Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-06-19
Terrible Calamity---Burning Of a
Gulf Steamer.

About one o'clock Sunday morning,
May 31st, the steamship Louisiana, Capt.
Sheppard, took fire six or eight miles
south of Galveston, in the Gull, and the
result was the total loss of the vessel, a.
large amount of property, and, what is
worse than all, large number of human
lives. The disaster was reported by
telegraph, and now the particulars have
come to hand by mail. We copy the
following statements of passengers from
the Galveston papers -
Mr.. Grover of Galveston, says that
he had berth on the STAFFORD upper
deck that the first alarm was persons
asking where the fire was, at about one
O'Clock /; he stepped out of his room and
discovered smoke, but no fire passed
round the stern to the larboard side, where
he saw from twelve to twenty persons
preparing to launch the quarter boat a
moment after the fame burnt no amid
ship; returned to the starboard side; saw
few lowering down the quarter-boat on
that side; went to his room, picked up
his shoes and coat and returned, and slid
down with others into the boat on the
larboard side; the engines were still run
ming, but fortunately the boat was lower
ed down without filling saw no one re-
naming on that side of the steamer.
After getting adrit, they looked to dis
cover if they could find any person to
take on board, but could see nobody.
There were twelve in the boat, all passen-
gers except the second mate, Andrew
Smith, to whom MIR. Grover says they
were all greatly indebted for their rescue.
Mr.. G. learned from one on the boat
that the tiller roap must have broken
was probably burnt off-in consequence
of which the steamer was unmanageable
at the commencement of the fire. The
first efforts of the captain and officers APP
peared to be to reach the fire engine, but
did not succeed. All communication be-
tween the forward and after part of the
boat was cut off by the fire, which must
have broken out near the furnace.
Mr.. Wheeler, another of the saved pas
sengers, did not awake till about the time
i the larboard quarter boat was being
lowered down, with some twenty persons
/ in her, and among them several ladies
He saw the boat capsize as she struck
f the water. He saw the ladies go under
a the boat, with some of the men, and thinks
: most if not all of them were drowned
: He then made an exertion and passed
$ the fire amidship, and reached the for.
: ward part of the boat, where he found 6
$ large number of passengers and others
y none appearing to know what to do tt
" save themselves. The captain was ther
D. alone in the pilot house. At first ht
, told them not to leave the boat as ht
" thought they would be saved, as he wa.
d then heading the boat in shore. But soor
IT after the tiller rope broke, when he came
IS down and advised all to save themselve
Mt the best way they could. They then be
/. gan to leave the boat, some taking chairs
of benches, &c, and others the hatchwa,
doors, or whatever they could get. MI
II Wheeler threw over two chairs tied to
. gether, and then let himself down by
is rope, and saved himself by holding on t
10 the chairs with his hands and swimmin
ne with his feet. There were five or 81
m others floating near him, or in sight i
~ like manner. He saw the steamer Ga
re- vaston come in sight just at daylight, an
v in some half an hour after he and th
an others near him were taken on board {
OF her.
to Charles H. Hughes, the purser of tn
ur louisiana, confirms Mr.. Growers STATE
les ment as regards the origin of the fir
by which broke ont in the fire room, twent
er. minutes past one. He states that til
ug passengers were all asleep when the fiji
ks broke out; that the larboard boat ca
an sized, and thinks some six or eight pc
ut sons were lost at the time. Mr.. H. ar
nut the engineer, Mr.. Finn, jumped overboal
eli upon the hatch door, which they hs
NO thrown overheard. He says, at tn
ey time there were some thirty around hi
cir on boards and furniture they had throw
le- over. They all soon separated.
There were 104 souls on board the i
fated steamer, of whom 40 are account,
re, for, and So are missing. Among tho
ice lost was Col. cambridge of the U.
It, Army. Many of those saved were pic
ng ed up by the steamer Galveston, Il
ers Revenue cutter at Galveston, pilot boa
ate &c. The efforts of Capt. Sheppard