the river near by, whose
name we have not the pleasure to know.
The number Of missing, as neor as can
be ascertained, is from twenty to TWEEN.
ty.6ve persons. The lady passengers,
by means Of life boats and cotton bales,
were all saved, for which we ascribe
great creditto Capt. Church. The boat,
cargo, and baggage are total loss
The wreck foated down some five or six
miles, grounded and sunk. We are
pleased TO learn that Capt. Church has
Insurance on his boat TO the amount of
10000.
Upon motion, it was resolved that the
Vickburgh, New Orleans, and Memphis
papers be requested to publish these pro-
ceedings, with this the Meeting ad.
journed.
WIN, WICK. President.