The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-05-01
Prom the Missouri Democrat.

Prom the Missouri Democrat.
AND HEART-RENDIN0 ACCT
z DENT.
Burning Of the steamer Ocean sprsy--aGreat Los:
Of Lifc-rwenty Or 80 Passenger Burned and
Drswned.
The Ocean Spray took fire yesterday af-
ternoon about I've O'Clock, and was burned
to the waters edge, at a distance of about
five miles above this city, in or near Saw
yer's bend, above Magazine point. She left
this city at her regular departing hour be-
tween four and five O'Clock, on her way to
Peoria, Illinois river. About the time of
her departure, the Hannibal City, one Of
the regular Keokuk packets, also dropped
out, and both boats started up the river on
a race, the Ocean Spray having one hundred
yards the start, both boats having number
of passengers, and many on board seeming
to anticipate, with much relish, the result Of
the race to Alton. Under such circumstan-
ccs, the officers of the boats could hardly
fail to partake of the spirit of rivalry which
so pervaded the passengers, and under the
impulses of the hour seemed to have become
reckless of everything but the speed Of their
respective crafts. IT,.
STATEMENT OF Mr.. J. H. DENIsToN-HOW THE
BOAT WAS SET ON FIRE.
Mr.. Deniston is from sLynchburg, Ohio,
and was on his way to Florence, On the Hi
nois river. He had trunk containing mon
ey and articles of apparel valued at 800,
which was lost. He says when the boat
started out, the Hannibal City backed out
Just behind her, and when under good head
way, was about a hundred yards in the rear.
He says that when the Ocean Spray was
within about half mile of where she took
fire, she saw the, Hannibal City gaining on
her, and the command was given to put tur-
pentine in the furnaces. He says he had
been very much interested in the race, and
had taken position in front, where the
steps come down together, so that he could
see them firing up. They first threw in ros-
in, and then the mate suggested turpentine.
The captain was by when the order was
given, and some of the men went down into
the hold and brought up barrel of turpen-
tine, which had been consigned to some
person in Peoria. The men took an axe and
split hole in the head Of the barrel, and
then, under orders of the mate, dipped the
fluid out and threw it over the coal that was
lying by. This was not expeditions enough,
and the head of the barrel was knocked in,
and n bucket with piece of rope to it was
used to dip out the turpentine. The barrel
at this time was standing not more than six
feet from the furnace doors. after dipping
NTH the bucket and sprinkling the coal,
sticks Of rood Were taken up and their ends
plunged into the barrel, and then laid do,cn
between the barrel and furnace. While
lying there, one Of the 6remen in pulling ont
his rake, jerked live coal, as is supposed,
on the wood, when it was Immediately igni-
ted, and blazed up furiously. =,
The mate swore at the men and ordered
them to throw water on the fire. The water
seemed to drive the flames to the barrel,
which was soon all ablazc. The mate grew
furious, and cursing the hands, ordered
them to cast the barrel overheard. In at
tempting to do this, the barrel ,cas upset,
and the burning fluid in an instant spread
all over the deck and poured in fiery torrents
down into the hold. At this the cry of fire
was shouted and the alarm became general.
Mr.. Deniston says he Immediately ran up
stairs for his baggage, which was in state
room no. 26. He dragged his trnnk and
carpet-sack as far as the clerks office, when
he saw the flames coming in at the dooS in
front of them. He dropped the trunk and
umbrella, and made dash for the stairway
through the flames. Somehow, he says, he
reached the bottom of the stairs, but not
without having his hair and eyebrows pretty
badly singed. Here, at the forward deck he
found a crowd of men all waiting for the
boat to strike shore. lie jumped when the
rest did, and landing safely he began to
throw in the river all the pieces of wood or
logs he could gather ON the shore. While
on the shore he saw the women rushing over
the top of the boat and some on the hurri-
cane roof, and some, even with their chill
drcn upon the texas, all imploring for help
and screaming from the fright Of the mo-
ment. He saw one mother bring three
children to the edge of the hurricane roof,
the oldest being probably about ten years
old. She first caught her youngest in her
arms, and gave it desperate fling. 1t struck
the shore with great violence, and must have
been seriously injured. Tho second child
she could not throw SO far, and it fell in the
water, where its little hands, padding above
the surface, arrested the attention Of some
gentlemen who reached in and saved it,
The third child, being so heavy, fell farther
from shore, and would probably have drown
ed but for some noble-hearted man, who
having witnessed the efforts Of the heroic
mother, plunged in head foremost, and
brought the child to the surface and to the
shore. The mother afterwards leaped in the
water, and was rescued.
Mr.. Deniston says some four or five wo-
men were found clinging to one man who
was holding on the rudder of the Star Of
the West.
The captain, clerk, pilots and mate were
saved. All the cabin boys but one called
Hank, were saved. Mr.. Deniston says that
one of them saved all his clothing, and the
others having lost all, he generously offered
his entire wardrobe, and took them out be-
hind the trees to change their clothing.
He saw some poor lrishman sitting on a
log crying over the loss of his brother.
Mr.. Deniston relates that while the flames
were raging, he saw some poor woman at
the railing Just in front of the wheel-house.
Those on shore shouted to her to jump,
which she attempted to do, but was caught
by her clothing, and swung in under the
railing, down INTO the engine room, where
all was one blaze Of fire.
Mr.. Deniston thinks there cannot have
been less than twenty lives lost. He thinks
there were some sixty or seventy passengers
in all, and good many Of these deck pas
sengers.
He and Mr.. Brandon, with many others
who were saved, came down to the city by
the North Missouri railroad and tho Broad
way omnibuses.
LATER.
From the Evening News 23d.
Another Steamboat Burned.
Last night, about 10 O'Clock, the steam
boat Star Of the West caught fire from the
burning woods on the bank above the city,
set on fire by the Keokuk, and was burned
to the waters edge. This makes three boats
destroyed by the disaster yesterday.
The Star Of the West was owned by Capt.
NJ. Gilman, Lawrence Gilman, VIM. II.
Pierson, and Espy & Duffer. She was val
ued at $4,000, and insured for 1000, in
the following Offices: Eureka, Pittsburg,
5000; Monongahela, of Pittsburg, 81, 900;
Citizens, of Pittsburg, $4,000; Globe. Of
st. Louis, $4,000; and United States, of St.
Louis, 81 900.
Its Tutur is Brilyun'."
A waggish Snowman, by the name of AR
rEMAs WARD, gives the result of his travel
ing observations, to the public, through the
ool,,nrs of Tho rlovol.ud pyo;,J,rI,r T.,