The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-06-30
rnL-ta. A.n., n.Ws
Additional Particulars or the Calamity On
the ~ LaWre RIver.

the - Lawrence River.
QUEBEC, June % 1s57-The steamer Montreal
left this port at O'Clock. Friday afternoon. hav-
ing on beard between four and Ave HUNDRED pas,
sepgers of whom q majority were Scotch, aud
other immigrants recently arrived from Europe.
Nothing unusual occurred after leaving the
wharf until the Montreal reached point (Cspe
Rouge) about - or Is miles above this city, when
the wood work near the furnaces was discovered
to be on fire Almost at the very moment that the
smoke was frat discovered the flames broke forth,
causing the utmos. CONSERVATION amongst the
crowded passengers.
The fire was first discovered At about o'clock,
when the steamer was nearly abreast of Cape
Rouge.
Every effort was made to arrest the flames, and
for this purpose the engines were stopped 30 as to
lessen the draft; but finding 1t impossible to save
the steamer Captain Rudolph ordered her to be
run towsrds the shore, and at the same time the
officers and crew exerted themselves to get out
the life boats
The flames spread with the most astonishing ra-
pidty, and In few seconds after the steamer be-
rau to move forward In the widest confusion, and
despair prevailed throughout the ship, and nun-
bers of the passengers threw themselves over
boarI, and were 10 most cases drowned
Fortunately, the steamer Napoleon, also bound
for Montreal was but few miles in advance of
the burning boat snd a7 soon ~ the fire was dis
covered put bs ok with all possible expedition and
succe d in resi- uug from the burning wreck one
hundred aud twenty-seven passengers
captain hu0OipQ ana tue SeT Vi tue MULTI ai
were amongst the number of those who threw
themselves into the river, and they being excel-
lent swimmers ccrded in reaching the steamer
Alliance and saw, d. 1t is quite possible that
others may have succec ded in saving themselves
by swimming, but as the steamer became unman-
ageable when q considerable distance from the
land there is no doubt but that most Of those who
threw themselves from the burning boat found q
watery grave
Sixteen of those saved died within short time
after they reached the deck of the Napoleon, and
from present information it is believed that the
total loss of life by this terrible disaster will not
fall short of from three to four hundred.
The steamer Alliance arrived here yesterday
afternoon with forty five dead bodies, and another
boat Is known to have recovered sixty bodies, but
we have not been able to learn the namrl of any
of those except Mr.. Phillips. of the extensive lum-
herring firm of Norcross & Phillips, of Three
Rivers.
The Montreal had on board two hundred and
fifty-eght immigrants, recently arrived here from
Glasgow together with several German families
and raftsmen and several American pe 1sengers.
The scene Is described as most frightful upon the
bursting out of the flames The devouriug ele-
ment spread rapidly, and as large number of the
passengers were women and children, few precau-
lions of character to save life could be adopted
Amidst the awful horror of the scene, many per-
sons leaped overheard, considerable number of
whom were drowned almost Immediately. Crowds
of others were roasted to death before they could
attempt to escape.