Washington telegraph., 1857-12-02
TERRIBLE STEAMBoAN AsrEE.-
The Memphis papers cod IN account

Ihe Memphis papers cot d0Dsn account
of one of the most awful steamboat catas-
trophies that has occurred upon the Mis-
sissippi for many years. The heart-reud-
ing walls that but recently came from the
Central America and the Opelousas have
hardly ceased vibrating through the
land, when they are echoed back from the
Mississippi with thrill shat causes the
blood to eurdle with horror.
Y The steamer Rainbow, whilst on her
upward trip from New Orleans to Louis
vile, with three hundred and forty-seven
passengers on board, was discovered to be
on fire, at two o'clock ON the morning OF
Saturday the 2lst ult., when about ten
miles above Napoleon. The fire was first
discovered near the e1ok-house, while the
boat was under hcadSay. The boat was
immediately turned towards the shore,
and was run into the bank ON the Arkan-
sas side, where, by the aid of the engines,
she was held, her stern being out in the
stream, in which position she burned to the
waters edge. The passengers in the after
part of the boat were prevented by the
flames from reaching the bank, and many
were compelled to jump overheard to e.
cape the devouring element.
The steamers Sovereign and Minnehaha
came up and rendered every assistance in
their power, and succeeded IN reseuing
many who had Jumped into the river
The Enquirer says:
~ strong wind was blowing at the time,
and the flames roaring, ruse above the
tuttering chimncys, lighting up the river
with hOrrid glare. The water was filed
with struggling beings for hundreds Of
wards around. while the wall OF despair
that rose from the drowning victims WAS
heart rending. Fathers, mothers aud
children, clinging to each other, sunk be-
meath the water to rise no more. Some
forty persons crowded into the yawl, which
Immediately capsized, aud but two out Of
the number reached the shore. \ large
number crowded in the wheel-house next
to the bank aid were carried under with
it when it lell,-but three escaped
By this appalling e0nilagration between
sixty aad seventy five lives were lost. How
terrible the destruction, aad how harrow
ing the thought that it was the fsndish
act OF ineendiarics to satiate hellish thirst
for revenge The Enquirer states that
five deck-hands, belonging to the North
Star, which was wrecked week previous
and who had been taken ON board the
i Minnehaha, were put ashore at Nicl.sbur-
for drunkenness and dis,rlegly conduct,
by the captain Of the last named boat
When the Rainbow touched at Yiclss-
burg, they came on her and took passage
below, when they commenced drinkiu.
and quarreling with some German emil
grants, threatening their lives. Their
conduct was so outrageous that two Of
them we're tied up and whiuuci They
threatened to have revenge for the chas-
tisement which ;hcy had received, and
swore the Rainbow should never reach her
destination. They got loose from their
ropes a short time before the boat was dis
covered to be on FIRE, and it was the opir-
ion Of the surviving passengers that
they were the persons who had done the
yillaiuous act. All but one, were caught
and held in custody, after the fire, and the
opinion is that they would be swung up
by their necks rs soon as the missing one
could be found The officers Of tie Rain
bow. so far rs we can learn, do not know
in what manner the fire was caused. but
seemed to think it might have been the re
suit Of accident.
The passengers Of the ilI-fatei steamer
have published a card expressive Of their
gratitude towards the officers and pas>cu-
gers Of the steamers Sovereign aud Min
nehaha, and among the latter, particularly,
to Gen. s. Flournoy. Of Lacouia, Ark, /.
X. Arnold, of Warren county, Ky, and
Gen. Lee, of Richmond. Va, for their
liberality and disiuterested kindness.
The Rainbow was commanded By Capt.
Holcroft- was three years old, and valu-
ed at s55. 900. The safe was saved, but
all the rcst of her papers. and a tiac cargo
of freight, were entirely consumed.