Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-01
Terrible Steamboat Disastea.


We have this morning to record the occur
renee of another of those terrible river dis
asters for which the present year has been
remarkable, and which in this instance has
involved the loss of at least twelve lives. to-
geiher with property to the value of about
two hundred thousand dollars. The steamer
A. T. Lacey. Capt. George Taylor, when pas
sing the foot of Island I6, about 10 O'Clock
on Thursday night, caught fire and in a brief
space of time burned 10 the waters edge.
She was bound from st. Louis to New Or
leans with full cargo, and had about thirty
five cabin and an equal number of deck pas
sengers, twelve of whom, including several
children, were lost. Her freight was valued
at SIPS .000--no portion of which is known
to have been insured-and consisted of -four
corn. oats, pork. hay, whisky, bacon, lard,
large quantity of bale rope, assorted mer-
chandse and about two hundred head OF live
stock, shipped by Mr.. Ashbrook, of ST. Louis.
The books, money and papers of the boat
were all lost, the officers having barely time
to escape with their lives.
Among the victims by this terrible caiami-
ty we regret to include an interesting daugh-
ter of Capt. Alfred 7. Lacey. one of the own
ers of the boat, who was on board at the time
with his family. She was dragged from the
shoulders of Mr. j. n Morley, second clerk
of the boat, while that gentleman was swim
"a
limb of tree. and was drowned before fur
Their assistance could be rendered. The 9TH
ers known to have been lost were three or
four deck hands two cabin servants, three
young children belonging to deck passen-
gers and three negroes-making twelve in
all. a Mrs. Hutchinson, who had taken pas
sage for this city, was in the water for con-
siderable length of time and narrowly es-
capped drowning. She was finally rescued,
however. through the intrepid exertinos of u
sou of the clerk, Mr.. Cunningham, and reach
ed her destination yesterday by the MagnO-
liza. Mr.. Cunningham also came passenger
to this city by the Magnolia and has kindly
furnished us with the following statement OF
the circumstances attending the disaster.
SETTLEMENT OF MR.. A. C. CUNNINGHAM.
The steamer A. 7. Lacey, Capt George
TAYLOR bound from St. Louis to New Orleans
with cargo of western produce, took fire
about 10 clock on the night OF the 26th
inst. near the loot of Island 16, aud was i'm
mediately rounded to on the Tennessee shore,
where she burned to the waters edge. The
passeng gers, officers and crew were saved with
a few exceptions. The total loss of life is not
supposed to exceed ten or twelve. Those
known to have been lost are little daughter
of Captain Alfred 7. Lacey, aged about six
years; one child from deck died after being
rescued from the water, and two others are
four deck hands. three negro children and
two cabin servants.
Soon after the Lacey struck the shore the
Magnolia, Capt. ThOmassOn, rounded to be-
low, and rendered important service in saving
numbers that were floating down the river
on drift logs and life preservers The Mag
nolia then landed near the wreck and took
on board all the sufferers, TO whom Captain
ThomassOn and his officers rendered every
IA
utmost II render every one comfortable
kindly furnishing clothing and every thing
necessary to their comfort. Capt. T. re-
mained until daylight, and then left, after
kindly rendering all a passage down the
river. Himself and officers deserve the high
est praise tor their unremiIting attention and
kindness to the sufferers. Several of the
officers, passengers and the crew of the La
cey were transferred to the Platte Valley,
about lO O'Clock the next morning, and re-
turned 10 st. Louis, while the remainder
took the Magnolia for Memphis and New Or
leans.
The fire was first discovered in lot of hay
stored il the larboard deck, Tor feeding
cattle on board, and Is supposed to have ig
nIted from passing boat. When discover
ed, it was i'll light fame, and before it
could be cleared from the guard chains, and
thrown overboord, it had gained such head
way 40 W tuS UOtteI ucCh. Inc VIM
was blowing freshly at the time, directly on
the larboard bow, aud in an incredibly brief
space of time the flames were carried through
The entire length OF the cabin. The passen-
gers gathered on the starboard guard, ait
the wheelhouse, aud by lowering themselves
into the water, with the aid of liie-preservers,
drift logs, and trees Standing in the water,
reaching the shore. The yawl was taken
possession OF by three or tour persons, cut
adrift and hUated down the river, picking up
a lew that were afioat. In two minutes after
tie cabin took fire, it was wrapped in
sheet of flames. The lead had just been laid
i'll, aud the Waterman had JUS left that side
OF the boat and started up the stairs ON his
round. The officers and crew were all at
their proper stations. The boat was crossing
to The Tennessee shore, from the island, at
the time, aud vas easily headed up, making
quick and successful landing in favorable
u1eItIuu.