Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-26
From the Memphis Bulletin, Nov. a4th.


From the Memphis Bulletin, Nov gath.
Awful Steamboat DI>aster--The Rain
bow burDed-Be1Gveen sixty and sew
entJ live persons burned Or drowned
The IRE c1sused by TncendfarfSm.
We have this corning to record one of the most
fearful steamboat disasters that has happened upon
the Mississippi for a number of years published in
our extra OF Sunday the narrowing particul RS of
which makes the blood curda and fr eye with hor-
ror. BY this appalling cOnfagraton between sixty
and seventv-fve persons have been u=hered into
eternity in awful hour!
The fearful disaster occurred about o'clock on
Sstnr az morning last about ten miles this side of
Napoleon. The rainbow was eom up from Now
Orleans hound for Louisville, and had on hoard
three hundred and fort9-sPven passengers. From
the officers and passengers of the Ninnehaha which
passed up on Sunday, having on board soma of the
survivors OF the Rainbow, we learn the following
particulars:
Five deck hands, belonging to the steamer
North Star, which was wrecked the previous Mon
day. got on board the Minnehaha at Grand Gulf.
They were very much intoxicated and so turbulent
IN tnelr manner, that they were tied before reach
ing VIck-burg, whore they were pnt ashore.
Tney took passage from that place on the Rains
bow Here they recommended their violent and
turbulent conduct and in order to prevent them
from carrying into execution their threats against
the lives OF the deck passengers they were bound
and two of them whipped. They vowed revenge,
and swore the boat should never reach her destina
ton 1t Is thought that they got loose during the
night and set fire to the boat. It is reported, Also
that the fire was the cause of the carelessness in
the cook leaving bottle of turpentiDe in his house
near fire.
party of returned Californians are also said to
be the incendiaries.
Another report says that among the deck pas.
sengers were some lewd women who were so vio-
lent as to compel the officers to confne them in the
hold. While at Napoleon Mr. johnson, one of the
firm on the wharf boat there. thought he noticed
smoke coming from the hold and spoke of it at the
time. These, however, are not given reliable.
The fire was first discovered near the cook house,
while the boat was under headwav, hut such was
the rapidity with which the flames spread that tn e
alarm was not general until the boat had been run
into the Arkansas bank. The great loss of life is
accounted for by the inability of the officer to get
the stern of the boat into the shore, in conse-
quence of the high winds prevailing. Ali the pas
sengeTs 10 the of where the fire commenced,
had either to jump into the water or be consumed
by the fimrs, as the chances for escape forward
were altogether C It off.
The steamers soverei IN and Minnehaha came up
and rendered every assistance in their power. and
succeeded in rescuing many who had jumped into
the water.
The men who are supposed to have set the boat
on fire were all secured but one, who probably es
capped into the woods, ard it thought that they
would be hung upon the spot by the enraged pas
sengers
There twelve ladies in the cabin, six of whom
| persisted. MIR. Carroll, one of the survivors, Of
IuscHmtia, Ala, states that if the alarm had been
given sooner, great many more mi hit have beer
saved. He only awaken in time TO save the ladies
under his charge.
Mrs. Bon registered for this place is the only
one from Memphis positively known to b. lost. DR.
Wheaty of Ky, Who had intended topping al
Memphis, lost his wife and child. He was from
California, and lost also $25. 900 il mon =.
The following list furnished Us by McComb
Esq, Of this city, is all the names vet ascertaiue J.
except those furnished in the statement of the
clerk: