The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-14
The Steamer Ruth Burned on the
I l' Mississippi. ,-1'l
Great Loss Of Life---TWO and a
Half Millions Greenbacks
Destroyed.

CAIRO, aug. o.-Ine steamer Ruth was
burned last night. The crew were saved,
but twenty-six lives were lost. The boat,
cargo, books, and $2,6O0,OOO are total
loss. One Paymaster and three Paymas-
ter's clerks were lost.
The Ruth was fine, large side-wheel
steamer, commanded by Capt. Pegram,
and owned by him and his brother. She
was built at Louisville, and, during her
construction, many improvements before
unapplied to steamboats, were introduced,
which contributed materially to the COM
fort of all who travelled on her.
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 Pegram's boat was the first trans
port to touch the levee, an incident which
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.
She was worth about 100000. Her
owners have almost completed two more
boats, one of which will probably take the
place of the Ruth.
The splendid new steamer Ruth, valued
at 100000, was burned last night, at mid
night, opposite Island No. !. She was
on her way from st. Louis to Helena.
She had on board eight paymasters and
three clerks, with $2,6OO,oOO in green
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 d. Ford,
clerk; Major W. W. White, Of Burlington,
Iowa.. S. Graves, clerk; Major Josiah
Tilden, of Galesburg, Ill.,. II. Martin,
clerk, (missing); Major J. ". Brigden, of
Erie, Penn, W. Fl. LOOMS, clerk Major
w. II Jamison, of Boston (side of head
slightly scorched), IS. G. Lampson,
clerk, (missing); Major J. NJ. Humphrey,
of Wheeling-S. G. Fletcher, clerk; Maj.
T. 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.
The papers and all the books of the boat
we're lost. There we're thirty-one soldiers
of company l, 9th Wisconsin, as guard to
Paymasters under command Of Lieut..
Courier. Of these one Corporal and four
privates are lost. They were killed by
stage plank falling on them while in the
water. Altogether there are about thirty
lives lost
The boat had on board 80 head of beef
cattle, 122 head of mules. 400 tons of
Commissary and Sutler stores, and about
100 tons of private freight. All was lost.
There were about 200 persons on board
in all. t
The boat was insured for $4,000.
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 full 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
persisted. 7f 'a
The steamer Shingles 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 it was 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 Ais
There is no satisfactory theory as to how
the fire originated. 1t 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-