The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-11-28
Dsstructton OF the Steamer Rain
bow--sixty Persons ID urned or
Droxyned.


OF the Steamer Rain
bow.-sixty Persons urmed or
Drowned.
The burning of the steamer Rainbow, ten miles
above Napoleon, Ark, on the morning OF the 2lst
l asst, has been noticed by telegraph The fire oe-
CURED about o'clock in tho morning. From the
statement Of the clerk Of the boat 40 take the fol-
lowing:
The hre was first discoyeredin tho neighborhood
of che cock-heuss--it 10 mos known how 1t origi-
mated. She WAS headed for shore when the alarm
was FIRST given, aud struck the shore under full
head Of stesni, and remained with her bow on
shore and stern qusrtering In the stream, about
any feet from the shore, whers she burned 10 the
waters edge.
Prom accounts Of passengers, the alarm, was not
general until about the time she struck the shore.
Many were aroused by tho smoke filling their
rooms and almost stlhing them. Many OF the pas
sencers, when aroused to their danger, found ths
flames bursting through the floor of the cabin
amidship, and were compelled toJump on the stern
and swim ashore. A number had consregated In
the Iarboard splash door, (the one next 10 inc
shore.l where they remained until the wheel 'eii,
carving them oil In the river, and Of some twenty
Ave or thirty who went down In full view OF those
who had gained the shore, only three or four are
known 10 have escaped One lady made her escape
by winding In and ont through the staterooms
after part OF the cabin floor had fallen in. There
beard wheel, when II fell, only one man escaping
One lady, Mrs Hayberry, hung on 20 the yawl-
derrick until the guys burned of and hoated down
the river, still clinging to IL, and was rescued
the Sovereign. Tho Sovereign was near =. ns ,ha
- en- the accident occurred, and rendered all the
sstance In her power. number were plcRed
by the yawl. aome who got on board OF nor
, Nh the shore were taken care OF ana sspphcd
with clothing by the crew and passenger s .t.i
f.y who lived down the river returned TO their
home. by her The Minnehaha, Capt Charies n.
Baker. came up shortly: after the accident, and
took those of the Sovereign and tnen ianaea pear
the wreck and took on board Al VINO "lsheu "
cnm. mn the river She had eighty of the saved
MANY were almost naked, and had lost everything
thew had. The cold and naked were clothed ana
warmed Capt. Baker landed at Laconia, "here
he remained until all who were destitute we're
frIly clothed and Supplied with all they required
The Messengers on the Minnehaha showed the ut
most lberality and kindness OF heart to"arus
those who escaped from the illfhted steamer, ana
freely contributed both money ana ciothes 70 sup
ply their wants
The Memphis fTenn.) Bulletin gives the follow
inc additional particulars of interest:
Five deck hand. belonging to the steamer North
Star. which was wrecked the previous Monday. got
ON board the Minnehaha, at Grand Gulf Ihey
were very much intoxicated, and so turbulent IN
their manner that they were tied before reaching
yfcksturg where they we're put ashore. they
took massage from that place on the Rainbow
Here they RECOMMENDED their violent and turbu
lent conduct. and in order to prevent them from
carving into execution their threats against the
lives of the deck passengers, they were bound ana
two of them whipped. They vowed revenge, and
sworc the boat should never reach her destination
1t is thought that they got loose during the night
and set fire 70 the boat 1t is reported also, that
the FIRE WAS the cause OF the careleesness in the
cook leaving a bottle Of turIentne in his house
near fire.
party Of returned Cslifornians are also said to
be the incendiarcs.
Another report says that among the deck pas
senQers were some lewd women, who were 40 yio-
lent as to compel the officers to confne them In
the hold. While at Napoleon, Mr.. johnson, one Of
the firm on the wharfboat there, thought he MOTTO
ed smoke coming from the hold and spoke OF 1t at
the time
on Are we're all secured but one, who probably es-
capped into the woods and 1t was thought that they
would be hung upon the spot by the enraged pas
sengeIs.
There were twelve ladies In the cabin, six Of
whom persisted. Mr.. Carroll OF the survivors, one OF
Tnscumbia. Ala. states that If the alarm had been
given sooner, great many moro might have been
saved. lie was only awakened In time to save the
ladies under his charge.
Or. Wheatly, Of Kentucky, lost his wife and
child. lie was from California, and lost also
SIS, 900 in money.
The Rainbow was a comparatively new boat and
was valued at $4,000. All her valuable freight,
books and papers were lost. The rescued passen-
gers, In card return thanks toGen. Lee, Of Rich
mond. Va, one ofthe passenger on the Mnnehaha,
for his "princely lberaty," in relieving their dis
tress 1t s estimated that at least 90 persons
burned or drowned in this catastrophe.
NAMES OF TIE Losr-The following are the names
of more Of the lost passengers Of the steamboat
Rainbow:
hr. Mcdaffln, Of Kentucky; throe children Of
Mrs. Whitaker, of Eicksburg; Mrs Wheatly and
child, of California; lady cabin passenger, and
three lady deck passenrges, names unknown; tbs
third and fourth cooks Vim. Rochester and 2.
PIather. stewards; three deck hands and three
coored boys, names unknown; Mr.. Leaks Of Ar
kansas; Mr.. Ingr.haIn, Of New Orleans, and Miss
Fsrr.ek and Sr. Bra.hesrs, Of West Point.