The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-03
Terrible Steamboat Disaster.
THREE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.

One Of the most terrific steamboat acct.
dents that ever took place, occurred on the
St. Lawrence river, on Friday night. The
particulars are given in the following which
are taken from the Quebec and Montreal
papers.
"The Montreal was one Of the steamers Of
the mail line between this city and Montreal,
and left Quebec yesterday afternoon at four
o'clock, with about four hundred souls on
board. From oil the informa ton Us yet
gathered relating to her destruction, there
appears to DO IN opinion that the IRE arose
from accident, some say from sparks falling
ON the after part Of the boat. The opinion
entertained by Others is that the wood work
had, by being too near the furnaces, got
dried, and having frequently heated eyentu-
ally burst into fame. The FIRE was 6rst dis
covered about Eve o'clock, when the steamer
was passing Cap-rouge, and attention being
called to the circumstance, the passengers
got acquainted with the fact, and naturally
evinced much alarm. The boats were got
ready in clse Of emergency, while every ef-
fort was mado to eItinguish the flames
The Montreal was then at the upper end Of
Cap.rouge, and the smoke and heat, increas-
ing ten fold. indicated too clearly that the
ERE was gaining rapidly, and becoming in.
tolenble. All steam was now put on for
the land, and the steamer was soon run
ashore, ut place about tfteen miles dis
tant from Quebec, between Cap-rouge and
st. Augustin. A scene Of tho widest con
tu,ion and despair was here witnessed, and
the passengers recklessly threw themselves
overheard, TO escape what they conceived
the more imminent danger. Signals Of dis
tress were made and in short time the
steamer Napoleon, also bound for Montreal,
| ,me back to the burning boat. The mo-
ment she arrived, seeing the perilous con.
dition Of the Montreal, US quickly Us posi-
BILE the passengers were transferred to her.
The Captain and Purser were compelled to
swim from the vessel and seek refuge OF
board the steamer Alliance, which was pass.
ing with barges in tow, and bore down to
render assistance. The Montreal now APP
peared in flames from stem to stern, and
there was no doubt thai many Of those on
| w oo'S
selves from FIRE, met watery grave"
There were, according to the best accounts
which could be had, about $50 passengers
on board. Of whom 30 were cabin passengers
OF this number III were saved by the steam.
er Napoleon and FIVE saved themselves, max.
ing the loss Of lives to be upwards Of 200.
A coroncr's inquest was being held in
Quebec upon the bodies, about 60, and 1t
was determined to sift the matter Us fully rs
possible. Another inquest WIS held at
Montreal, on 10 dead bodies, carried to that
city by the Napoleon. The City Govern
ment Of Montreal and the citizens were &c
lively engaged in attending to the wants Of
The unfortunate sufferers.
In running the boat ashore she unfortun.
ately struck on ridge Of stone with deep
water on each side Of her; had she got a
few yards further, she might have landed
her passengers high and dry.
A despatch from Montreal, dated ycster-
day, says:
"Up to this morning $50 bodies have
been recovered of those lost by the burning
Of steamer Montreal. Several Americans
are among them, il is said, but rs yet their
names have not been aseertained."
The persons destroyed were chiefly Scotch
emigrants. Among the Americans lost, was
Hon. STEPHEN c. PnlLlrs Of Salem, who had
been absent in Canada for some months ut
tending to large numbering operations there.
The announcement Of his death caused
great sensation Of sorrow and grief IN Salem.
lie was one Of the great men Of Mass, re.
spected for his private worth, and beloved
for his devotion to every good cause. lie
had filed, and worthily. many important
State and National Offices. When the news
Of his death was received, the bells Of the
city were tolled, Gags were displayed at half
mast, and other tokens Of public bercave
ment. His body came to Portland on Mon.
day and was Immediately sent to Boston.