Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-08

McOpauueI, DouNai hiso., D. li. MIC w aterS, do.; A. Whitaker, Helena, Ark; C. Holmes, J. c. Burris, wife and six children, Cal; A. Tar bell, Ky; P. G. Meath, Memphis; w. Smith, Pittsburge, Pa; Jas Lore, Ind; c. A. Carroll, Mrs Carroll, Mrs. Armstrong; Little Rock, Ark; E. G. Furgeson, Cal; J. M. Fleming Missis- sippi county, Mo.;J. Il. Clopton, Miss Clopton, Il. Clopton, Phillips county, Ark; Thos. Mad dox, J. M. Carson, Philadelphia, Pa.; John Mayberry and lady, Mclean, H.; Miss L. Har- ris, Rock Island.
 STATEMENT OF MR. CARROLL, OF LITTLE RoCK
 ARKANSAS
 Memphis, November 23, 1857
 EDITORS APPEAL: At your request make this statement for publication:
 At twelve o'clock on Friday night, 2Oth inst 1, in company with two sisters and two neph- ews, together with some fifteen others, got aboard of the Rainbow at Napoleon. The boat remained at Napoleon, suppose, an hour after 1 got aboard discharging freight. 1 retired to bed before she was under way.
 About an hour or perhaps more, after she landed, l noticed he boat whistled as if to land. Knowing no landing in that region, it attracted my attention. 1 then heard faint cry of fire, immediately under my state-room, which was the third in advance of the ladies' cabin. l inn mediately got up, awoke one of the little boys who were in the state-room with me, put on my pants, and was in the cabin, very much cited When 1 got in the cabin found every thing quiet-no smoke or anything to confirm the alarm heard, and heard no noise on any part of the boat
 I immediately awoke two of the cabin boys who were asleep in the cabin, and sent them down to see if there was anything the matter By the time they cleared the gentlemens cabin 1 observed little smoke coming through the floor around post standing about fifteen feet Tn advance of the ladies' cabin. 1 knew then the boat was on fire, and thought would have time to awake every occupant of the ladies' cabin 1 immediately rushed in, and had only opened four doors, two of which forced when l ob- served the gentlemens' cabin filling so rapidly with smoke, that it was unsafe longer to re- main in that spot, with those under and claim ing my protection.
 1 hallooed fir and immediately started with all the ladies in the staterooms mentioned and found the smoke in the cabin so hot and thick that we could hardly get through The fire was coming up around the post above mention ed, when l passed it. When 1 got on the for ward deck the boat wa, regularly landed tied se- curely, stage blanks out, and large number of deck passengers and deck hands on he shore.
 One of my sisters was separated from me in the cabin which did not discover until l had gotten out of the cabin. 1 directed the three children to follow the crowd on down and 1 started back, and they being so frightened turn ed and started to follow me- 1 immediately took them ashore and started back, when l met my sister, brought out by one of the cabin boys, he finding her in the cabin, and took her through the side door and brought her around outside the cabin. By this time the boat was complete ly enveloped in flames.
 l noticed no one for few seconds and thought the remainder were certainly all lost; when saw them rushing towards the stern on the hurricane deck where they gathered very rapidly, many of them jumping overheard, never stopping moment when they got to the brink. Others got down by other means. saw but three get of forward of the wheel house after this time, and they were men. I think some fifteen or more ladies got off in the water in my sight only three succeeding by that means in getting ashore.
 So far my knowledge or information ex- tends, l think there were fifty persons drowned, many of them with the tin life preservers- They seemed rather to be chilled to death than drowned, as they were still supported above the water.
 Soon after they commenced jumping from the boat, the Sovereign rounded to, about three hundred yards below, and just in the current where the survivors were being drifted. She had her yawls lowered by the time she was stopped, and saved as many as was possible for her to, and then the officers and passengers done everything Tn their power, to alleviate the Suf- ferlng of the saved
 A great many were doubtless burned in the boat When the decks fellin there was simu- taneous wall of many. It was for an instant and all was hushed, save a few who were still cnging to the stern of the boat, An old gen. tleman named yberrv, and his wife, the one over fifty and the other bat little younger, were just aft the wheel house. He had got her down one of the lenders to the waters edge, follow ing her They both were endeavorng to get something to bear them up, when the fire burn ed the rope which held the top of the fender It fell The lady got on 1t and was tioated to the Sovereign in almost lifeleSs condition.
 lie still chung to the wheelhouse, awaiting to see her safe, when the wheehouse fell with crash, catching him under it; as it struck the water It seemed to part, and coming again to- gether, caught him just under the arms With an effort he parted it again and diving under came to the top and swan out
 saw four men in about twenty feet of each other commence struggling for life all about the same time They struggled until they come together at common center, and then all lock- ed together, sunk and were seen no more
 The carpenter of the Rainbow saved two or three, gong in on plank. He brought out negro who was standing on something that did not allow the water to come higher than his armpltS; the fire all around him; face turned to- wards the burning boat and hollowing as if iran tlc, and making no effort for his safety
 A S tO pp pf bo I l., When l got ashore 1t was at the house of Mr. Alexander, in Desha county, Ark He told me he heard the cry of fire and going to the door saw the boat on fire. The boat was then. he sad, about seven hundred yards from where she landed. It would have taken ten or fifteen minutes to have run the boat that distance, land her, tie her up, get the stage plank out, and the large number landed
 If the alarm had been given in the cabin when the fire was discovered below, every cabin passenger could have been on the forward deck and could have walked ashore as soon as sha landed. There was never any alarm given in the cabin by an officer or any one, until cave 1t.
 They may have thought the alarm given on the forward deck below sufficient, but the noise of machinery was so great this was not heard in the cabln. That officers whose duty it was to have attended to this, failed in their duty no one can doubt.
 The pilot certainly did his entire duty. A boat was never more carefully managed or bet ter landed.
 The engineer remained at his post until his clothes were on fire. He then raised the safety valves to prevent an explosion and jumped over board.
 l neglected to say the Captain and officers of the Mlnuehaha, who brought most of us Chose who had lost their money, free of charge) on up the river and did every thing in their power 10 comfort the distressed. To Mrs. Baker, wife oi the CaPtaln of the Mmnehaha, l am under ters. ~
 Col F. B. Flournoy took the passengers who were without money and clothes, off at Laconia and clothed all comfortably. Some others, I tbn.l upite4 ,,.itL h;s