Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-04-16

sTATEMEET OF CAPT. HANNUM.
I am or rather was the Captain of the
steamer Sultan. I left ST. Louis Thurs
day evening, and when opposite Briekey's
Landing, it being about 81 o'clock in the
morning, being asleep, I was aroused by
the watchman, who informed me that the
boat was on fire. l Immediately ran out
and discovered the fire to be in the watch
mans room. Captain Grey, the pilot, was
at the wheel, and rounded the boat too,
and she was up TO the bank by the time I
got to the fire. / saw that it was useless
to try and put the fire out, and instantly
gave orders to stop the larboard engine
she was then going ahead on both engines.
A line was got out and some fifteen of
the crew jumped out to make it fast. I
/ then started for the cabin to see that every
body was out, but the flames had spread
with such fearful rapidity, that could
only get to the Clerks Office, and in my
efforts to reach even that far, the heat Of
the flames were so hot as to scorch my
face, and the smoke SO thick as nearly to
snffocate me- started back for the fore
castle and found the boat was swinging
out into the current. 1t seems Immediate
ly after started for the cabin, the line
which held the boat fast had either parted
or torn up the sapling to which it was at
tached. Whilst up stairs the ladies and
other passengers on board, had crowded
upon the forecastle, and / then gave
orders to launch overheard the 'tstages"
for the safety of their lives. The ladies
were all got on one of the stages, and
other passengers jumped on also, some
jumping into the river and swimming to
the stages / should have made use of
the yawl, but the flames cut off all com
, munication to it, although it was in the
water untouched.
, Mr. Barnes, the second clerk, one of the
assistant engineers, and three other persons
and myself were the only ones left on
board after the stages drifted Of. / again
started up stairs and managed to make my
: way up to the hurricane deck and found
the iarboard wheel was still going ahead
! and tried to see if the engineer could not
stop it but the pilot was gone. now re-
, turned to the forecastle and the flames
! were spreading fearfully; but the boat was
{ then burning clear to her boilers. As /
could not swim and knew my chances to
be rather slim to reach shore without
8 something to bear me up, the assistant
t engineer and an Irishman assisted me to
" launch the skid, which we all three got on.
There were two other persons on board,
i and they refused to leave. Capt Moore,
the first clerk, jumped overheard with two
| sticks of wood 1 did not hear or see
anything of him until I had been about
Izffteen minutes in the water; he was then
r swimming down with the current and cried
t out to Captain, is that your Ianswercd
G "Yes," and he then wanted to know how
!. he could get to me.
f I told him there was no possible way
I for him to do so unless he would swim to
: me, and that I had no meanes of getting
J J. to him only by drifting. That was the
last I saw of him. Mr.. Henry Ely, the
e pilot, jumped overheard with table, and
o saw him about the same time that Capt
Moore spoke to me. He also cried out tc
. me, "Keep in good spirits, Captain, We
o shall drift ashore" / asked him what
: part of the river we were in, and he could
: not tell me but wanted to know where ]
was going, to which I replied, II wa.
Q drifting with the current / saw hin
: fall full fifteen minutes afterwards. AL
though the weather and water were cold
! yet | did not feel the effects Of either unit
n | had been about ten or fifteen minutes Oh
= the skid. .......
! y After floating until I was about ex
hausted, / was picked up, with my two
e companions, by Mr.. Frank Brickey, who
> was in his skiff with two other gentlemen
, who were rescuing as many as they could
from a watery grave. We were put ashore
: at Moreau's Landing, and from there
s procured skiff and came down the rive
! to ST. Gcnovie, to see if I could no
rescue any of those who were still in th'
river. | did not meet with any,
u Tho crew consisted Of 6fty,two persons
! and thore were about from ten to twelve
!. passengers. From what can ascertain
d | suppose no less than twenty lost thei
lives. Capt. Moore, first clerk, barkeeper
steward, ono of tho assistant engineess