The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-30
Fearful Steamboat Disaster.
TWO HUNDRED LIVES LOST.

CAIRO, June 2O.-The steamer Lady Cav
furnishes New Orleans papers of the 18th.
The United States steamer Kentucky, with
about 900 passengers, principally paroled pris-
oners and families returning to their homes.
left Shreveport for New Orleans on FRIDAY.
June 9th. About 9 O'Clock. on the same night
1t was discovered that the boat was taking
water very rapidly, and before she was landed
and stages put out she sunk in about twenty
feet Of water, the timbers breaking and crash
ing. The loss of life must have been terrible
she being much crowded and sinking inside of
three minutes. 1t is supposed that some two
hundred persisted. She had two hundred and
fifty passengers on board, all of which were
lost except three The passengers lost every
thing. The paroled prisoners on board were
principally members Of the Missouri regiments,
There were some Arkansas soldiers on board
and small number of Louisianians. There
were no Union soldiers among the number
The officers of the steamer were, it is believed,
all saved.
The Lady Gay brought up about 900 of Mar.
maduke's men, returning home.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
CAIRO, June 20.-Accounts by the survivors
of the late steamboat disaster on Red River
agree in their reflections on the officers of the
lost transport for their carelessness, and the
criminal indifference manifested on the occa-
sion. The accounts say that the Kentucky,
craft, had, shortly after leaving Shreveport.
been run into the bank with great force, but
nothing serious was apprehended from it, and
all retired to sleep. The passengers on board.
chiefly Confederate soldiers from Missouri.
were lying about the boat and in the forward
cabin on the floor, soundly asleep, when about
$50 P. NJ it was discovered that the boat had
two and half feet of water in her hold. No
alarm was given at first, and an attempt was
made to run her ashore, but as the boat proved
unmanageable, this failed. A stern line was
then got out and fastened to the shore. but not
in time to do any good, for the boat swung
out into mid-river, where the current was
strong and the water deep, and the bow was
carried under. The boat careened over on its
side, and slowly at first, and then suddenly.
went down, and only about twenty feet of the
ladies' cabin left out of water. This. too.
standing at an inclination so nearly perpendic.
ular, it was with great difficulty that any one
could climb out. 1t is likely that the boat
broke in the middle, as the texas and hurricane
deck, forward, remain out of water, as well as
the bell. which was kept ringing after the YES
sci sank, until the steamer Chapin came to
their rescue
For some reason, yet to be explained. the
soldiers were permitted to remain asleep. in
fancied security, while the boat filled with wa
ter and was sinking, and thus nearly all of
them were carried under. Some who were
ouIsiuc UT coulu easily eXCr1cate themselves
rose to the surface and swan out. Some
clambered up the sides and floor of the boat
and thus escaped, but abou: two hundred Of
them were undoubtedly lost. As the boat. ca
reened great rush was made to the hurricane
deck. Many of the passengers were in their
berths, and were saved almost wholly destitute
OF clothing. A large number were caught he
tween decks and drowned. The ladies' gener.
ally succeeded in gaining the hurricane deck.
and were all saved. Some children were lost
Some Of the passengers gained the nearest
bank. and others reached the other side in safe.
ty. TO render the disaster more appalI inc the
texas took fire after the steamer had landed
1t was supposed that the coal oil lamps were
upset by the shock and that their infiammable
contents were spilled upon the beds. This fire
was fortunately quenched, otherwise a yery
large number woald have been added to the
mournful list of lost. The noble ac.s of the
officers OF the United States steamer Colonel
Chapln, who came to the wreck and assisted
IN rescuing some 400 or 500 souls, and admin
lstered many acts of kindness to survivors and
especially women and children, many of whom
lost their all, is acknowledged in card pub
hshed by the survivors. The Chaplin. which