The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-07-04

TuE prsxixG OF THE SIIAgrE MoxT@LAL,
though very distressing event, does not ap-
pear. from tho detailed accounts to have been
so disastrous, as reported by telegraph
The number lost, it is thought, will not ex-
coed 200 instead of 800, or more, as frat re-
ported. The fire was discovered about five
o'clock in the afternoon, ono hour aftor the
boat had left Quebec and when sho was
about twelve miles above the city. The de-
plorable loss of life 10 attributed to tho bad
management Of the boat after tho fire broke
out, and the panic, confusion and insubordi
nation that prevailed everywhere among the
crew ard passengers on board. The vessels
was not headed toward ire shore till some
minutes after the fire was discovered, and
when turned in that direction she unfortu
nately struck on q ledge of rocks, one hun
bred yards from the banks, with deep water
around her. II she had gone few yards
further above, she could have landed her pas
sengers on a spot from which they could
have walked ashore almost dry shod. The
fire broke ont over the boiler room, in the
main saloon, about midships, and caught
from the want of proper protection to the
wood work over the furnaces. There was a
steamer but fow minutes ahead OF the I'M
fortunate boat, that returned to the rescue.
and several sailing crafts were in the immedi-
ate vicinity but it appears that neither steamer
had but two small boats. and those of the
burning boat were swamped by the crowds
that rushed into them wheE they were low
cred; and those of the other were badly man
aged. The horror of the scene beggars all
description. Nearly all who were saved
were those who jumped overheard and were
picked up by the boats that came to the res
cue. \ few only were able to swim the
short distance that interviewed between
the vessel and shore ; and these it is said
were received by people more intent on pill
fering than to give aid to the drowning
Fourteen of the crew were lost, but the Of
| fcers and servants of the boat all saved
themselves. The scene is described as APP
palling and terrific OH board tho burning
steamer, and the distress afterward on board
the boat that had saved so many, was mes,
heart-rending parents with terror and dis
may on their countenanccs, were seeking theil
children-and children imploring others tc
End their parents; friends lamenting over tho
loss of those, without whom their own lives
were valueless to them.
The passengers were principally emigrant:
Scotch and Norwegian, the former were the
larger proportion; and mos, of the saved
have to lament the loss Of their nearest ant
dearest relations; many of them are womer
and children. Amongst the latter is
beautiful infant of about u year old, wht
was picked on. of the water but whom nobod,
! claims.
The whole number of passengers reported
by the captain was $50 to 400, of whom II!
or 200 were saved. most Of them in state o
nudity, as they jumped overheard to swim
ashore, and none of them with more thar
the slight clothing in which they stood; thu
entire baggage and freight were lost. TIL,
sufferers were Hospitality received at Mon
treal, and humanely cared for. There wer
scarcely any among them, who had not los
some CT their nearest and dearest kindred
and found themselves desolate and withou
friend or comforter in a strange land. 1
was refreshing, the Montreal papers say, t
behold, however, the kindness they met wit
in their bereavement, on every side, ant
which seemed to restore and comfort them.-
Though in sadness and distress for thos
they had lost, the friends their desolatio
seemed to have brought them served to re
vive their dropping spirits.