The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-14
The Steamer Ruth Burned on the
~ ~ Mississippi. ioa-iloa &
Great Loss Of Life---Two and a.
Half Millions Greenbacks SGD
Destroyed. u - -slia9'

burned last night. The crew were saved,
but twenty-six lives were lost. The boat,
cargo, books, and $2,600,0OO are total
loss. One Paymaster and three Paymas-
ter's clerks were lost 90 H9a flg9A Isq asI..
The Ruth was fine, large side-wheel
steamer, commanded by Capt. ,Pegrap,
and owned by him and his brother. She
was built at Louisville, and, during her
construction, many Improvements before
unappied to steamboats, were introduced,
which contributed materially to the COM
fort of all who travelled on her. ...,a.
The Ruth made her first trip last fall,
since which time she has been running be-
tween st. Louis and Memphis, occasional
ly going as far down as Vicksburg. When
that city was surrendered to Gen. Grant,
Capt. Pegramis boat was the first trans
port to touch the levee, an incident W hich
added considerably to her popularity. She
has always done an excellent business,
both in freight and passengers, and her
loss will be very sensibly felt all along the
river between these points where she has
been accustomed to run. 1a 3 7l9l198l
She was worth about 100000. Her
owners have almost completed two more
boats, one of which will probably take the
place Of the Ruth '.'7" "a 1a
The splendid new steamer Ruth, valued
at 100, 900, was burned last night, at mid
night, opposite Island, No. l.. She was
on her way from st. Louis to Helena.
She had on board eight paymasters and
three clerks, with $2,600,000 in greens
backs to pay Grants army. The follow
ing is a list of names. Major N. S. Brin-
ton, of Philadelphia; Major W. B. Men
denhall, of Pennsylvania, John ID. Ford,
clerk; Major w. W. White, of Burlington,
Iowa j. s. Graves, clerk; Major Josiah
Tilden, of Galesburg, ILL.,. II. Martin,
clerk, (missing); Major J. W. Brigden, of
Erie, Penn, W. 81. LOOMS, clerk Major
W. 81. Jamison, of Boston (side of head
slightly scorched), IS. G. Lampson,
clerk. (missing); Major N. Humphrey,
of Wheeling IS. 9. Fletcher, clerk Maj.
I. D. Greenwalt, of Harrisburg (missing,
undoubtedly LOST, Frank Oglesby, Clerk.
The steamer lost two negro deck-hands,
a chambermaid, colored woman, and
cabin passenger. The Captain, first and
second clerks, and the rest Of the crew
were saved. ...-sf -.
The papers and all the books of the boat
were lost. There we're thirty -one soldiers
of company /, 9th Wisconsin, as guard to
Paymasters under command of Lieut..
Courier. Of these one Corporal and four
privates are lost They were killed by q
stage plank falling on them while in the
water. Altogether there are about thirty
lives lost. -ih3 1G45T o9Lst3b e'f5a i NO
The boat had on board 80 head of beef
cattle, 1872 head of mules, 400 tons of,
Commissary and Sutleri stores, and about
100 tons of private freight. All was lost. 9
There were about 200 persons on board
in ALL @s oEf 5s3d naa caa1 La
The boat was insured for $50, 900. % -issd
The fire broke out in the aft part OF the
boat; some say between decks, while 9TH
ers say in the nursery. As soon as the fire
was discovered, she was headed for the
shore on the Missouri side, and struck the
bank with tull force, the fire having driven
the engineers from their posts and the en-
gines continuing to work. As soon as she
struck number jumped ashore, but her
stern soon swung around down, and, as the
engines continued to work, her bow was
soon turned from the shore, and she again
started down the river. When she left the
shore there were about thirty persons on
the bow, nearly all of whom must have
perished. Dyia 0wt sa.af9 al s.Asi 3eng
The steamer Shingiss brought the pas
sengers to this place this morning. The
soldiers are said to have acted heroically,
and to have stood by the boxes containing
the money until itwas certain that all was
consumed The boxes were iron-bound,
and too heavy to be removed Besides,
the flames spread all over the boat in less
than five minutes. 70 ,aa m Ia
There is no satisfactory theory as to how
the fire originated. It is believed, how
ever, to have been fired by an incendiary
in the interest of the rebel government.
An effort was made to fire the Naval De-