, 1860-05-02
TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISASTER
ByRylNG OF TNE 4. T. LACEY.


{Fsem the Mo. Democrat OF APRIL Sg.h.1
The Lacey left St. Louis on Tuesday last, at
1a b., with about eight hundred tons Of freight,
composed Of corn, cats, whisky, beef. bacon,
de-, IN assorted cargo, and 11G lead Of cattle.
The balance ofthe cargo WAS taken in at Cape
Girardeau, Birds Point and Cairo. There were
forty or fifty passengers on board-about twen~
ty or TWENTY-FIVE in the cabin, and the balance
On deck. Among the cabin passengers we're
Mr. Lacey, President Of the Cape Girnrdeau
Bank, his lady, and two children. Mr.. Lacey
WAS one of the owners Of the boat. Everything
promised pleasant and profitable trip. On
Thursday evening last, about ten O'Clock, while
the steamer was abreast Of Island 16, ut Booths
covered By the watch on the forward deck. The
alarm was Immediately given, and Captain
Taylor. the commander Of the boet, with others,
Immediately rushed 10 the spot and found an
open bale Of hay in aamss. Every efr,rt WIS
made 10 throw it overheard, but the flames
spread 50 rapidly, and communicated TO the
Other bales IN the vicinity, that their efiurts
proved fruitless. The alarm was then gisen,
and attempts were made By the officers to get
the crew together, aud thus endeaTor to save
the passengers. But they refused to do any.
thing, except to secure their own safety. By
this time the alarm had spreud over the boat,
and men, women and children were running ia
every direction, utte1ing the most frantic cries
AL became confusion, and general rush was
made to the rcar Of the boat, where parties
throw themselves into the riyer--mapy Of whom
were drowned. Tie cattle became frantic in
their endeavors to escape the fire, but being
firmly secured, we're all burned, with the cx-
eept'on ef few who jumped overheard and
were lost.
The captain, as soon as possible gave orders
for the boat to be run ashore, which was i'm
tncdiately done, the pilot nnd engineer remuin-
ing at tier posts untll the boat had reached the
landing, and with tho assistance ot those on
shore made fast. When this w4s douc, the Eliot
spoke through TIE trumpet to the engineers, ex-
Ginning "Done with ihe engines" tee usual
remark made by that officer at ill landings
The engineers replied "All right :" and then,
and not till then, did they leave their posts. If
all lad behaved as col:cctedly and brave rs
those two men and the captain, there is lille
doubt that many iives might have been sayed.
Not single dollar IL mon r, or i single arti-
Gle Of clothing, savc that worn By the parties
Who were up ut the time. was s*vcd, most Of the
passengers having jumped overheard in their
night ctothes.
ISClhESTs OF THE Observation-Disclosures -RESp1SG
SCENES.
Capt. Lacey Of Cape Giradeau, together with
| his wife and two children, one In Interesting
little boy aged about eight ycars, and the Other
little girl of four or Gve years were among the
| stepped out Of lis state-room, be met Capt,
Lacey rushing toward the stern of the boat to
! save his family lie called after him, telling
! lin 10, to iris ishten tue women, for bc thought
the bale of bay in which the fire was first dis.
| covered bad been thrown overheard, aud there
was no danger. our informant then went back
! iuto LIS statc-roo'n, drew on his pants and once
more stepping into the cabin, was confounded
and +er5itcd ut the progress OF tic flames, which
bud already broken into the front part Of the
| cabin, a,d were carrying everything before
them. lie then ran back to assist the ladies uad
SAnT,S $f,11A
with bis bo5 in ono Iand end his little girl ID
the other, whisc bis ~i:c, frantic with fright
WAS clinginE 10 bis person, he approached the
Captain und told him if lie would Riye him the
little girl he would try to save her. The Csp,
tain gase Eer up, sh: going willingly without q
word Of objection. while her little brother chtop
to bis father, mud in moment after, with hel
arms clnGing round his neck, lie brayely
! plunged into the water. The child stranslct
very mich at the first itumeraion, but still ciuu.
| to our inlormant's neck, who struck out for th'
shore.
uo had swam but short distance when h
was assaulted by u German woua.n, who in be
irunsic struggle. pushed him and the little ci1
beneath the aurtecc, which again caused her t
htrang'e, but she still held on. Nearing drit
) pile both our informant aad lis precious charg
! were sucked under the logs By the treacherou
wares ana current. and while under, strngglin
for bis own life, having become badly straDg!ed
l,c 1nisAcd the grasp Of the little girl oround bi
neck, and she. probably caught by her nigl
, | dress IN the DRIFT. was lost. Our informant
emerging from the drift happily caught q Lei
on Which he foated uotil rescued BY the ya1
. about mite below: Capt. Lacey's little ho
was taken From, His father and sared by the D.
bic exer.iona Of Mr.. Vim. Munay, the rilo
wlo, after his safe arrival on shcre was So e,
! haustea 1hat he had to be drawn up the baul
The engineers. Sir. Bncbanan md Mr. Owen
ass'sted Capt Lacey md his wife to the shor
+ 4 large number Of the deck passengers tire
themselves overheard, and many were browne
One German most inhumanIy lei. bis two your m
children In their beds to be consumed By Il
fire while he made good his escape to shose. o.
. poof Irish woman whc WIS confined to her ter
bT the st. Fitus dance was lost Another Iri
woman with whom the maternal feeling waa
strong Us life itself, wrapped her little babe in
blanket and safely reached the shore with Il
Q precious bundle in her arms. Her anguish M
be imagined when, in unwinding the blank.
she found her Child sunocated mud dead. D.
man who jumped overheard, with life p1
ker!er on, was, strangely, found drowned. 81
= crai deck passengers were seen, by our inf
doub'edly drowned. Mr. Blaze, first mate,
: .naincd on tue boat until he got the 81
4 launched, when he went to the assistance
- shose in the water, and rescued fifteen, y
r. would oihsrHise bave been drowned.
The dr'it pile. which VAS opposite the ste
" k1t Aoatt III uE uc1NS OIL k1TlnE n1Apg p
sons. It also caused the drowning Of seve7
When the lerer rape, on the starboard 81
was burned, the Steam Was thrown into
cylinder, and the wheel commenced revolyi
- WHICH created such strong waves against
drift That Scyeral Of those struggling in
water were carried under aud drowned.
. yALCAf1oS AND INSURANCE OF TUE BOAT.
Tbs A. T. Lacey has been running about til
49,, years, being regular st. Louis and Scw
~A ! leans packet. She was built ut Cspe Girarde
about three years ago, and was atterwa
elongated at l'aducah. She IVES an excel
= steamer, valued at SEQ, 900, and insured in
city for two. thirds Of that amount. Mr.. La
4 und Rodney, Of Cape Girardeau, No., ow
one half Of the steamer, and Capt. Geo. Tay
'Vn her commander, tbs lther half. Capt. II,
Is q veteran on the river. ind recognized
:, rersa|15 as careful md jndicinus boatn1au.
= Rocky Mountain Wagon Koad.--sa
II OF Lieut. mulicns* Comnland.
.Icu1espenetuce Of the lilo. Republican,
Isl Fc1r BENTON. TIRE. A!ssouI1. Ap.1 !, is
49, Mr. Dauson, agent to tho American Fur
residing ut this point, Col. Vaughn, n2cut
the Bisck|eet Iudi1Ds, with other persons, Il
here today for St. Louis, ria Missouri ri7er
III o,,portuniiy is thus offered to communi
sundry material items Of popular intere.
your widely circulated journal.
By the arrival Of an express from his I
IA" ! csmp, We are in receipt Of information
: 50 Lieut.. Mulen's expedition, which wintered
sn mountain gorge, some twenty miles from
3c eastern base of the Bitter Root rnngs Of N