American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-05-06
rferOm the Missouri Democrat of saturday. T.
~, Awful Steamboat Accident.q 20

eiternoon about Eve o'clock. and wasb6tu. |
ed to the wateI's edge, at distance ofa-
boat6ve miles above this city. ia or near
Swayer's bend, above Magazine point
She left this city at her regular departing
bour. between four and Eve o'clock, on
her way to Peoria, on the Illinois river.---
About the time Of her departure the Han
nibal City, one OF the regular Keokuk
packets, also dropped out, and both boats
started up the river on a race. The Ocean
Spray baving about one hundred yards
the start. both boats having a numbar of
passengersf and many on hoard seeming 10
anticipate, with much relish, the result OF
the race at Alton. I.1..sI gi'a isAlam7f
The Captains statement is given; but is
not worth attention. He does not know
how the Ere originated, and thought his
boat was not running as fast at that time as
it had done sometimes. lslie4hn1 Z
STATEMENT OF MR. H DENIsPoN- HOW THE
sess BOAT WAS SET ON FIRE. 5a
Mr., Deniston is from Lynchburgh, O.,
and was on his way to Florence, on the
Illinois river. He had trunk containing
none y and articles Of apparel valued at
100 dollars, which was lost. He says when
the boat started out the Hannibal City
backed out just behind her. and when un-
der good headway she was about a hun
dred yards ia the rear. He says that when
the Ocean Spray was within about mile
Of where she took FIRE, she saw the Han
nibal City gaining on her, and the COM
uand was given to put turpentine in the
furnaces. He says that he had been very
chlinterested 10 the race and had TAX.
en- position 10 front, where the steps
come down together; so that he could see
them firing up. They FIRST threw in rosin
and then the mate suggested turpentine.
Til, captain was by when the order was
given, and some Of the men went down in
10 the hold and brought up barsel Of tur.
pentiue which had been consigned to some
person in Peoria. The men took an ak
and split q hole in the head Of the barrel,
and then under orders Of the mate, dipp-
ed thecfuid out and threw it over the coal
that waslying bly, This was not expedi-
tious enough. and the head Of the barrel
was knocked in. and bucket with piece
Of rope to it was used to dip out the tur-
pentine, The barrel al this time was
standing not more than six feet from the
furnace doors. After dipping with tie
bucket and sprinkling the coal, sticks Of
wood were taken up and their ends plung>
ed into the barrel. and then laid down be-
tween the barrel ard the furnace. Willie
lying there, one Of the fremen in pulling
out his rake jerked a live coal, as is sup-
posed, on the wood, when it was immedi-
ately ignited. and blazed up furiously.
. 1.-The mate swore at the men and ordered
them to throw water on the fire. The wa.
. ter seemed 10 drive the flames to the bar.
rel. which was soon all ablazs. The mate
! grew furious, aud cursing the hauds, or
dered them TO throw the barrel overheard
In attempting 10 DO this the barrel was un
, set. and the burning fluid in an instan
, spread all over the deck and poured in it
cry torrents down into the hold. AT thi
the cry OF fire was shouted, and the al arm
became general. 't,.'
Mr.. Deniston says that he immediately
{ ran up stairs for his baggage, which wa
in the state. room No. 2s. He dragged hi
{ trunk and carpet sack as far as the clerk
Office. when he saw the flames coming il
at the door in front Of them. He dropped
his trunk and umbrella, and made a dasl
for the stairway through the flames. -
Somehow, he says. he reached the bottom
of the stairs, but not without having his
hair aud eyebrows badly singed. Here al
/ the for ward deck he found a crowd Of mer
, alwaiting for the boat to strike the shore
He jumped whom the rest did, and landing
. fsly, he began to throw into the river al
, the pieces Of wood or logs he could gather
!, on the shore. While on the shore he saw
I. the women rushing over ths top of The
; boat. some on the hurricane roof. and
some, even with their children upon th,
! texas, allimploring for help and scream
. ing from tho freight Of the mcment. ''y
He saw one mother bring three children
to the edge Of the hurricane roof, The cid
+ est being about ten years old. Sbs frs
9 caught u Q youngest in her arms, and CAV
u il desperate fling. II struck the shor
with CREST violence, and must have beel
:, seriously injured. The second child sh
e could not throw so far; and it fell 10 tn
# water, where its little hands, padding a
: bove the surface arrested the attention. O
l. some gentleman, who resehedin and save
II it. The third child being so heavy woul
d probably have drowned, but for some nc
d BILE hearted man. who having wituesse
70 the efforts of the heroic mother. plunge
b in head foremost, and brought the child I
70 the surface and to the shore. The nothe
Ii afterwards leaped into the water and wa
70, rescued. =, ra 100 a e., -,'l
\ Mr.. ,Deniston says four or five wome
20 were found clingiug to one woman. wh
~ was holding on to the ruddsf Of the Star
" the Wsst. vg.'t1 4 s.ls+fle ya q PEE
= Thecaptain; Clerk. pilots and ma
were saved. All the Cabin boys. but OF
= called Hank, were saved. Mr.. DenistO
y. says that one Of them saved all hisclothiu
o. and ,thedthers having lest all. he gene
ously offsrd his entire Wardrobs. and toe
a them out behind the trees to change the
II clothiGgs j sF6 ~ ',r
t. He saw some poor Irishman si.tir
nd on a log crying over the loss of his de
ke brother. .trsil t1d ssc @ss1 81 ~
Mr.. Dsnistou rslstes that while d
Ga1,ets ~