Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-20
''CArRo, Dec. l6-ll A. NJ.

"DAvID GIBsoN, ESQ.,:
1.-The Peerless struck the wreck of
the Black Hawk last night, at P. NJ,
above Cairo. Being in q sinking con
dition, she made the Illinois shore, three
miles above Cairo All the pumps we're
set a-going, but we could moi keep her
sfoat. The boat settled and sunk over
the lower guards, on the starboard side
As she settled, she careened and the
cabin stoves or lamps set the boat on
fire. All above water is burned The
hull 10 all under water. think her bot
tom is badly stove in Total loss. The
barge broke loose, and is SAFE had
over ten thousand dollar trip. l say.
ed all the passengers and crew; not one
lost. The passengers lost most of their
baggage saved nothing, only what
was on my back i had but little money
in the Office. Saved that, and oil The
boats books The freight in the hold
can be saved, in damaged condition.
if the wreekers get to work st once /
| have entered protest. 81 l.aaa pc
F. J CAKES, Master Peerless"
Shortly after reaching shore, the Peer
less careened and upset, the lamps and
stoves setting fire to the cham rmaids'
room. This was promptly exInguished
by Captain Cakes and the other officers,
who are highly comphmented BY the
passengers for their heroic conduct from
first to last Soon afterward a larg
stove in the main cabin fell lover as the
boat settled down in ten feet water, and
all efforts to save her from burning were
in vain. She was ablsze all over in a
few minutes and totally destroyed. G.
.Most Ct the ladies and children were
either in bed or about retiring, when
the accident occurred, and lost all their
clothing, except one or two pieces each.
Capt Cakes wife lost most of her cloth
ing and valuable jewelry. ,, o4e an
The ladies of Cairo have tie ever
lasting gratitude of the sufferers, for
furnishing clothing and other neeessa-
| ries. -s>s.e 20 -a1-ya
Eighty horses and mules were drown
ed or burned; ten only being saved. Of
those lost, eight or ten were very valua-
BILE. Mr.. q. w. Coffin lost two trotting
horses for which he paid $4,000 short
time ago.
Owing to the unusual proportion of
women and children, whose screams and
| appeals for assistance we're hearth end
ing, and the earfofcracking of the wood
work of the boat as she gradually flied
with water, the scene of confusion was
probably never surpassed, but was near
ly equaled shortly afterward, when the
boat caught fire, and the pl1nging and
piteous means of ninety horses strug
Cling with both fire and water, was add
ed to the scene. The steamer, Laura
raised steam immediatel, and went up
from Cairo to the wreck, and brought
the passengers anda crew to his city.
The crew departed for Louisville on the
Palestine. Capt, Cakes, Clerks Reg.
J nier and Buskirk, and other officers are
still here. They lost all their clothing,
exsept what they had on, ard some were
without coats; but this loss was prompt
ly supplied.
STATEMENT OF CAPT. p }. oxKEs~ g
Captain Cakes telegraphs David Glib
son, Esq, as follows:
An Eastern insurance agency in Gin.
cinnati has a risk of $4,000 on the
shipment of whisky on the steamer
Peerless Captain James q Pepper, of
the Globe office, leaves for tb1sSassck of
the Peerless in 70 day 3 train, s@