Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-12-06
Burning of the Pacific.
A Thousand Animals Burned Alive.

We have announced the Burning of the
! Pacific. at Uniontown, Kentucky, one Of the
/ finest steamers on the western waters. She
had very large quantity of liye stock on
board, and the burning of these poor crea-
lures must have been slckenlng sight. One
account saws MIR, Robert Fore, a passenger,
cut the halter of one of his fine horses, which
swan ashore. A large bullock also swan
out, but died as soon as it reached the shore.
Tbs scenee of The burning boat and its hou-
sand head of live stock, all tied to the stake,
prey to the devouring flames, was fearful
and horrible in the extreme. There were
seven hundred and fifty sheep, and one hum
dred and thirty head of fat cattle, mules and
horses, all burnt alive, with no chance of es-
cape. In addition to the live stock, there
was upwards of three hundred tons Of pork,
bacon and -four on board, which, together
with the destruction of the splendid steamer,
involved loss of nearly 100000
MIR. John r. Sharp. of Owensboro, was
present, standing on the bank at Unlontown,
when the Pacific took fire. lie states that
/ the Pacifc was undoubtedly set on fire bJ
/ some miscreant, aud that gentleman on the
/ bank saw a man thrust torch into a looose
| bale of hay, and remarked at the time, ''See
! that scounl lrel setting the boat on fire." and
rushed down towards the boat but immedi-
ately conservation spread over every per-
son, and the incendiary was not discovered.
! Mr.. Sharp rushed uown the bank of the riv-
er, in company with two other persons. He
| threw off his coat and vest, and gave his
watch and pOcket-book to one Gi his eompaD-
/ ions who could not swim. lie discovered
two ladies, cabin passengers, who had come
! down TO :he rear part of the boat lie called
to them to Jump overheard when be and the
other gentleman leaped into the water. The
ladies jumped overheard, and, obeying Mr..
/ Sharp's instructions, they were both saved,
each gentleman sW inning ashore with la
dy
Mr.. Sharp, delivered the lady, in a faint
ing condition, into the arms Of her husband,
who had rushed into the water to meet than
from the shore, Mr.. Sharp, without going
ashore, swan back and brought child
ashore that was floating on the water. By
this time he-was benumbed with cold and e4-
hausted from his efforts in the water Look
ing back, near the burn ng boat he dscoy
cred two ladies who had jun oed overheard
struggling in the water, ciinging to each
other and screaming for help. lie started to
go to their assistance, when, after a despe-
rate struggle, they sank, licked in each
/ others arms and he saw no more Of them
The scene around, by this time, was truly ap-
oalling. The cables of the boat had burned
in two, and v ere not cut, as had been stated,
and the burning boat had drifted cut and
passed slowly down the river. Two fine grey
mares, owned by Mr.. Yantz, of Washington,
Ind, jumped overheard and were not injur-
e; ; some ten or twelve more head of stock
reached the shore with all their hair burnt
off their eyes burnt out, and the flesh and
skin dropping from them in many places
A son Of Mr.. Yan'z, in bis heroic efforts to
save the horses, came near losing his own life
He rushed among them with knife cutting
the ropes and halters which bound them,
and, when he had released the last horse, il
rushed over him, knocking him down and in
iuring him severely. His clothes were al
on fire, and be would certainly have beer
burned to death, when the mate Of the boa
seized him and threw him over board, and ht
was rescued. Mr.. Sharp says there is M
doubt that over forty lives were lost. Tht
books, papers money in the Office, were all
lost As the Fdirchad moved off, some gen
tleman who had thrown his trunk, contain
ing $500 in money. overheard from the Pa
cjfc, stated that his name WAS on the trunk
and that he would give large reward for i'll
; recovery. The next morning the trunk wa
found below town broken OPEN and rifed o
its valuable contents. = Greensboro, Ky.
ShieI9