The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-02-09
Particulars OF the Loss Of the steamer Cob
CeOssUsau


We have already announced the. loss of
steamer Col. Crossman by fire, in the Missis-
sippi river, on the evening OF the 4th instant.
Mn. DEW of the JOURNAL was Il Passenger
on the Southcrner, which passed the scene of
the disaster on Saturday. and from the sur
viving passengers collected the following
interesting particulars
The Col. Crossman, with about forty cabin |
passengers and fifty dcckers and full cargo
of groceries, left New Orleans on the night of
the Goth ult. for St. Louis. Thursday even
ing last, about seven o'clock, when oppo-
site New Madrid the '.nigger boiler,n. upon
which steam had been raised for the purpose
of increasing the speed Of the boat, exploded.
Several persons in the social hall were severe
ly injured. The bar keeper, had both legs
broken, and Capt. Converse was wounded in
the head. They were carried back to the
ladies' cabin and laid upon sofas when they
subsequently were burned to death. 1t was
some time after the explosion before the boat
was discovered to be on fire. The lower
deck had been blown through and the fire
communicated to the freight in the hold
Every excrtiou was made by the officers and
crew to suppress the flames but without
avail. In few moments .thc cabin was on
fire, and the affrighted passengers began to
jump overheard, many of them without life
preservers or anything to sustain them in
the water. The night was very dark, and
the coolest ofthe season. a majority Of the
cabin passengers consisted Of women and
children, many of them without protectors.
The scene is described by the survivors as ter
rible. The machinery of the boat stopped soon
after the explosion and she drifted upon the
bar below New Madrid. Several sktfs from
= the latter place were instrumental in saving
many of the passengers and crew. A few
], swami ashore, but majority of all on beard
t either persisted in the flames, or wer,
C drowned. The Southerner on her way dowr
> came in sight about the close of the scene
:. too late to afford any assistance.
: 1t is impossible to ascertain the exact mum
P Der Of the lost. 1t cannot be far from seven
n ty. Among the missing arc Mrs. Taylo
q and child, NJ. Cheever Of st. Louis, Richar,
le Johnston, the first clerk, the mate pilot, on
Is engineer, the steward and Mr. Barking O
a Chicago. The Captains brother was ais
&c lost. The second mate picked up Mr.. Tay
&c lor's daughter, but was compelled to relin
lie quish her to save his own life. A gentleIna
ee living short distance below the scene of tn
g disaster says that many ioated past shoutin
K, for help, but he had no boat and couid rende
! them no assistance.
&c Tho boat was burned 10 the waters cdg
- but Aoatcd upon bar, where her machiner
Will be recovered when the river falls. La.
Saturday morning, Mr.. Taylor and the CAP
: tain of the Crossman, started from Madri
in yawl for the purpose of finding, if poss
:" bic, the bodies OF Mr.. Taylor's wife an
daughter, and the Captains brother. I'll
Southerncr brought number of the unfol
tunate survivors to Cairo without charge
Up to Saturday no bodies from the wreck la
been recovered. The cabin register with q
- the books and papers of the boat were los
The safe was secured the morning after Il
disaster.
;; The Col. Crossman was not quite one We,
A old. She cost 5000 and was insured f
m about 5000 in Pittsburg offices. Her ca
a. go was fully insured. She was owned b
a. Messrs. Chccver, Tore 81 Weaver, of 5
A. Louis. She was n Missouri river boat br
nd was making n transient trip to New Orlean
to Us business IN inc Missouri was ior the uE
IN suspended.