Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-05-08
Burning Of the Steamboats, Ocean Spray
and Keokuk.

The St. Louis Republican, of the 23d
ult., gives the following particulars of
this disaster, an intimation of which has
already been given:
At few minutes past o'clock P. NJ.
yesterday, the regular Peoria packet,
Ocean Spray, Capt. Waldo Marsh, left
this city for Peoria, with fair cargo of
freight. and from thirty-fve to forty-fve
passengers in her cabin, among them
eight or nine ladies'. There were very
few deck passengers. When she had
reached a point about five miles above
the city, known as Magazine Bend, she
was discovered I'd be on fire, and the
pilot, Mr. J. w. Leach, who was at the
wheel, Immediately headed her for the
Missouri shore. When she struck the
shore, the flames had nearly enveloped
the whole boat, and were rushing up
the front stairs, rendering it impossible
for the passengers to obtain egress by
that way. The larboard engine was
stopped, and the starboard kept going
ahead, which forced the bow of the boat
hard into shore, and in this manner she
moved up the bank until she came in
contact with the Keokuk, packet which
the company had caused to be removed
to that point, and laid up. The flames
were communicated to the Keokuk, and
she was consumed to the waters edge.
The Ocean Spray was at the shore,
probably two minutes, when her star
board wheel fell into the water, and the
boat foated out into the stream Du-
ring this brief interval many of her pas
sengers, it is hoped nearly all, escaped
by jumping from the burning boat to
the shore, and the water, from which
they were afterwards rescued. Some,
however, remained on board after the
boat foated out into the stream, and
were seen to jump overheard, as the
only means left of saving their lives.
1t is feared that some of these have
been lost, but we have not been able to
learn the name Of single person sup
posed to be drowned.
The missing, so far as we learned their
names, arc Miss Thompson, residence,
unknown; Miss Johnson, residence TN
known; Maria Carroll, (colored) cham
berlnaid; Stephen T. Spargo, engineer;
Mr. John B. Ketterer, of st. Louis; Mr..
Hick, Pittsficld, Illinois.
Capt. John Russell, from whom we
obtained the particulars, states that he
thinks the loss will not number more
than eight or ten, and probably even a
less number have come to their death by
this deplorable disaster.
The Ere on the Ocean Spray is said to
have originated from the burning of
barrel of turpentine which was located
near the coal box, in front of the fire
doors used by the firemen in wetting the
wood and coal. Another account has it
that the fire was communicated from the
chimneys to the hurricane roof.
The general impression appeared to
be that the fire was communicated to the
wood and other combustible materials
ON the main deck.
The Ocean Spray was owned by Capt.
Marsh; was about one year old-a new
and very fine boat. She cost $40, 900,
and was at the time of her loss, valued
at $4,000. Insured in Pittsburg Of
fees for $4,000.
Other accounts Of the affair estimate
the loss of life at no less than twenty.
Indemnity for the past-pay up. Sc
=