The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-11-20
Terrible Steamboat Disaster!
Burning Of the steamer Pacific, at
UniOntOVyIl, Ky


UniOntOVyn, Ky.
Again we are called upon to chronicle
one of those terrible calamities incident to
the navigation of our western rivers, which
so frequently cast a gloom of horror over
the hearts of the community, carrying sor-
row and desolation into many a family
circle.
Between seven and eight o'clock on Sun
day evening, the steamer Pacific which
left Louisville for New Orleans on Saturday,
whilst receiving coal from barge lying at
Uniontown, Ky, 81 miles below this point,
took fire, as is supposed by spark from the
torch, or basket light, lodging in some loose
hay which she had on board for the sus-
teuance of the stock she was carrying, and
within a few minutes she was completely
enveloped in flames. The fire spread with
such appalling rapidty as to render hopeless
any attempt to check it, and the energies Of
/ the officers and crew were direct ed toward
saving the lives and property of the pasSen-
gers. The scene is deserted as ono OF I'M
/ utterable terror and confusion The cables
by which she was fastened becoming severed
and the boat drifting rapidly from the shore,
to the horrors of death by burning was
added the fearful alternative Of watery
grave.
All agree in according to the officers of
the Pacific the highest praise for the cool
ness and bravery they exhibited, under the
most trying circumstances. There was a
large amount of hay in bales on board,
which fed the fire. and n strong wind blow
ing, which urged it on with such rapidity
that not more than five minutes elapsed
after the fire was first discovered, before the
whole superstructure of the boat was en-
tirely at the mercy of the devouring ele
| ment.
All the books and papers of the boat, in.
Guiding the register of passengers, being lost,
it is not known with certainty how many
were on board, and it is consequently i'm
possible to determine'the number lost, but it
is thought that there were only about sixty
cabin passengers, not more than six or seven
of whom are missing. There were many
deck passengers (number not KNOWN a large
portion whom is probably lost, the fire hav-
ing originated in that part Of the boat which
was between them and shore. A negro girl
belonging to the barkeeper, one the color
ed cabin boys, little girl (colOred) belong
ing to Mr.. Campbell of New Orleans, and
colored nurse belonging to Mr.. Love Of Lou
isviIle, are known to be lost.
All the officers of the boat were saved
with the exception of Capt. VIM. Lamb, who
undoubtedly lost his life in attempting to
save that Of his passengers. 1t is reported
that when last seen he was observed by a
negro boy, one of the walters, lowering him
self from the stern Of the boat by means Of
davit ropes, the yawl that had been suspend
ed thereto having been removed. Upon
reaching the water he called cut for some
one to throw him something when the boy
threw an oar, which, however, went be-
yond his reach, and before anything else
could be thrown he had sunk to rise no
. more. There seems to be a great deal of
f improbability in TINS acc punt, as it is not
: likely that man who had followed the
| river almost his whole lifetime should be
unable to swim.
The officers of the boat behaved nobly
= and rescued many of the ladies and chill
dren who otherwise would have persisted.
n The walters in the cabin also made heroes
+ Of themselves by their eudeavors to save
r the lives and property of passengers.
q Soon after the fire broke out, the steamer
e II. Fairchid, from New Orleans on her
q way to Louisville, came in sight about Il
q mile below the Pacific aud making all haste
n ran as near the burning wreck as safety
n would admit and despatched her yawl to
the assistance of those who still remained
OH board the Inflated boat, which was by
that time completely enveloped in flames
and fast receding from the shore. After
! landing, the Fairchild took ON board ali the
/ passengers who wished to return to I4ouis-
l., vile, or points intervening, and her officers
gratuitously furnished every thing necessary
+. for the comfort of the sufferers The Fair
child arrived mt this place at o clock yes
1 terdav morning. Among the Passengers Of
the Pacific which she brought up was
Mr. VIM Il. Shaw, of Nicksburg, who
stepped here, and to whom we are indebted
for some of the particulars Of the disaster.
We publish elsewhere the proceedings OF
i q meeting held by the survivors of The
- wreck who were on board the Fairchild. As
i far the largest portion of the passengers re
$ manned at Unioniown, the names signed to
: ! the resolutions are no criterion to the NUM-
= Der saved. The following are known to be
: saved and remained nj Uniontowu; Mrs.
. Stockton and daughter Miss Stockton, Of
/, Baltimore Miss Fairfax OF Virginia Mr..
d Campbell and sister oi New Orleans, and
: Mr.. Love and lady and their child, Of
!, Louisville. There were many others with
Fl whose names our informant was unac-
:, quainted
;, The loss of property 10y this disaster is
II immense. Most of the passengers barely
r escaped with their lives; very few saved
- anything besides the clothing they had on
their persons. There was Il large amount
of money belonging to the passengers IN the
safe Of the boat, which was lost. Mr.. r. Z.
Il Ford we understand, lost four or five thous-
and dollars, which he had in his state-room
Mr.. S. NJ. Davis and family, and Others, are
heavy losers in jewelry and wardrobe. 1t
is asserted that one of the passengers who
had a large amount OF money in his trunk,
managed to throw it overheard, and pro-
curing Il skiff, succeeded in securing IT, We
heard of no other person who was equally
fortunate.
The boat and cargo are almost total loss.
There was on board a large amount Of stock,
including 900 sheep, 500 mules, and num-
Der of cattle, we could not learn how many,