Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-03-28
Great loss of Life by the Burning OF a
Ferry Boat.

The Philadelphia Ledger, extra, fur
nishes the following details Of most
heart>rending occurrence that took place
on the ferry between that city and Cam
den on Saturday evening:
The boat was headed for the canal, but
on reaching that point Capt. Carson dis
covered that the ice wAs SO jammed be-
tween the banks that to go through would
be almost an impossiblity.
The boat was then turned northward =,
so MS to cross the bar some distance above
Smiths Island. When nearly opposite
Arch street wharf the boat was discover
ed to he on fire near the smoke stack
An effort was made to check the flames,
but without avail. A scene of wild ex-
element cnsued, the passengers all press
ing forward to escape the flames, and to
be the first to jump ashore, Us soon as the
boat should touch the wharf, the Captain
having directed the pilot to steer direct
for the Arch street wharf. The FIRE had
broken out an1idships. i'll the immediate
neighborhood of the engine. 1t is be-
lieved that it originated in the 6re>room.
The flames spread with fearful rapidity,
and in an instant, almost, the FIRE, waited
in that direction, had enveloped the en-.
tire afterpart of the boat in flames. Be-
fore reaching the wharf the fire ragged
around the pilot house and the engine,
and both the engineer and pilot were
driven from their posts. The boat was
steered by tiller chains, but the pilot and
engineer being unable to maintain their
stations, the steamer became uumansgea-
bic. A flood tide was running, and set
! ting up the river, which caused the boat
to sheer off from tho wharf. and float
towards the island again. Before this
time, however, most Of the passengers
had jumped overheard, some of whom
managed TO get upon cakes Of ice. and
others were taken from the water by per
sons in small boats. Many Of the passen-
gers, among when were some females,
remained on the boat until the burning
tof their clothes drove them to leap into
lthe water.
The pilot and two or three other per-
sons succeeded in leapiug safely ashore
when the boat neured the wharf, but
others fell short, and were either drown
ed or rescued by those who were on9the
wharves and upon the vessels lying among
them. Boats were put out from the
shore as promptly as possible n number
Of fire companies were upon the wharf,
and some of the members were instru-
mental in saving life. Hose was laid in
readiness for putting water on the flames,
in case the boat was secured to the wharf.
The boat hoated over towards the bar,
and finally lodged on the bar among the
ice. She was afterwards towed by fer
ry boat over to the Jersey shore, where
she now lies sunk, her paddle boxes alone
visible at low water.
The fact of the passengers coming on
board in the night renders it very uncer,
tain how many persons were on board at
the time of the accident, and most of the
names would be unknown, except as the
individuals would be recognized by &C.
quaiutances on board who have escaped.
There are four dead bodies discovered,
but some thirty persons are still missing.
Probably some OF these escaped, aud their
safety is known by this time to their
friends. Sixteen bodies are all that have
been recovered. AS far as have been
ascertaiEel twenty-five are still missing.