New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-04-27

sTATfMfNT Of Np. T. W. BRANDON, SHIPPING CLtRk
OF I'M HOUSE OF HLnING WOODRUFF OF IHis
Mr. Brandon went on bosrd the Ocean Spray for
the purpOeo Of attending to tie Shipment OF ebout 300
bags Of ss.t which too boat WA to take on board.
near Belcaere sugar refinery. Altar, however both
boats were out in stream. and the rocs had fairly
bsgur, the CAPTAIN Informed Mr.. Br sndon thu; he
could not stop for the salt, aud would have to carry
him up 10 Alton for lie wRnteC 20 beat the snnl bal
City which boa. vas at TIE time gaining on the
Spray Mr.. Brandon states that be could the IRE
men on the Hannibal City breasag up rosn
and casting il bto the furnaces. When the
they were very close together, the Rsokuk
packet having steadily gained upon her rga', and
almost coming alongside. Al this juncture, toe hrss
Of the Ocean Spray were fsd with ro.in and turPen
tine, and with the increase Of steam she Wa Just
beginning TO gain upon her competitor when the alarm
Of fire was heard. Mr.. BrsLdoo says be became
alarmed at the beat Of the boilers and thinking there
wes scmc danger OF an explosion went up on tne hur
ricsre deck and psssed back until he was over tue
ladies' cabin. lie Gays there wss considerable excite
Inc ut Oh board and many were extremely anxious to
bet on the success Of their boat lie Gays he had been
standing over the ladies' cabin bit fe y minutes,
when he was startled by faint cry of "6re coming
very indstincty from tue forward part OF tue boat
This cry Immediately followed by several shouts,
and casting his eye toward the pot-house he saw the
eilot give the wheel very sudden turn and no.
ticed that the boat which was about twenty
yards cut in the etresn began 70 head for shore AT
this the fusion great, end the cres OF the Pas
women and children crazed with alarm, were heard in
the cabin below, while the hoarse shoutngs of the
men in front made the moment most terrible. HIS
frst impulse directed him to rush forward de ran 10
the wheel house steps and had placed foot on the
first step, when a rush OF flames and smoke from
below drove him back. He then ran along the roof
Until ust forward OF the potl ouse, and before the
boat had struck the shore, jumped for life, land.
ing safely en- the shore, somewhat shocked
and numbed from the fall, but not seriously
hurt Just as he landed, a heavy trunk
psssed over his head and knocked his cap off.
Having recovered his full powers, he began to
throw into the river sticks of wood, which he gath
cred from log heap near the spot. While doing this
be was the witness of some of the most agonizng
scenes The head of the boat having struck the
shore with much violence, and the wheels still being
kept in motion, she began to shove along and up the
bank until her further progress was arrested by the
steamer Keokuk, which was lying up atthat point for
repairs. The movement Of the wheels and the strong
wind blowing the time seemed to force the stern of
the boat out from the shore and up the stream, which
resulted in the more speedy burning Of the after part
of the boat, and made the escape Of the ladies and
children more perilous than before.
The Hanniba City, seeing the smoke and copjectur-
ing the cause dropped off toward the Illinois shore,
ard manning her yswl sent it over to asist those who
were compelled to jump in the water
The yawl alec Of the Ocean Spray was manned, but
became so unmanagsble by reason Of the numbers
that clung to it that drifted down the stream hue
bred yards before landing, though it was not more
than ten yards from the shore.
Mr.. BraLdon says the men as a general thing
jun ped and reached the shore safey, though he saw
four of them hanging to one log out 10 the river.
Three Of them the upper side Of it and one
on the lower. The log kept turning over and over
towerd the man on the lower side until he becoming
exhausted with his efforts to keep on it, sank below
the surface ard wac drowned.
He also saw lady who was endsavOrng to keep
herself up by small piece of board not more than
q foot square. Her dress for time seemed to buoy
her. but becoming thoroughly saturated, the piece Of
wood wss insufficient. Ste would snk almost below
the surface and tten by strong effort straighten her
body, throw back her head ard stIen her arms, but
all Of DO avail. Size sank and was more.
Mr.. Brandon Gays the spectacle from the shore was
most hssitrendipg The laoies at first tried to save
their baggage, some of them throwing in their trunks
and then jumping in after hem others were concerned
Only for Il enselves ard their children and wildly
shout screaming ard crying for help. AS the flames
approached, they song themselves down from the
guards, while one or two were cen to slide down the
ropes and posts at the How many were sunk or
lost cannot be ascertained nor even guessed at nov
There were some fifteen or twenty women OF board,
and come eight ten are all thst are thought to be
saved.
Several horses which were fastened in stalls behind
the wheel-hcuse, were burned up. The kckings raw
ines and human like cries of these poor bru.es as the
fames wrapped them around. are described as most
terible and afiiictDg.
consumed an explosion Of keg of powder took place
in TIE hold which added TO the CONSERVATION of those
on shore. Mr.. Brandon describes one woman who was
buoyed up in the water by her clothing until she
che was assisted by gentleman, who extended her
long sspng CT pole to which she cupg until some gal
liant lrishman swan in and rescued her.
Mr.. Brandon says he saw one family. of man, his
wife ard two little girls, who all got off safe, but were
lamen ting the loss Of tier little boy, who they said
was burned up. He also cav tho body of deck
hand pulled out below the Star of the West. Life
was extinct.
STATEMENT OF MR.. J. H. DESISTON-HoW THE BOAT
WAS SET ON FIRE.
Mr.. Deniston is from Lynchburg, Ohio, and was on
his way to Florence, on the Illinois River. He mad
trunk ing money and articles of apparel valued
at 500, which was lost. He says when the boat
started out the Hannibal City back ed out just behind
her, and when under good headway, she was about
hundred yards in the rear. He says tt at when the
Ocean Spray was within about mile of where sac
took fire, she saw the Hannibal Cry gaining on her,
ard the command was given to put turPenine In the
furnaces. He says he had been very much lntereted
in tie race, and had taken q position IN trout,
where the steps came down together. 50 that
he could see them firing up They FIST threw
in rosn, and then the mate suggested tur-
pentiue. The Captain was BY when the order was
given, and Of the men went down into the
bold and brought up barrel ofturpentine, which had
been consigned some person in Peoria. The men
took an ak and split hole in the head of the barrel
and then under orders OF the mate, dipped the nun
out aid threw it the coal that was lying by.
This was not expeditions enough and the head of the
barrel was knocked in, and bucket with piece Of
rope TO it was used TO dip out the turpentne The
barrel at this time standing not than six feet
from the furnace doors. after dipping rih The bucket
and sprnkling tie COAL sticks of rood ,cerc taken up
and their ends plunged into the barrel and then Iad
dozen JefrCen The barrel and furnace. While lying
there, of the remen in pulling out his rake erked
live coal, is supposed. on the wood, when was
Immediately ignited, and bazed up fuiously.
The mate swore at the men and ordered them 10
throw water the fire. The water seemed to drive
the flames to the barrel, which was soon ell ablsze
The mate grew furious and, curling the hands, or
6ered them to cast the barrel overheard la attempt
ing to do this the barrel upset, aud tho burning
fluid in an instant spread all over the deck aad