Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-24
TERREsLE sTEArIRoaT AoeTprwr.
Destruction OF the Cornet--Eigast or Ten
Lives Losf--EsOat and Cargo q total Toss.


Destruction OF the COmet--Eigist or Tea
Lives Iosf--EsOat and Cargo 4 fetal Loss.
Prom the Memphis Avalanche, Feb. 81.
msregret to learn, as We DO from CAPT Mckay,
OF the steamer Virginia Belle which arrived here
a. SIX clock Ia teyeniBg, that The steamer Comet,
Capt- Z. y: kenneh vas lost in a storm about
eish'een miles belewthi city on Saturday last By
the accident no less than eight tr ten lives we're
iost and the steamer and cargo went downin fifteen
ortRensy feetR4ter
The Comet left this port for the ST. Francis river,
about SIX O'Clock Saturday evening" with about the
usual number Of passengers end ca average trip Of
freight, consisting mostly of merchandise. Soon
after her departure it was evident 10 the mind q
Capt. Kennett that frightful storm was brewing,
and he ordered the pilot to make landing Sha
was accordingly landed at Graysons Poslofhee, bet
ter known to river men as Seanlan's Landing, en-
the Arkansas side, eighteen miles below the city.
landing had barely been effected and the boat
been made fast to the score by single line, when
the force of q stiff gale was felt The gale was inn
mediately succeeded, however, BY fearful tornado,
the terrible results Of which are announced above
The line which held the best vas parted, the boat
hurled short distance into the stream, and liter
ally broken by the storm, the craft sinking in less
time than il has required to read the introduction
to these sad details.
The number of lives lost By the accident il esti-
mated at fIom seven to ten. So far We haze been
able to ascertain the nsmes, the following persons
were lOst overheard ard droRncd:
John Pope, the fcst clerk OF the boa, late Of Hay
wood county, Tenn.
Job Hin, cabin passenger, from Harrisburg Ark
John CLARK, the second cock Of the steamer Com
ct, of this ciy
ism---tbe third cook Of the Comet supposed
to be from 81 Louis.
Joseph Howard, deck hand, an Engishmaa by
birth, well known in this ely
Samuel Hsrdeman, a deck hand, also an English
man.
a little girl, daughter Of deck passenger, name
unknown.
In addition to the above list, two three cabin
passengers were lost, whose names che officers OF
the boat did act remember.
Of the officers Of the bost whose lives saved,
we remember the names Of Capt. Kenneth, Frank
Scott, second clerk; J. II. Blankhorn, nate Heudsr-
son Edwards pilot; L. Kennel assistant pilot; James
Clark, engineer; Buck Richards, assistant engineer;
g. Miller, watchmsn; in addition to which, the fol-
| lowing boat hands escaped with their lives Thos
Cole, steWa d. and Geo. Coie pantrymsn, both from
Nashville: Chss. Jones, second steward; Vim james
and John Fitzpatrick, bertLmskers; and Peggy
/ GWynn, the chsmbcrmaid.
Many other lives were saved, but we have not the
means of ascertaining the names of the fOrlunste.
| Tranney Burton, 2 son of Mr. J. 7. Burton, late Of
/ this eit6, but nov CT Helena, Ark, on board,
but, we pleased TO learn, ped with his life
just after the accident the steamer Victoria bound
dewn, and the steamer Virginia Belle, bound up
arrived at the of the disaster, and contributes
10 the alienation of the sufsii ngs of the unforu
nate passengers and crew, and succeeded in saving
many light articles belonging to the boat. few o
| the passengers were taken on board the steamer
Victoria to Helena while the returned to this
city last evening by the Virginia Belle.
| Mrs. Keunett, 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. female deel
passenger made DO d attempt to escape with hel
Two little girls on q bale of hay, but one of tbs
children was swept away BY the rushing tide ant
| lost. The Comet was an old beat, and was owue(
principally, we believe, by Capt. Kenneth. She has
been insured in the agency Of the Phoenix Insurance
Company in this ely, for $4,000, but it 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 suferings of th
unfortunate. They also express their obligation
to Captain Mckay, of the Virginia Belle, witt
brought many of the survivors to this city free o
charge, and gave them every attention.
! Captain A. G. Folger, af the steamer Victoria
| whose generosity toward the sufferers by the lat
disaster to the steamer Pennsylvania will ever b.
remembered by the survivors, was present ia tn
chara ter Of good angel, and exerted himself il
characteristic acts Of kindnsss
In addition to is destructive effects upon thu
steamer Comet, the storm fearful in the vicinity
of the disaster. The house of Mr.. Scsnlsn was dis
! mantled of the roof and chimneys the roof of tn
stable and the fencing and outhOuses were greatly
injured, aud it is feared the storm has done muel
damage to property, perhaps involved further los
Of life in that neghborhood
The facts above recied are fearful and terrible il
the detail, and the disaster is fatal to human
life than any occurrence Of the same nature sine
the destruction of the Pennsylvania not far beloy
the spot which marks the fatal scene Of Saturda.