, 1864-07-26
FROM CAIRO AND BELOW.
Sinking OF Steamcr-0yef Fifty
.llvcs Lost-The Captains StaremEnI.

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.1
CAlno, Monday, July q.
The steamer James White, Captain E. L.
White, Clerk j. e. Men}ge, has just arrived
from New Orleans, bringing papers Of the
1S1h4
Ws have the following regarding the loss
Of tile steamer B. II. Ruunyon from her
master:
STATEMENT OF GAIT. D. G. ADAMS.
ON BoAnp THE STEAMER JAMES WHITE
July I'D, 1864.
The steamer B. II. Runnyon struck snag
near G1ifln's Landing, fifteen miles below
G1eenyllle, at ten o'clock on the night of
July 2lst, and sunk 10 her hurricane deck in
lcss than ten minutes. There were on board
at the time, from the best information
can gain, hdFing lost my passenger regis
ter, si1ty-sevenscabin and twenty.th deck
passengers, four hundred and thirty.seyen
officers acd privates OF tue 10th Missouri
cavalry, one hundred and eleven mules, sixty
one horses, twenty-cight wagons, aud
three ambnlances, and all the camp
and garrison equipage Of the regi-
ment and about fifty iurlougAed soldiers OF
other regiments.
I believe all the cabin passengers were
saved except young man BY the name OF
Chapman, and little boy named William
Pnync. Among the deck passengers therc
were flve men, three women and four children
lost.
, Officers Of the 10th Missouri cavalry inform
me they have 67 men missing at roll Gull up
on the steamer Dana, to which boat they
were t1ansferred. They believe they have
twenty-four Of that number On the steamer
Adams, Of the Marine brigade, which re-
ceiscd part Of the passengers from the gun
boat Tie greater loss is among the colorcd
servants Of the regiment, who were occupy
Ing the engine room. We hare on board the
steamer james White ut this time forty-Aye
Of our cabin passengers; eight were upon
the gunboat Prairie Bird, eleven upon the
Marine Brigade boat Dana, Including elg11
officers of the 10th Missouri cavalry, being
a'l the persons ] have seen comprising part
Of our late passenger list.
Very few Of the mules or horses escaped as
there ~as not time to crt them loose. The
gunboat Prairie Bird Was below on -hcr way
up, and herring our signal she hastened with
commcndable speed to our relief, after
dropping her small boats to- those who
were in the water. Too much praise cannot
ebe awarded to Captain Burns and all officers
Of the Prairie Eird, who did an within their
power to cave life and property, and had it
not been for the very efficient aid rendered
by them, the loss Of life would lave been
terrible. The officers and crew Of my boat
were all saved excepting fire negroes of the
deck crew who are mlsslDg, and some Of
r11t0 fo @{
The crew lost almost their entire bag-
gage. The boats money and part
Of her books were saved. AL her
papers were lost. am o. the opinion
TINT the1oss Of Life, from the best informa-
tion can gain, will not exceed 1fty per-
sons, although the passengers do not agree
with me, and believe the loss to have been
much larger. Had all the soldiers remained
by the wreck believe nearly all might have
been saved, as the skylight, roof and texas
were entirely out Of water, and at no time
while the passengers were On the boat were
there more than two feet Of water upon 9TH
er portions Of the roof The snag struck
the Runnyon on her 1arboard side, just for
ward Of the forward hatch, passing entirely
through her hull and near to the deck. The
poAt A@AAa4AGA 3AoLEAG4 W kAC 1uA.s4 6D Lnut
it WIS impossible to get her to shore or to
the bar. Attempts we're made to back her
eff the snag without success, aud perhaps 1t
was best, as 1t prevented her from sinking
deeper in the water, and Us soon rs We had
left the Wreck 1t swung round and aoated
down the river short distance, when the
cabin parted from the hull and continued to
float until It landed upon the bar:
The steamer James White, which came up
just at thst time received the passengers
and crew, who remained upon the gunboat
PraiEie Bird. The litter boat had remained
hE the wreck to render such assistance as she
could.
Several unsuccessful attempts Ind been
made to land the wreck before the arrival OF
the steamer James White.
D. c. ADAMS,
Master Of Steamer B. II. Runnyop.
The passengers, who we're On the Runnyon,
Seem to think that Capt. Adams estimate the
loss of life too email, and some place 1t as
high as one hundred. The Captain is, prob
hb}y, nearest correct.
New Orleans papers are devoid Of interest.