New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-04-27
DREADFUL AND HEART-RENDING ACCT
DENT.

BURNING OF THE STEAMER OCEAN SPRAY
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE-TwENTY OR THIRTY PAS
sESGERs BURNED AND DROwNED-FCLL
PARTICULARS.
From the So Lori, Democrat Ap,a2s
? Another horrible disaster is added this morning to
that dreadful list Of accidents which, during the past
six months has made the annals of seambOa.ng on
the Western rivers record unparalleled in the his
tory of the country for loss Of IL and property, aud
al! that IL terrible and heart-rending in the detail OF
such calamities. The list, we now recall it, fur
Eshes the dreadful chapters concerning the burning OF
the Rainbow, burning OF the Col. Crossmau burning
OF the Sultan, and the buinug Of a boat on the Ala
bamA rivtI-the memories OF all of which come back
upon Us fraught with the utmost pain aud horror
property Of immense value consumed in an hour,
human beings caught and devoured by the flames in
brief moment, or swallowed up in the cold and re
morseless waves wives missing, children torn away,
husbands loet, families broken up, and dismay add
bouor Inflicted upon the whole country
We say, another, and if po sible, catastrophe
more dreadful than sll others it Is our painful duty TO
chrobiois this morning. If Its horrors are not equal
as regards the loss Of life, yet it claims disastrous pre-
eminence by reason of the attending recklessne's Of
the commar ding officers and their criminal disregard
OF toe safety Of the boat and the human lives under
their charge. But without further comment, let us
hasten to give such reports as we could, amid mu IN
confusion ard uncertainty gather together last night
We canrot present more satisfactory account OF the
matter than contained in the statements OF passen-
gers and others here subjoined.
. The Ocean Spray took fire yesterday afternoon
about FIVE o'clock, and was burned to the waiei
edge at distance of about five miles above TINS ety.
in or rear SAVERS Bend, above Magazine Point
She left this city her regulsr departing hour, be-
tween four ani five O'Clock, ON her way to Peoria, on
the Illinois River. About the time of her departure,
the Hannibal City, one of the regular KeOkuk pack
cts also dropped out, and both DO is started up the
river on a race, the Ocean Spray having about 100
yards the start, both boats having number OF pas
sergers and msny on board seeming TO anticipate
With much relish the result oil the race to Atom
Under such circumstances, the officers of tle boats
coph barely fail to psrtake Of the sprlt Of rivalry
which so pervsded the passengers, and under the
mnuses Of the hour seemed to have become reckless
STATEMENT or TIE CAPTAIN.
on reporter succeeded in gaining an interview with
Capt Waldo Marsh, a; the vi N oe House 10 woich
lie Immediately proceeded after arriving 10 ine Guy
~eak and exhausted, from the scene vi 'ie uiSos' l.
TIE following lie his statsment: 49,,
1.-THE fire commenced on the main deck, 1lgIt lor-
wsra Of the boilers on the starooird. "nehtue ",Alh
las syep and the others al the tlne upon the hur
scane deck rushed forward procuring buckets, winch
ye 6lled In water and empted upon the flames, but
Without any good result. As toon a. knew tha, IN
trs COZ. be got unier, aud that the flames were
upidy dug Iroshetup hurricane de,k, aud
lad the Boat headed to the shore. She reached 1t be-
veeu the steamers Star OF the Wet and Keokuk, and
~ ri wheel was kep revolving cid along
,be baa 10 yard tbs Ksokuk. number of persons
ampec 10 tie shore. and were soon engaged, win
oshes Ill, on the boat in throwing plaoks cord wood,
AID otter available articles, to the assistance of some
who hsd capped snd dropped into the river. |! was
ihep ard ly tbi means, that the largest number OF
those WHO were saved were enabled TO reach the
shore.
"As soon as get of ran along the bank to the
stern ef the boat aud It on board, on The lover
deck, crt va OF deck hsnis end deck passengers.
saw tssn several persons climbing down from the
ladies' catiD.
81 Do tot know how the FIRE oriSiRsted. She was