The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-05-06
Three STEAMBOATS, Burned.


Ocean Spray. left ST Louis for Peoria, on the
Ills. River. aud the Haanibul City. one Of the
regular Ksokuk packets, started up the river at
the same tins. The passengers on the two boats
bscams excited for trial Of speed. and the OF.
fcers participated In the excitement. Mr.. Den.
iston of Lynchburg Ohio, who was passenger
in the Ocean Spray, says; q
"When the boat started out the Hannibal Cify
backed out just behind her. and when under
good hoadwsy she was about hundred yards in
the rear. He says that when the Ocean Spray
was within about mile Of where she took fire,
she saw that Hannibal City was gaining ON her,
and orders Were given to put turpentine In the
furnaces. | had been very much interested In
the race, aud had taken position ia front where
the steps came down together, SO that could
see them firing up. They first threw in rosin,
and then the mate suggested turpsnlins.
Tho captain was by when the order was given
and some OF the men went down into the hold
aud brought up barrel of turpentine, which
had been consigned TO some person IN Peorla--
The men took an axe and split a hole in the
head OF the barrel, and then, under ordels OF
the mate, dipped the fluid out and threw it
over the coal that was standing BY. This was
not expeditions enough, aud the head Of the
barrel was knocked in aud a bucket with a
piece of rope to il was used to dip out the tur.
pentine. The barrel at this time was standing
not more than six feet from the furnace doors.
After dipping with the bucket and sprinklng
the coal, sticks OF wood were taken up and THAR
ends plunged into the barrel. and then laid down
between the barrel and furnace. While lying
there. one OF the fremen in pulling out his rake.
jerked out live coal ii is supposed. on the
wood, when il immediately ignited, aud blaIed
up iuriously.
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 whicE was soon
all ablaze, The mate grew furious, and cursing
the men ordered them to cast the barrel over
board In attempting tn do this the barrel was
upset, and the burning fluid in all Instant spread
all over the deck. and poured in frey torrents
down into the hold. At this the cry of frs was
shouted and the alarm became general.
immediately ran up stairs tor my baggage.
which was in the stateroom. No. 90 dragged
nv trunk and carpet-bag rs far as the c,erk's
office. when saw the flames coming in at the
door in front OF them. dropped my trunk and
umbrella and made dash for the stairway thro
the flames. Somehow reached III. s:.:c.1; s:..:.c;.; oi
the stairs, but moi without having my hair and
eyebrows pretty badly snged. Here, at the for.
ward deck. found a crowd Of men all waiting
for the boat 10 strike the shore Jumped when
the rest did, and landing safely. began to throw
| In the river all the pieces oi wood and logs
| could gather Oh shore. While on the shore
saw the women running over the top of the
| boat aud some on tn. hurricane deck, aud some
even with their children up on the texas all i'm
ploring for help aud screaming in the fright o
| the moment. saw one mother bring three child
| rem to the edge Of the hurricane root, the oldes
probably being about ten years OF age She frs
caught the youngest in her arms. AMI gave it 1
desperate fling. 1t struck the shors with grea'
violence and must have been seriously injured
| The second child she could not throw SO far,anS
it fell in the water, where its little hands pad
| ding above water arrested the attention OF SOM
gentlemen who reached in and saved it,. Tn,
third child being SO heavy fell farther from th,
shore, and would probably have drowned hat
| not some noble hearted man, who having vii
messed the efforts of the heroic mother, plunge,
In head foremost, and brought it 10 the suria C,
and to the shore. The mother aflerward leape,
! end was rescued.
| soma Iour or i've women were found elinginl
to one woman who was holding on to the rudde
Of the Star Of the Vest.
The captains, clerk. pilots. and mate wer,
saved. All the cabin boys but one, ,callod Hank
were saved.
saw poor Irshman sitting or q log, cry
ing over the loss of his brother.
While the flames wtre raging saw some poo
|
house. Those on shore shouted to her to iuJnn
which she attempted to do, bl, was caught b.
her clothing aud swung in under tn. railing
down into tho engine room where everything
was one blaze OF fire.
Their cannot have been less than twenty live
| lost. l think there wrre some 90 or 20 passep
gers in all aud good many of these deck pas
seHgers.
! tr HOW THE KEoRUR WAS BURNED.
The starboard wheel OF the Ocean Spray. afte
she reached the bank continued to fexolys. an,
brought her cost to the stern of, AMI little be-
TWEEN the KeokIk and the shors There she r.
NAMED until the fire was thoroughly communi
Gated TO the Keokuk.
The latter was secured to the shore by stron
chains She burn ID to ths waters edge, an nov
lies sunk at the bank. Thers was probably NJ
body on board but d watchman, and he doub,
less escaped.
HOW THE sTAH OF THE WEST WAS BURNED
The steamer Star Of the Vast. which was "
ing about three hundre yards below the Ksokuk
escaped the Are ill about 10 o'clock. on Thurs
day evening. when the hull OF he Ksok,k. .whicI
| ha burnei loose from its moorings, came foal
ing past the Star of the West. The wstchmar
o. the boat, aud several msinbers of the Noun,
Fire Company, were abJard ,ani while the burn
ing hull was passing, did everything in thei
power 10 save the boat, and supposed they ha,
| succeeded.
About tn minutes after the burning wreck
had passed, the fire broke out in the after.p,rt o
the cabin of the Star OF the West an in shor
time the boat was burned to the waters edge
Some old tres and brush near the boat had Ia
ken fire from the Keokuk. and one report hs
it, that the Are on the Star of the West was com
municated from these. but it is more lik iy tha
the bull OF the Ksokuk, in passing left spark
ana burning cinders eioIgh in soma bidder
| quarter o the bJat to at her in blaze.
A4- The following caustic epigram On John Mitch
ell the Irish patriot" who loved liberty very lIt
In Ireland and slavery great deal IN America h grnn