The Shasta courier., 1865-05-06
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH.


Cairo, 29th.-A steamboat calamity un-
PARALLEL in the history of navigation occurred
Oh Thursday evening, 29th, by the bursting
of the boiler of the steamboat Sultana, eight
miles above Memphis, as she was or her way
from New Orleans to this point. Twenty.
two thousand people were on hoard; nine.
teen hundred and fifty eight of these were
paroled soldiers on their way home from reb-
el prison at Andersonville. Of this immense
cargo Of precious lives only six hundred are
known to have been saved. Of course more
will yet be found, but at the inside the ter.
rible margin of fifteen hundred to sixteen
hundred lives will in all probability have to
stand to the credit of this calamity. The
accident occurred when all were asleep ex-
cept the officers employed on the boat. She
had started out from Memphis an hour be-
fore with only enough steam to propel her
eightmiles during the hour. The First Mate
of the i'll fated steamboat thinks there must
have been some internal machine out in the
coal, as the boat at the time was running
very slow and had so little steam on that
an explosion wa: impossible. He describes
the scene after explosion as terrible in the
extreme. lie was standing in the pilot house
and was blown into the river, where some
were struggling living mass drownding hu-
manitv. some with limbs broken, some seal
ded, over which scene the wreck which i'm.
mediately took fire commenced to throw
CHASTITY glare. No succer was at hand, and
only the best swimmers, aided by fragments
of the wreck, could hope to he saved. There
were fifteen women on board, but two of
whom are known to be saved. Some of the
people foated down as far as Memphis this
being first intelligence of the disaster that
reached that city. A yawl was immediately
sent out and picked up seventeen.
Herald's Washington special says Grant
Immediately on his return to Washington
set about making arrangements for the con-
templated heavy decrease of the military
forces, and the consequent reduction of ex.
penses. 1t is thought the army will be redu
ced t. 100000 men.
Trbune's special says Harold has made q
volyminous confession
In twenty minutes after the explosion the
whole boat was n sheet of fire. A dense
mass of people, estimated at 500, took refuge
in the bows of the boat. while the flames
were driven aft by the wind. The boat soon
turned stern down stream. reversing the
flames, when the entire mass were compress
ed together. many being literally roasted
while clinging to the wreck. The wreck
foated five miles before sinking.
New York, 1s..-It has been ascertained
that jeff Davis and party has no more than
$500, 900 in specie with them.
Gen. Grant is reported to have said that
when he informed Sherman of the disapprov-
al of tho terms he had forwarded to Washing
ton, the latter frankly admitted that he had
made mistake in not having put in writing
that slavery was dead, but it was the under
sranding between them.
The Worlds special saws Johnston pledg-
ed himself to exercise his authority to prevent
guerrilla bushwhacking; aud every kind of
illegal warfare.
New York, 2d.-The Tribune's special
snys the President is preparing proclama.
ion declaring all vessels sailing under the
Confederate flag pirates. They are to be
pursued. and if captured. treated as such.
New York, 2d-Tbe Herald special says
jeff Davis remained at Danville six days in
suspense, failing to hear from Lee. who was
expected to reach that place and make the
Staunton river his line of defence. News of
the surrender was brought in by scouts. but
was dishelieved. 1t was kept secret as long
as possible. When it was known there was
great panic. Stoneman's men, between
Danvile and Greensboro, fired ON the train
carrying Davis and Cabinet
HeraId's correspondent says the armies
of orgia and Tennessee, commanded by
Schofeld and Howard. are on the way to
Richmond, where they will be disbaudeI or
ordered to a more active field.
The Times special says the whole number
Of arrests made Of conspirators is $50. The
trial fthsse has commenced before military
commission.