The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-13
THE DISASTER IN, THE GULF.
Particulars Of The, Foundering Of
the Vessel and the Loss, Of
Two Hundred Lives. .97sl q

.E1Ea 5aI I'D GglAa. 49, lf5n-'a
The sinking of the steamship North
America, on her voyage from New Or
leans to New York, with nearly two hun
dred of our brave soldiers on board, is q
catastrophe which fills the national heart
with mourning. Most of the soldiers we're
returning home on sick leave-a few hav-
ing received their discharge from the Uni
ted States service. .r......
- A PASSENGERS STATEMENT.
Private Charles 7. Fowler, of the 18th
New York cavalry, was one of the passen-
gers on board of the North America. From
him are CLEANED. some of the details con-
nected with this 'catastrope. The usual
terror and confusion noticeable on occa-
sions of this description are not here to be
found. At least there is no record of such
scenes up to the time the last boat left the
North America. H.
On Friday, the 10th of December, the
North America sailed from New Orleans.
There were on board two hundred and
three sick soldiers, twelve cabin passen-
gers and crew consisting Of forty -four.
The soldiers were taken from the different
hospitals in the vicinity Of New Orleans,
though principally from the one at Baton
Ronge. About one hundred Of them be-
longed TO the 18th and 14th New York
cavalry regiments, which cannot at pres
ent be speei6ed. The vessel was freighted
with q, cargo of cotton, considered to be
very. valuable.
For the first three days after leaving
the port .of,New Orleans, the weather was
quite favorable During this time no in
cidents Of any description occurred to dis
turb the usual monotony Of sea life. On
the Goth, however, a strong gale sprung
up from the south southwest. The sea be-
came exceedingly rough. This sort of
weather continued until the 22d, when it
began, to moderate. Or that morning at
II o'clock the vessel was reported as leak
ing badly. This leak was discovered in
the bow, and every exertion made to pre-
vent its gaining but all to no purpose.
Blankets and other articles were brought
from the state rooms, the crew and pas
sengers set to work, but their efforts
proved unavailing. At two O'Clock YES
sci hove in sight, which proved to be the
bark Mary E. Libby: She was immedi-
ately signalled to, draw near and heave to,
which signal was at once responded to.
Capt. Marchman, of the North American,
seeing there was no hopes of saving his
vessel, then gave orders to lower away the
boats, so that all on board might be trans
ferred to the Mary E. Libby. That gen.
90 h. 81 IL ,f h. ,x,J
threatened any, person attempting to ell
ter the boats without his orders with i'm
mediate death. This had the effect of
keeping perfect quiet on the decks of the
North America, and no timidity or confu-
sion Of any description was exhibited. So
close did the Mary E. Libby come to the
sinking vessel that they ran. into each
other, but no damage was sustained either
side
There were five ladies On board, and
Capt. Marchman gave orders that they be
first pns on the bark .-.
Z ..-... A HEROIC INCIDENT. .-
Among the passengers was Miss Mile
Fowler, sister of our informant. When
requested to accompany the four other
ladiesinto the boat, Miss Fowler energet-
ically refused to do so unless allowed to
bring her brother along with her. She
was therefore compelled to remain until
the second boat This action had the re-
suit of saving her brothers life. Were it
not for this incident he might. not have
been permitted to enter the second boat.
, Miss Fowler is a native f Syracuse, in
this State. She left home some six weeks
since, and proceeded to New Orleans,
where her brother was then in hospital,
suffering from chronic diarrhea. While
on his sick bed she attended him with sis
terly care. When threatened with death,
she stood by him to the last; and though
her own life might be sacrificed, she did
not shrink in watching by bis side until
the moment came when they were both
in danger of meeting watery grave.
On these facts being known by the
saved passengers on board the Arago Ito
which vessel they were tranfsrred on the
29th) purse of two hundred and fifty
dollars was presented to the brave girl as
small testimonial in token of her cour-
ageous conduct .! -.1
THE NORTH AMERICA FOUNDERS
Dix boats, containing passengers, were
safely placed on board of the bark. One
OF the boats, in which were the purser and
hospital steward, was never seen, and it is
supposed that she cspsized Three hours
we're occupied by the lasi 1oat in reaching
the Mary E. Libby, and then night set in,
rendering it impossible to make any fur
Their exertiOns at rescue.
The entire crew of the North America,
with their captain, escaped, together with
fifteen enlisted men and FIVE lady passen-
gers. One hundred and ninety-seven SOL
diers were drowned. The Mary E. Libby
remained in the vicinity of the North
America all night, she having renamed
afoat until an hour after midnight, when
she disappeared. Next morning
at daylight, search was made for the miss
ing vessel, but no trace of her could be
found.
1t is remarkable fact that there was
little or no confusion on board of the North
America some few hours previous to her