Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-11
Particulars Of the Burnins Of the steamer

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A Cairo dispatch to the Chicago Tribune
gives the following interesting particulars
Of the loss Of the steamer Ruth, with all
the treasure on board;
aThe fire was first seen near the car
penter's shop, left of the wheelhouse, un-
der the ladies' cabin, when the boat was
Just below Norfolk Landing, below Island
No. 1. The fire come from aft forward al
most like a fash, and before anything
could be done the steamer was enveloped
in flames.
aThe steamers pump, furnished with
excellent hose, was at once spplied by the
mate but to no effect. Nothing could sub
due such sheet Of flame. The boat was,
as before stated, headed Immediately to
the shore, and with full head of steam
ran upon the beach with such force that
some thirty feet Of her model was left i'm
pressed in the solid clay Of the shore
Both wheels were moving when she
struck, and had they both continued to re-
volve, all on board might have got of, but
the bank was very steep, and nothing to
tie to, and one wheel suddenly ceased to
reyolye, remaining stationary hardly one
minute. All who escaped did 30 during
those few seconds. The other wheel con-
tibued in motion, and turned the remain
ing part of the vessel into the river.
Major Brinton, Paymaster in charge
of money to pay Grants army, was stand
ing upon the upper neck, leaning upon the
bulwarks, when shock came behind him
and sent him headlong overheard, and af-
ter striking upon the lower guards and
hitting one man and knocking him over,
the Major fell into the water near the
wheelhouse, and was severely hurt and
somewhat bruised about the head, but he
fGslly made his escape. Had he not been
thus knocked overheard by the shock, he
would not have had time to get off, as he
had no idea but that the boat would stick
upon Shore His clerk, Fl. s. Goddard,
was also fortunate enough to escape. In
the rush Of getting ashore some persons
fell into the river, but it is believed none
we're drowned then. a corporal, having
in charge Eve priVstes, jumped ashore
with his men, but stepping down the steep
bank he unfortunately went under the
heavy staging which had been pushed out
10 facilitate the escape to shore, and as the
boat swung out the stage fell of and crush
ed three 10 death. The remainder, who
we're SO unfortunate as to fail in getting
ashore, seemed to be terror-strichen, and
lost all presence Of mind. Captain Pc
gram shouted to them to launch another
stage, by which they could sll have been
saved; for if the stage had not reached
shore, they could have olung to it in the
water until assistance could have reached
them, but although they were standing on
the stage and around it, no effort was
made TO shove il overheard. An old river
man, who was still on board, tried by eve
ry means to induce them to do 30, but all
his efforts failed. He then jumped over
board aud saved himself by swimming
ashore. 1t is thought all who remained
on board were lost, with one or two ex-
ceptions. This number has been various
ly estimated at from twenty-five 10 sixty,
but the most reliable authority seems to
be that which places il at thirty. Pay
master W. q. Jamison was among those
left on board when she swung out into the
stream, but he threw his trunk QEerbosrd
and jumped in after it, and sucoee4ed with
its raft like assistance in gaining the shore.
His clerk, Mr.. Fl. B. Lsmpson, could not
swim, and his chief provided him with
shutter and assisted him to leave the boat,
but as Mr.. Lampson has not since been
heard Of, it is supposed he is lost.
Mr.. s g. GreeVes and Mr.. William II.
Loomis, Pqymaster's clerks, went down
along the river bank in search Of some
kind Of water raft with which to take the
unfortunate people from the burning
wreck, but finding nothing except an old
rotten dug-OuL they risked themselves in
it, hoping something might be done even
with this. They Immediately padded to
the stern of the boat but found no one,
and could hesr no one upon the wreck.
Eight Psymasters we're on board, and
had in charge collectively S2600,0O0 The
whole of this money was lost"