Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-24
From the Memphis Avalanche, Feb. 2lst.
Terrible steamboaf Acefdent-De,
trucfIon OF the Comet.


trucfion OF the Comet.
We regret to learn, as we do from Capt.
Mckay. of the steamer Virginia Belle, which
arrived here at six O'Clock last evening that
the steamer Comet, Capt p G. Kennett. was
lost in the storm about eighteen miles below
this city on Saturday last. By the accident
no less than eight or ten lives were lost,
and the steamer and cargo went down in fif-
teen or twenty feet water.
The Comet left this port for the ST. Francis
river, about six O'Clock Saturday evening.
with about the usual number of passengers
and an average trip of freight, consisting
of merchandise Soon. after Der departure, it
was evident to the mind of Capt. KeDnett
that fearful storm was brewing. and he
ordered she pilot to make landing. She
was accordingly landed at Crayson's Post
office. better known to river men as Seaman Is
Landing, on the Arkansas side, eighteen
miles below the city.
A landing had barely been effected and the
boat been made fast to the shore by a single
line. when the force of.a stiff gale was felt
The gale was Immediately succeeded, how
ever. by a fearful tornado, the terrible results
of which are announced above. The line
which held the boat was parted, the boat
hurled short distance into the stream, and
literally broken by The storm. the craft sink
ing in less time than it has required to read
the introduction to these sad details.
The number OF lives lost by the accident is
estimated at from seven to ten. So far as we
have been able to ascertain the names. the
following persons were lost overheard and
drowned:
John Pope, the first clerk of the boat, late
OF Haywood county, Tenn.
Job Hill, cabin passenger, from Harrisburg,
Ark.
John Clark, the second cook of the steamer
Comet. of this city.
William -. the third cook of the Comet.
supposed to be from st. Louis.
Joseph Howard, a deck hand. an English
man by birth. well-known in this city.
Samuel Hardeman, a deck hand, also an
Englishman.
little GIRL daughter of deck passenger
name unknown.
In addition to the above list, two or three
cabin passengers were lost, whose names the
officers of the boat did not remember.
OF the officers of the boat whose lives were
saved, we remember the names of Capt. Ken
nett; Frank Scott, second clerk; J. III. Blenk-
horn, mate: Henderson Edwards. pilot L.
kennett. assistant pilot; James Clark, en-
glneer; Buck Richards, assistant engineer; G..
Miller. Waterman; in addition to which, the
following boat hands escaped with their lives:
Thos. Cole, stewart, and Geo. Cole, pantry
man, both from Nashville; Chas. Jones,
sccond-steward: VIM. James and John Fitz-
patrick. birthmakers; aud Peggy Gwynn, the
chambermaid.
Many other lives were saved, but we have
not the means of ascertaining the names of
the fortunate. Tranny Burton. a son of Mr..
j. T. Burton. late of this city, but now of
Helena, Ark, was on board but. We are
pleased to learn. escaped with his life.
Just after the accident, the steamer VictO-
ria, bound down. and the steamer Virginia
Belle, bound up, arrived at the scene of the
disaster, and contributed to the alienation of
the sutferings of the unfortunate passengers
and crew, and succeeded in saving many light
articles belonging to the boat. A few of the
passengers were taken on board the steamer
Victoria to Helena, while the crew returned
to this city last evening 10y the Virginia
Belle
Mrs. Kennett, the wife of the captain, was
saved by the eXertiOns of a negro boy, who
carried her in his arms to the roof of the
boat. a female deck passenger made a bold
attempt to escape with her two little girls on
a bale OF hay, but one of the children was
swept away by the rushing tide, and lost. The
Comet was an old boat. and was owned prin-
cipally, we believe, by Captain Kenneth. She
had been insured in the agency of the Phoenix
Insurance Company of this city for $4,000.
but 1t is possible that the policy had expired.
The survivors bid us return their most
heartfelt thanks TO Mr.. Seaman and lady. who
did everything in human power to tighten the
saferings of the unfortunate. They also ex-
press their Obligations to Capt Mckay. of the
Virginia Belle, who brought many of the sur
vivors TO this city free of charge, and gave
them every attention.
Capt A. G. Folger of the steamer Victoria,
whose generosity toward the sufferers bv the
late disaster to the steamer Pennsylvania will
ever be remembered by the survivors. was
present in the character of a good angel, and
exerted himself in characteristic acts of kind
ness.
In addition to its destructive effects upon
the steamer Comet the storm was fearful in
the vicinity of the disaster The house of
Mr. Seaman was dismanted of the roof and
chlmneys, the roof of the stable and the
fencing and outhouses were greatly Injured.
and it is feared the storm has done much
damage to property, and perhaps involved a
further loss in that neighborhood.
The facts above recited are fearful and
terrible in the detail, and the disaster is more
fatal to human life than any occurrence of
the same nature since the destruction of the
not far below the spot which
marks the fatal scene of Saturday night.