New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-29
The Loss Of tae sfeasner ". N. Runuyon-
Statement ~ Capt. ID. &. Adams.
o. BoAEp TIE STTaNrg JANIS WHITE,
,Juiy @, i-td {

July 81. l-oi. J
The steamer H. NJ. RunnyOn struck a snag
near Grifns Landing h. miles below Greenve, Mt 20
O'Clock Oh the night ofJay 81 aud sunk 10 Der hurr
cane deck in less than i0mnutes There on board
ut the time from the best information gem. Law
ing lost nv passenger register 81 cabin and deck
passenger i37 ocers and yriyaies Of the 10Th Missouri
Cavalry, III mules. a. hOTscs - wagons. and am
tuances aud all the camp and garrison ecuipsge II toe
regiment ard about % froaghed soldiers OF Other reg
imonia
believe all the cabin passengers saved rTCep.
Young man by the name ri Chapman and little hoy
n,med VIM. Payne. Among the deck passengers there
were fvo men three wom0n and four children lost.
Officers of the Oth Missouri Cavalry infofm they
have 81 missing a. rcl-ca upon the Steamer Dana
"a which boat they were transferred. They believe
that they have n Of that number on the steamer Adams
of the Marine Brigade which received part OF the pas
sengers from the gnnlont.
Tie greater loss among the colored servants Of the
regiment, who occupying the engne.rosm. We
have on board the steamer James White at h time -
~ our cabin passenger eight were upon hs EunbOat
Prairie Bird, IL upon the Marine Brigade boat dana
including eight officers Of the 10Th Missouri CaEsily
being all the persons have comprising part o! or
late passenger list.
Very few Of the mules or horses escaped there WINS
time TO cut them loose. The gnnboat Prairie ird
was below on he. way n.y. and hearing signal she
hastensd with commerGabc speed ~ rC.c:, aitcr
dropping her small boats 70 those who were 10 the
water. Too much praise cannot be awarded 10 capt.
Burns and all the o;rcoTs Of Tho Prairie Bird who did
all within their power 10 save life aad property. and
had il not been Tor the very efficient aid rendered by
them the lOes Of life would have been terrible.
The officers and crew OF my boat were al saved.
except FIVE negroes of the deck crew who missing
and some Of whom may he Of the Marine boats.
The crew lost almost their entire baggage. Tho boats
money and part Of her books saved All her papers
lost oi the opinion that the loss 0i life from
the beet information gain, will not exceed t.y
persons although the passengers do not agreo viii me-
ard believe the loss 10 have been much larger.
Had all the soldiers remained By the wreck believe
nearly all nigh, have been saved as the skylRb roof
and texas entirely out Of the water. and at no
time while the passengers were the boat were there
than two feat OF water upon other portions OF the
roof The snag struck the Runnyon her iarboerd
side Just forward OF the forward hatch passing entirely
through her hull ind near 10 the deck. The boat re.
manned fastened 10 the snag that II impossible
~ get her 10 shore or to the bar.
Attempts made to back her OF the sDrg without
success and perhaps II was best "a IL prevented her
from sinking deeper into the water and soon as we
had len the wreck 10 swung roung and foated down the
river short distance, when the cabin ported from the
hull and continued float until 1t landed upon the bar
The steamer James bite. which came up Just that
upon the gunbost Prairie Bird The latter boat had
remained by the wreck ~ render such assistance ss she
could.
Several unsuccessful attempts had been made 20 land
the wreck before the arrival Of the steamer Jsmc.
White. II. q. ADAM
Master Of the steamer II. NJ Rnnnyon
The passengers who OH the Runnyon seem 10
think that Capt Adams estimates the loss Of life toe
~ all and some place II high ~ 100 Tho Captain a.
probably, nearest correct.