The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-05
On BoARD STEAMER JAMES WHITE, !
July %, 1864 (


July %, 1864.
The steamer B. NJ. Runnyon struck a snag
near Griffin's Landing fifteen miles below
Granville, at ten o'clock on the night of July
21st, and sunk to her hurricane deck in less
than ten minutes There were on board at the
time, from the best information | can gain
having lost my passenger register, sixty-seven
cabin and twenty-three deck passengers four
hundred and thirty-seven officers and privates
Of the 10th Missouri cavalry, one hundred and
eleven mules, siXty-One horses. twenty-eight
wagons, and three ambulances. and all the
camp and garrison equipage of the regiment
and about fifty furloughed soldiers of other
regiments.
l believe all the cabin passengers were saved
except young man by the name of Chapman,
and little boy named VIM. Payne. Among
the deck passengers there were five men, three
women and four children lost.
Officers of the 10th Missouri cavalry inform
me they have 81 men missing at roll call upon
the steamer Dana to which boat they were
transferred. They believe they have twenty
four of that number on the steamer Adams. of
the marine brigade, which received part of the
passengers from the gun boat. The greater
loss is aAong the colored servants of the regi-
ment, who were occupying the engine room.
We have on board the steamer James White
at this time fOrty-fve of our cabin passengers :;
eight were upon the gunboat Prairie Bird,
eleven upon the marine brigade boat Dana,
including eight officers of the 10th Missouri
cavalry, being all the persons have seen COM
prising part of our late passenger list.
Very few of the mules or horses escaped as
there was not time to cut them loose. The
gunbOat Prairie Bird was below on her way
up and hearing our signal she fastened with
commendable speed to our relief, after drop
ping her smalfboat to those who were in the
water. Too much praise cannot be awarded
to Capt. Burns and all officers of the Prairie
Bird, who did all within their power to save
life and property, and had it not been for the
very efficient aid Rendered by them, the loss of
life would have been terrible. The officers
and crew of my boat were all saved excepting
five negroes of the deck crew who are missing,
rine Boats. The crew lost almost their en-.
tire baggage. The boats money and part of
her books were saved. All her papers
were lost. I am of the opinion that the
loss of life, from the best information
can gain, will not exceed fifty persons,
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 en-
tirely out of water, and at no time while the
passengers were on the boat were there more
than two feet of water upon other portions of
the roof. The snag struck the Run1yOn on
JNSe AOi
hatch, passing entirely through her hull and
near to the deck. The boat remained fastened
to the snag so that it was impossible to get her
to shore or to the bar. Attempts were made to
back her off the snag. without success. and
perhaps it was best, as it prevented her from
sinking deeper in the water and as soon as we
had left the wreck it swung round and tloated
down the river short distance, when the ca
bin parted from the hull and continued to float
until it landed upon the bar.
The steamer James White, which came up
just at that time, received the passengers and
crew who remained upon the gunboat Prairie
Bird. The latter boat had remained by the
wreck to render such assistance as she could.
Several unsuccessful attempts had been made
to land the wreck before the arrival of the
steamer James White.
ID. c. ADAMS,
Master of Steamer 3. NJ. Runnyon
The passengers who were ON the RUM
yon, seem to think that Capt. Adams es-
Inmates the loss of life too small, and some
place it as high as one hundred The
Captain is, probably, nearest correct.