Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-19
TIE Los. OF rmE RUenNr.
SereysE ETzes ESsf-SIOO, 900 TF.Os en- OF
Property DesfrOVed.
rom the Mempbi, Bulletln, 18th

! From the Memphis Buletln, 18th
| From Lieut. Col n. J Littlefed of the IA h
| Illinois cavalry, who was a passenger on board
! the Inflated steamer Eugene, We learn full par
! 6culars of the sad occurrence.
/ The accident occurred on Wednesday even
! ing, about twelve miles above Fort Pillow, in
stead Of fifty miles below as we were at first in
/ formed
| The Eugene left Cairo on Tuesday evening
last, with large number of passengers. inclu-
! ding about twenty ladies, and a iull cargo of
| freight On Wednesday evening, sb. ut half
past seeen o'clock, when near the head of Plum
/ Point bend, she struck upon the sunken wreck
of the I'D steamer Neptune. At the time Of the
accident Col Littefeld was standing near the
table in the center of the saloon. He states
that the force of the blow wassuficient to throw
most eTsons from their seats and many who
were standing up at the time were thrown to
the floor.
In an instant terrible scene Of confusion and
panic took place. Passengers sprang to their
feet ard rushed wildly about, shTieking and cry.
ing. The screams of the women and the shouts
OF the men, the crushing Of timbeTs and the
sharp orders Of tbs officers, were all mingled in
tumult Of sounds. Colonel LittIe6eld, and q
few others of the passengers, exsrted themselves
to restore order and calmness- simultaneously
with the first shock Of .Strkiog, the boat com
me ced sinking. Before she could be cleared
from the wreck, and headed toward the shore,
her bow had sunk so deep that the stove in the
cabiu fell over and set on FIRE ths carpet and
h)0r The flames caught the dress of lady
near by snd biased up in an instant This added
horror seemed completely to destroy the return
ing senses of most of the passengers. A few
gentlemen exerted themselves to extingdish the
burning dress of the lady and the flames in the
cabin. Fortunately they succeeded without her
receiving any serious injury.
Most Of the passengers had by this time
reached the hurricane roof The captain and
clerk exerted themselves to their utmost to quiet
the panic Of the passengers and assist them to a
place Of safety.
Many of the passengers continued to rush
wildly about Colonel Littlefisd had gone for
ward to see how fsr the boat was from the shore,
sDd was leaning over the railing, when be
was knocked overheard by a sudden rush Of
passengers. He fell into the water, arose and
caught dry goods box, but slipped of again
and then caught hold of stage plank which
had hOated. from the boat. On this be AIst-
ed down the river. As he hostsd he distinct
y heard the voices and saw not less than seven
or eight persons clipging to planks, boxes, etc.
and CRYING for help One by one they drop
ped eff, and Colonel Lttle6eld thinks not
one OF these was saved He himself
h2sted some twelve miles down the river, to
Fort Pillow, where he succeeded in max
ing himself heard by the sentinel and
party of soldiers came out in q skiff and rescued
him from his periOus position. As soon as he
was sufficiently recovered, be went to the cap
tsiu Of the steamer Tigress which was lying at
tOT: Pillow, and urged bin to 90 to the rescue
Cf the passengers of the Eugene This thscap-
tain declined to do until daylight, alleging that
it would be dangerous. As soon Is daylight ap-
pesred, the Tgress started out and reaching the
wreck, found it sunk 10 deep water, the water
reaching to the hurricane deck forward and to
the guards aft Most Of the passengers had
been put ashore in the yawl, while others pad
died ashore on planks and boxes. The Hgress
took them oil of and brought them to Fort Pill
low, where they were placed on board the Platte
Valley, and arrived here Thursday evening.
Only two cabin passengers are missing, Chas
Kinney and q Mr. Dozjer, but of ten deck pas-
seDgeTs, names not known, and of the crew, it
Is probable that quite number are lost
The passengers Of course lost all their bag
gage, and very valuable cargo estimated to be
worth hundred thousand dollars Is probably
total loss
The passengers speak very highly of the cou-
duct OF the captain and clerk Of the boat, in
their efforts to quiet the terror of the passengers
and save as many lives as possible. Mr Phil |
lips, the agent Of the Adams express company,
heroic eXeriiOn IN behalf of the passengers
The officers Of the Tgress, after the captain
fually consented to 60 to the rescue, behaved
with much kindness and consideration.
The most disgrsceful part of the affair v as the
conduct Of the crew of the Eugene after the &C
cident. When the yawl was first lowered to
convey the lsdy passengers to the shore, the
crew crowded iatO it and at first refused to allow
the ladies' to be taken off. Afterwards, while
the officers were engaged in trying to get the
passengers taken ashore, the crew commenced
series Of wholesale plundsrngs, breaking open
trunks, vslises and boxes Of dry goods, and
helping Themselves to Whatever they chose
They also picked the pockets of the lady pas
sengers of ell the money they had, in some
cases obtaining several hundred dollars. The
captain and clerk, when their attention was call
ed to these fscs tried to stop them, but only !
partially succe sded, We are told, also, that the
mate Of the boat, after lowering the yewl, de-
manded FIVE dollars from each Of the passengers
for conveying them ashore. We hope This is
not ue.