The Evansville daily journal., 1856-06-18

The New Orleans papers of the morning of
the 10th, gave the news of the burning of a
number of steamers at the Algiers wharf, the
night previous. As the statement was highly
exaggerated, we give the following from the
Evening Picayune of the 10th:
The steamboats, destroyed at the Algiers
landing last night, were the New Latona, the
D. S. Stacy, the Delta, the Piota and the Mary
Bess. We are glad to learn that the Frank
Lyon and Louis Whiteman escaped, and that
the total loss is much less than was at first
supposed to be. From all that we can learn
the fire originated on board the New Latona,
which boat was in charge of the Sheriff, and
had two keepers ON board. 1t is supposed
that the boat was purposely set on fire, but by
whom is not known. The Sheriff had no in
surance on her, and, indeed, we could not as
certain that she was insured at all.
As the wind was blowing very freshly at the
time, the fire spread with amazing rapidity,
passing from boat to boat as they were moored
along the ri e lank, and carrying complete
destruction in it's path. Not only were the
several boats which we have already named,
on fire from stem to stern at the same time,
but three barges, two powder boats and house
on shore were also wreathed with flames, pre-
senting together an imposing, though fearful
spectacle. In the city, dome and spre were
gilded by the reflection of the lurid light, and
hundreds of people rushed to the steamboat
landing, in order to witness the brilliant scene,
The explosion of the powder boats were also
looked upon upon as imposing pyrotechnic dis
lplays
We regret to add that Capt. Holmes, who
had charge of the Mary Bess, lost his life; at
II l. -, L. -
posed that he was burned to death on board of
the boat.
OF the boats destroyed, only the New Lato-
ma and the Stacy were in the Sheriff's hands
On the Latona, as already mentioned, he had
no insurance, and on the Stacy but $1,000
| There was, however, an insurance by other
parties of Sc 900 on the State, in the Crescent
Insurance Company. We could not learn
that there was any insurance on either the
Piota or Mary Bess. The latter bout is owned
by Captains Otway, Muggah and Lyons. On
| the Della there was an insurance of $4,000, in
the Louisiana Insurance Company.
The value of the several boats destroyed is
put down in round figures as follows:
D. S. Stacy $4,000, New Latona $4,000,
Mary Bess $4,000, Della $16Ooo and Piota
$1,000
- The Cincinnati Commercial of Mon
day says: Altogether the river has risen
from Is to Is inches here, but was swelling
very slowly last night. There is fully six
feet to Louisville.
| - The river was at stand at this point
yesterday. A small rise may be expected in
a day or two-enough, perhaps to enable
some boats aground above to get off, and others
now laying up to scramble over the bars.
| - We are indebted to the officers of the
John Tompkins, Louisville, Evansville and
Cairo packet, for bundle of New Orleans pa
pers, of the 10th, brought to Paducah by the
Fanny Bullitt. The Tompkins had large
number of the Fanny's passengers on board,
and passed up yesterday morning.
- There was a scarcity of steamboats,
yesterday commensurate with the scarcity oi
water Our wharf boatmen are having COM
Portable time-much more so than they prob
ably desire. They may congratulate them
selves that they don't own big steamboats, in
stead ofmammoth wharf boats.