The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-06
DISASTER ON TIE MISSISSIPPI.
Burning OF the Steamer Ruth-Thirty
Lives Lost-sa8O,OOO In Government
Funds Destroyed, Sc.

Burning OF tho steamer Ruth-Thirty
Lives Lost-sa6O, 900 In Government
Funds Destroyed, Sc.
ST. LOUIS, August 8, 1858.
Major Febger chief Of the pay department Of Mssis
sippi, has just received telegram stating that the
steamer Ruth which left here for yicksburg Monday
morning. burned few miles below Cairo last nisks
and the boat and cargo entirely consumed MAJOR
Greenwnll paymaster and three clerks lost, and
several other paymasters their way Grants army
escaped only with the clothes their backs. Two mill
sumcd. Many lives lost. The above are tho only
particulars that have yet been received
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
CAIRO, August s, 1868.
The steamer Ruth valued at $40 Oo0 burned last
night at midnight At the foot OF Island No. She was
bound for Helena had board eight paynasers and
their CLERKS with $500 900 in greenbacks 70 Gene
raj Grants army The following Is list Of the names-
Major U.s. BAinton, Of Philadelphia, IA charge
n. 3. Goddard, OF Philadelphia, clerk.
MAJOR r. W. Meridian Hall, or Pennsylvania.
John Deford, clerk.
Major W. W. White. Of Burlington, lowe.
J. 8. Graves clerk.
Major Joseph Tilden. OF Julesburg.
d. y. Martin, missing.
Major J. w. Bragdon, OF Erie Pa.
W. W. LOOMS. clerk.
Major W. H. Jameson Boston head slightly scorched.
Major J. n. Humphrey. Or wheeling, Pa; n. c.
Fletcher cicrk and Major D. Greelwae, q Harrisburg,
missing, undoubtedly lost.
Frank Og lesby, clerk OF the steamer lost.
Two negro deck hands, chambermsid and ooored wo-
man (cabin passenOcr) lost.
Tho captain the and second clerks and all the rest
OF the crew saved. The papers and all the books
Of the boat lost. Thirty-one soldiers OF Com
pany |, Ninth Wisconsin regiment, acted as guard
TO the paymasters. under the command Of Lieutenant
Courier or these corporal and four privates
loat md three kiad " n plank falling them
while In the wafer.
Altogether about thirty lives were lest The boat had
aboard ninety head OF beef cattle hundred and
twenty mules hundred tons commissary and
abou. hundred tons of private freight
which lost There about hundred persons
aboard The boat insured for Ave thousand dollars
The fre broke In tho aft part Of the boat-some
decks Others tho nursery As soon the
fire discovered the boat headed for the shore
the Missouri side and struck the bank with full force
the Are having driven the engineers from their posts
and the engines consequently continuing ~ work Az
soon she struck a number jumped ashore, but her
storm swung round down stream the engines
were still working her bow turned from the shore
and she again started down the When she lett the
shore about thirty persons board nearly all Of
whom must have persisted.
Tho steamer shngess brought the passengers saved
this city this morning Tho soldiers said IN have
acted herocay and have stood by the contain
ing the money until certain that all was conssmed
The boxes wore iron bound heavy be removed;
besides tho flames spread all over the boat in less
than Ave minutes. There is nothing satisfactory
to how the FIRE originated. It Ia believed, however, 70
have m tnccndary 10 the interest OF
the rebel government.
An effort was made to FIRE the naval depot hero night
before last.